Ainsley Harriott
Ainsley Harriott | |
---|---|
![]() Harriott in 2007 | |
Born | Ainsley Denzil Dubriel Harriott 28 February 1957[1] Paddington, London, England |
Education | Westminster Kingsway College |
Occupation(s) | Chef, television presenter, entertainer |
Years active | 1988–present |
Spouse |
Clare Fellows
(m. 1989; sep. 2012) |
Children | 2 |
Parents |
|
Website | www |
Ainsley Denzil Dubriel Harriott[2] MBE (born 28 February 1957) is an English chef and television presenter. He is known for his BBC cooking game shows Can't Cook, Won't Cook and Ready Steady Cook.
Early life
Harriott was born in Paddington, London, to Peppy (née Strudwick) and pianist and singer, Chester Leroy Harriott (1933–2013).[3] He has Jamaican heritage. Harriott attended Wandsworth Comprehensive School[4][5] then trained at Westminster Kingsway College (formerly Westminster Technical College),[6] and obtained an apprenticeship at Verrey's restaurant in London's West End, later working as a commis chef.[7]
Career
Harriott's talents lie in comedy and singing as well as cooking. He formed the Calypso Twins with school friend Paul Boross, releasing a hit record in the early 1990s, "World Party". The Calypso Twins were regular performers at the Comedy Store and Jongleurs; they also performed in America and on TV and radio shows. Harriott became head chef at the Long Room of Lord's Cricket Ground. He was asked to present More Nosh, Less Dosh on BBC Radio 5 Live,[8] and also has appeared as an extra in Hale and Pace.[9]
Television work
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Harriott became the resident chef on Good Morning with Anne and Nick and later the main presenter of Can't Cook, Won't Cook and originally a chef on Ready Steady Cook before he went on to host it in 2000, both shows involving members of the public. He has presented more straightforward how-to-cook programmes such as Ainsley's Barbecue Bible, Ainsley's Meals in Minutes, Ainsley's Big Cook Out and Ainsley's Gourmet Express.
Harriott played the part of a GELF chief in the sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf in 1993. In 1998, for the show's 10th anniversary, Harriott presented a special edition of Can't Cook, Won't Cook called Can't Smeg, Won't Smeg with the cast of the show cooking a meal while remaining in character.
In 2000, Harriott made his debut on US television with The Ainsley Harriott Show, syndicated by Buena Vista Television, which ran for more than 100 episodes. Following this he went on to host Ready.. Set... Cook!, the US version of Ready Steady Cook. Ainsley was guest chef on Something for the Weekend on 10 May 2009 and 21 February 2010 alongside guests JLS. In February 2010, Harriott joined the morning show GMTV with Lorraine featuring cookery recipes. From 2002 until 2007, Harriott appeared in TV adverts for Fairy Liquid.
In September 2008, Harriott took part in the genealogy documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?. Harriott knew that his great-grandfather Ebenezer Harriott was in the colonial West India Regiment, and had assumed that they were descended from slaves. In Barbados, he confirmed that his great-grandfather had a distinguished military career, and learnt that he had fought on the side of the British in the Hut Tax War of 1898 – an increasingly violent series of protests against systems of taxation in Sierra Leone. Although Harriott had assumed that his great-great-grandfather, James Gordon Harriott, was a black slave, he was revealed to be the descendant of a long line of white slaveowners.[10]
Harriott appeared in the final My Family Christmas special in 2010 "Mary Christmas". On 11 August 2015, he was announced as the second contestant of the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[11] On 5 September 2015 it was revealed Harriott was paired with professional dancer Natalie Lowe for the thirteenth series.[12] He was the fourth contestant to be voted off and finished twelfth.[13]
Harriott was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts.[2]
Writing
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Harriott is a best-selling author, publishing twelve books as well as numerous others in conjunction with his television shows. Including foreign-language translations, he has sold over 2 million books worldwide.[14]
Other work
Harriott was the President of the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) 2004–05[15] and presented their awards ceremony that year. He markets his own range of food, including couscous, risotto, soups and cereal bars.
Harriott played the role of the Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show at the New Theatre, Cardiff in March 2010, at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley[16] in October 2010, and again at the Richmond Theatre in November 2010.
He made a guest appearance in the BBC radio comedy series Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off as himself in 2006.
