Ainsley Harriott

• Photo

Topics:

• Food & Wine
• TV/Radio Presenter

Ainsley Harriott is a celebrity chef - his most well-known role is perhaps that of presenting the quick-fire cookery programme Ready Steady Cook.

Ainsley was born in Balham in south London. He is married to former costume designer, Clare Fellows. They have two children and a dog called Oscar.

From Cooking to Comedy

At sixteen, he obtained an apprenticeship at an East End restaurant and later worked as a commis chef. However his talents lay in comedy and singing as well as cooking and Ainsley formed the Calypso Twins with Paul Boross and released a record in the early 1990s, "Not Me Boss!", reaching number 113 in the UK charts. This was to be, his only dabble in the music business as his television career blossomed. He appeared on television for the first time in a small role in the sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf in 1993. Meanwhile, he continued to work as a chef, rising to head chef at Lord's Cricket Ground's Long Room when he was asked to present More Nosh, Less Dosh on BBC Radio 5.

Television

Ainsley then crossed over to television to become the resident chef on Good Morning with Anne and Nick and then as the main presenter of Can't Cook, Won't Cook and later Ready, Steady, Cook. These shows involved heavy participation with somewhat reluctant members of the public and were ideal for showcasing Ainsley's happy-go-lucky demeanor. However he has also 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.

In 2000, Ainsley made his debut on US television with The Ainsley Harriott Show on WNBC in New York City. Following this he went on to host Ready.. Set... Cook!, the US version of Ready Steady Cook.

Ainsley also does the voice over on the television advert for Covonia cough medicine and also appears on Fairy Liquid television adverts.

His famous catchphrase is: "What am I like?!" which he often says upon making a faux pas.

For further information or to book Ainsley Harriott, call us at Speakers Corner on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk