Ian Parmenter, former ABC producer and host of cooking program Consuming Passions, has died at age 79.
Formerly a Fleet Street journalist, Parmenter came to Australia in the early 1970s and worked in advertising. He joined ABC in 1974, working in various backstage roles including as director for ABC News. Some of his other work at ABC included Talking Pictures, Rock Arena and coverage of World Swimming Championships, America’s Cup and AFI Awards and concerts.
In 1992 he began hosting the five-minute program Consuming Passions on ABC. The show, recorded at his home in Fremantle and later at Margaret River, turned him into a national identity and was sold to 15 countries.
Consuming Passions produced 450 episodes over ten years and led Parmenter and co-producer David Evans to form a company, Consuming Passions Pty Ltd, offering services for television and video productions, major events and corporate activities. He also continued to contribute to ABC radio and television programs and made guest appearances on commercial TV shows including Midday, Good Morning Australia and Today.
In 2011 he received an Order of Australia Medal for his service to the food and tourism industries.
Source: ABC, Consuming Passions