In 2022 Harriot, along with others including the DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, helped to save his sister Jacqueline from drowning after she fell into a water feature at the Chelsea Flower Show.[17]
In December 2023 Harriot won the Christmas special of The Masked Singer as Partridge (in a Pear Tree).[18]
Personal life
Harriott married former costume designer Clare Fellows, the youngest sister of comedian and actor Graham Fellows. They have two children. In November 2012, the couple were reported to have separated and they remain on good terms.[19]
Harriott is a supporter of Arsenal F.C.[20]
Filmography
Year(s) | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1988 | Hale & Pace | Extra |
1990–1991 | Davro | Extra |
1992–1996 | Good Morning with Anne and Nick | Resident chef |
1993 | Red Dwarf | GELF Chief |
1994–2010 | Ready Steady Cook | Chef / presenter |
1995–2000 | Can't Cook, Won't Cook | Presenter |
1997 | Ainsley's Barbecue Bible | Presenter |
1998 | Ainsley's Meals in Minutes | Presenter |
1999 | Ainsley's Big Cook Out | Presenter |
2000–2001 | Gourmet Express | Presenter |
2000–2001 | Ready.. Set... Cook! | Presenter |
2000 | The Ainsley Harriott Show | Presenter |
2003 | The Mark Steel Lectures | Robert Boyle |
2005–2007 | City Hospital | Presenter |
2010, 2017 | Lorraine | Guest chef |
2013 | Great British Food Revival | Presenter |
2014 | Ainsley Eats the Streets | Presenter |
2015 | Ainsley Harriott's Street Food | Presenter |
Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant; 12th place | |
Len and Ainsley's Big Food Adventure | Presenter, with Len Goodman | |
2016 | The Best Dishes Ever | Narrator |
2018 | Costa Del Celebrity | Main role |
2018–present | My World Kitchen | Narrator |
2019 | Ainsley's Caribbean Kitchen | Presenter |
Ainsley's Market Menu | Presenter | |
2020 | Ainsley’s Mediterranean Cookbook | Presenter |
Ainsley's Food We Love | Presenter | |
Ainsley's Festive Food We Love[21] | Presenter | |
Michael McIntyre's The Wheel[22] | Himself | |
2021, 2022 | Ainsley's Good Mood Food[23] | Presenter |
2021 | Ainsley’s Christmas Good Mood Food[24] | Presenter |
2022 | Best of British By the Sea | Co-presenter, with Grace Dent[25] |
Ainsley's World Cup Flavours | Presenter[26] | |
2023 | Ainsley's Fantastic Flavours | Presenter[27] |
Ainsley's Coronation Kitchen | Presenter[28] | |
The Masked Singer | Contestant / Partridge (in a Pear Tree)[29] | |
2024 | Ainsley's Taste of Malta | Presenter[30] |
Ainsley’s National Trust Cook Off | Presenter[31] |
Bibliography
- 1999 Ainsley Harriott's Meals In Minutes (ISBN 0-563-55166-6)
- 2000 Ainsley Harriott's Barbecue Bible (ISBN 0-563-55181-X)
- 2002 Ainsley Harriott's Low-fat Meals In Minutes (ISBN 0-563-53480-X)
- 2002 Ainsley Harriott's Gourmet Express (ISBN 0-563-48826-3)
- 2003 Ainsley Harriott's All New Meals In Minutes (ISBN 0-563-48750-X)
- 2003 Ainsley Harriott's Gourmet Express 2 (ISBN 0-563-48860-3)
- 2003 The Top 100 Recipes from Ready Steady Cook (ISBN 0-563-48729-1)
- 2004 Ainsley Harriott's Friends and Family Cookbook (ISBN 0-563-48756-9)
- 2005 Ainsley's Ultimate Barbecue Bible (ISBN 0-563-52217-8)
- 2006 Ainsley Harriott's All New Meals In Minutes (ISBN 0-563-49321-6)
- 2006 Ainsley Harriott's Feel Good Cookbook (ISBN 0-563-49352-6)
- 2008 Ainsley Harriott's Fresh and Fabulous Meals in Minutes (ISBN 1-84607-444-4)
- 2009 Just Five Ingredients (ISBN 9780563539247)
- 2011 My Kitchen Table: 100 Meals in Minutes (ISBN 1849901503)
- 2012 My Kitchen Table: 100 Great Chicken Recipes (ISBN 1849903972)
- 2019 Ainsley's Caribbean Kitchen (ISBN 9781529104257)
- 2020 Ainsley’s Mediterranean Cookbook (ISBN 9781529104677)
- 2021 Ainsley’s Good Mood Food (ISBN 978-1529148312)
References
- ^ "Ainsley Harriott age, wife Claire Fellows, children and net worth". Metro. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ a b "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N18.
- ^ Van Wilmer, "Chester Harriott obituary", The Guardian, 15 July 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ "Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust". Old Wandsworthians Memorial Trust. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "My schooldays". The Scotsman. 8 October 2003. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
- ^ "The Vincent Rooms at Westminster Kingsway College". Archived from the original on 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Ainsley Harriott MBE". www.nmplive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ BBC Good Food: Ainsley Harriott Archived 28 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine bbcgoodfood.com
- ^ "Ainsley Harriott". IMDb. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "BBC - Who Do You Think You Are? - Past Stories - Ainsley Harriott". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ Emma Daly and Ellie Walker-Arnott. "Ainsley Harriott confirmed as contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2015". RadioTimes. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Daniel is hoping for Strictly six-pack". RTÉ Ten. 5 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ "Daily Mirror". Daily Mirror. 25 October 2015. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "About Ainsley". Archived from the original on 24 June 2016.
- ^ "TRIC Past Presidents". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014.
- ^ Bromley Times: A star for B movie stage fright delight[permanent dead link] bromleytimes.co.uk
- ^ "Ainsley Harriott 'saves sister from drowning' at Chelsea Flower Show". The Independent. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "The Masked Singer champion wins another Christmas battle". metro.co.uk. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Ainsley Harriott Separates From Wife Clare Fellows After 23 Years". The Huffington Post UK. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ Varney, Alex (19 February 2013). "Ainsley Harriott joins the Breakfast boys in the studio". Talksport. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "James Martin and Ainsley Harriot return to ITV for Christmas". 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Michael McIntyre's The Wheel, Series 1, Christmas Special". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Ainsley's Good Mood Food". foodnetwork.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Ainsley's Christmas Good Mood Food". itv.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Best of British By the Sea". channel4.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Ainsley's World Cup Flavours". itv.com/presscentre. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "Ainsley's Fantastic Flavours". ainsley-harriott.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Ainsley's Coronation Kitchen". radiotimes.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "The Masked Singer Christmas special won by Partridge (In A Pear Tree)". uk.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Ainsley's Taste of Malta". itv.com/presscentre. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Ainsley's National Trust Cook Off". itv.com/presscentre. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
External links
- 1957 births
- Living people
- Black British television personalities
- English game show hosts
- English people of Jamaican descent
- English television chefs
- English television presenters
- English writers
- Internet memes
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- People from Paddington
- Television people from London
- English male chefs