Sue Bailey

I am a food science and culinary historian, academic, and writer with many years of experience in research and education. I used to lead the MSc Food science at London Metropolitan University until five years ago, after running BSc Food and Consumer and HND Home Economics courses and teaching broadcast food journalism as well. I still lecture on food product development and supervise master's projects. Now I enjoy simplifying complex scientific concepts for programmes such as Inside the Factory (BBC 2), Food Unwrapped (Channel 4), Save Money Good Health (ITV), Rip Off Britain: Food (BBC 1), and ITV Sugar-Free Farm (Channel 4) when asked. My first foray into food history was for Great British Bake Off (Channel 4) thanks to my hosting a party and demonstrating as the first female maverick celebrity cook, Fanny Cradock for a local museum. Since then I have written a regular food history and culture column for Cambridge Edition magazine until 2020, and now write a regular column for The Lady magazine - Notes from a kitchen. I have contributed frequently to BBC national and regional radio, present and am an interviewer for a fortnightly consumer food programme on local community radio, and have appeared at a number of food festivals.

Special subjects

Historical food researcher specializing in the 1930s onward of domestic cooking, electrical appliances, women in food and food technology; freelance food writing; local food judge. Member of the Oxford Food Symposium (OFS).

Languages spoken

English, limited French and Spanish

Regular work

Writing: Regular columnist – Tales from the kitchen The Lady magazine since March 2020. Academic: Associate senior lecturer London Metropolitan University. Cambridge 105 radio – Flavour magazine programme - regular fortnightly interviewer and presenter. External examiner.

Advisory boards / Awards

Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology. Food Talk Awards: Food writer finalist 2017. Currently, external examiner for the University of West London – undergraduate degree Culinary Arts and Food Professional Cookery and MA in Food Business and Management. Chief external examiner - School of Education at Ulster University.

Sue Bailey

Published