Ainsley Harriott

A career as a chef

Ainsley Harriott is the charismatic, larger-than-life presenter of BBC Two's Ready Steady Cook. "My aim is to make cooking fun," says Ainsley. Since he first appeared on TV in 1993, his flamboyant style has certainly made people want to try his recipes. Ainsley's career as a chef and entertainer has been built up over the past 25 years.

At 16, he was made junior trainee in a West End restaurant and later graduated to commis chef. It wasn't long before he got itchy feet and toured Europe as part of a musical duo (his show-business talents were probably inherited from his musician/actor dad, Chester). Once back in England, he teamed up with Paul Boross to form the Calypso Twins, gaining several TV credits, a record release and a prominent position on London's comedy circuit.

He also worked in top restaurants, as a caterer to celebrities, a singer and a comedian on radio and TV.

But cooking remained Ainsley's first love, so he pursued his career in top hotels and gained experience in all aspects of the craft. BBC Radio asked him to present More Nosh, Less Dosh, then a call from BBC TV's Good Morning with Anne and Nick led to Ainsley becoming the programme's resident chef. From there his popularity grew with Ready Steady Cook and Can't Cook, Won't Cook.

In 1997, Ainsley's first solo series, Ainsley's Barbecue Bible, took him around the world, sampling and cooking the very best open-air food. This was followed by Ainsley's Meals in Minutes, Ainsley's Big Cook Out and two successful series of Ainsley's Gourmet Express.

Ainsley's lifelong passion for cooking is a tribute to his mother, Peppy, who encouraged him to help cook for family and friends in what was always an open house in Balham, south London. Following the rules he learned from his mother, he advises people to "use fresh ingredients, have everything ready beforehand and never say 'it's too difficult'!" His philosophy is that simple dishes can be just as good as fancy ones.

www.ainsley-harriot.com