In Anglo-Saxon England people accused of a crime would be sentenced to "trial by ordeal", where they would be tortured to find out if they'd done it (makes sense, right?) Aside from the straightforward ones like "ordeal by fire" and "by water" (which was used by witch-hunters centuries later), there was supposedly "ordeal by cake" - where you had to eat a particularly dry cake and, if you choked on it, you were guilty.
now i'm probably just being ridiculously ignorant about what was happening at the time but what does the "Little Red Cookbook" refer to? or does it actually relate to something he said earlier in the show?
It's a reference to the Cultural Revolution in China, where students were known to march down the street, waving copies of "Quotations from Chairman Mao" and chanting to demonstrate their loyalty to the government.
"Quotations from Chairman Mao" is also known as the Little Red Book.
In Anglo-Saxon England people accused of a crime would be sentenced to "trial by ordeal", where they would be tortured to find out if they'd done it (makes sense, right?) Aside from the straightforward ones like "ordeal by fire" and "by water" (which was used by witch-hunters centuries later), there was supposedly "ordeal by cake" - where you had to eat a particularly dry cake and, if you choked on it, you were guilty.
ignoranceandcrisps 1 year ago
now i'm probably just being ridiculously ignorant about what was happening at the time but what does the "Little Red Cookbook" refer to? or does it actually relate to something he said earlier in the show?
headfirst1987 2 years ago
It's a reference to the Cultural Revolution in China, where students were known to march down the street, waving copies of "Quotations from Chairman Mao" and chanting to demonstrate their loyalty to the government.
"Quotations from Chairman Mao" is also known as the Little Red Book.
randomotaku 2 years ago
"So my choice is "or death"??
Well, I'll have the chicken then" xD
EmiteXX 3 years ago 2
"thank you for flying church of england...cake or death"?
WoWhamerons 3 years ago 2
"Bearded student and flailing arms..."
The Yeti is curious. Find Vlad and I and disclose more of these curious capers.
jomdom 4 years ago
Talk, will you! Talk! But it hurts! Well, loosen it up a bit will you?
AngusYoung16T 5 years ago
izzard is genius in all ways.
really. :)
lovetorix 5 years ago 4
Veggie for Hitler, funny :-)
biko77 5 years ago
Cake for me too, please!
beanielynne 5 years ago
eddie izzard is the best ever no 1 can top him i have seen this show like over 30 times!! i never get bored of it
iluvmusic4lyf 5 years ago
CAKE OR DEATH!! This is the best part of the whole thing! ^_^ I LOVE this man!!
TheDarkGypsy 5 years ago 2
*chants* "little red cookbook little red cookbook"
*giggles*
alleykatluv 5 years ago
so my choices is or death? i love that part! i love eddie!
hastebraider06 5 years ago 2
Man he is pretty clever. Thank you for posting my favourite moment of "Dress to Kill".
omgwtflololo 5 years ago