[1][2] Crewe travelled much of the world, writing 11 books on the subject of his journeys, biographies and cuisine, including an expedition to the "empty quarter" of Saudi Arabia.
During Crewe's early childhood, his father was British Consul in Sicily, before being transferred to the French Riviera when his friendship with Haile Selassie made it impossible to remain in Italy.
He went on to Trinity College, Cambridge to study law and economics, but spent so much time partying that he was expelled for indolence.
He notoriously described Wilton's restaurant on Jermyn Street as where the aristocracy were served nursery food by waitresses dressed as nannies.
[1][2] Crewe appeared as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs twice, on 21 January 1984,[8] and on 16 June 1996.