Ainsley Harriott | |||
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Born |
London, England |
28 February 1957 ||
Occupation | Chef, television presenter, entertainer | ||
Years active | 1988–present | ||
Spouse(s) | Clare Fellows (separated) | ||
Children | 2 | ||
Website | www |
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Ainsley Harriott (born 28 February 1957) is an English chef, television presenter, and entertainer. He is known for his BBC cooking shows Can't Cook, Won't Cook and Ready Steady Cook.
Harriott was born in London on 28 February 1957, to the pianist and singer, Chester Leroy Harriott (1933–2013), and his wife Peppy. He has Jamaican heritage. Harriott trained at Westminster Kingsway College (formerly Westminster Technical College), Harriott obtained an apprenticeship at Verrey's restaurant in the West End and later worked as a commis chef.
Harriott's talents lie in comedy and singing as well as cooking and Harriott formed the Calypso Twins with schoolfriend Paul Boross, releasing a hit record in the early 1990s, "World Party". The Calypso Twins went on to be 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, and also has appeared as an extra in Hale and Pace.
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 Ready Steady Cook, 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.