They are unlikely internet stars, a retired Cypriot couple in London who bicker and duel as they potter around their kitchen.

But Andreas Theodoulou and his wife, Christina, have entertained thousands of YouTube users and introduced them to the delights of Greek cuisine.

The couple, who live in Haringey, North London, were filmed by their son, Orthodoxos, as they prepared popular Greek dishes such as meatballs and stuffed vine leaves.

Their antics share the simple charm of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and as with that lowbudget screen hit, the winning ingredient is romance. After more than a half a century together, the Theodoulous are still clearly in love.

The couple speak in heavily accented English, although some of the joshing is in Greek. Orthodoxos has included English subtitles but has bowdlerised his father’s earthier turns of phrase. Zorba the Greek is the favoured soundtrack.

The couple’s age and supposed sexual politics are subverted with gentle humour. In one sequence Andreas squeezes lemons to a rap song. In How to Make Fajin (lentils with rice) an argument over who should peel an onion is settled by a snappily edited karate fight that appears to spoof The Matrix. Mrs Theodoulou wins: her husband peels the onion. In Stuffed Vine Leaves Andreas, 76, a retired garage foreman, slaps Christina, 69, on the backside when she bends over to pick up a lemon. She knees her “big guy” in what he calls his “crown jewels”.

The Theodoulous have attracted a large and enthusiastic following on YouTube.

“So do they do special appearances and how much do they charge? Better than George and Mildred any day . . . Best still their meatballs are fantastic!” one viewer enthuses after watching the couple’s first video, Greek Meatballs. Another viewer urges: “Please don’t stop. Keep these videos coming!”

The couple had no idea how well known they were until they attended Easter Mass in London and were congratulated by many Orthodox churchgoers. “And when they went to Cyprus this year they were stopped by crowds asking if it was really them,” Orthodoxos said. There is similar adulation from Melbourne and Johannesburg. “Mate, you are a great ambassador for the Cypriots,” a viewer in Australia writes.

The popularity of the genial couple, who emigrated to England from Cyprus in the mid1960s and have four children, is not restricted to the far-flung Greek Cypriot diaspora. There are requests from many viewers for video classes on other dishes.

Orthodoxos began making the clips when he was made redundant as a newspaper typesetter after 17 years. He decided to do film editing and practised on his parents, who at first knew little about the internet and even less about YouTube.

Orthodoxos said: “So far they’re enjoying it immensely.”

Stuffed vine leaves

— Plunge 20 fresh vine leaves in boiling water for one minute, then dip into cold water and spread them ready to fill

— Fry one chopped onion, adding 2oz of rice and 4oz of minced lamb

— After three minutes add tomato purée, parsley and seasoning to taste. Simmer for five minutes, then cover and leave to cool

— Put a teaspoon of the filling into the centre of each vine leaf, fold the sides in and roll

— Cover the base of a saucepan with spare leaves, place the stuffed ones on top and cover with more leaves

— Pour four tablespoons of oil and juice of one lemon over this

— Cover with a saucepan and cook for half an hour

Source: recipes.chef2chef.net

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