Ainsley Harriot

Ainsley Harriot (Getty Images)
Ainsley Harriot is BBC Two’s larger-than-life celebrity chef and food show presenter who makes viewers all over the world try his dishes.

About Ainsley Harriot

Since his TV debut in the early 1990s, Ainsley Harriot has been bringing fun and entertainment to kitchens.

From his days as a kitchen hand at the age of 16 in West End restaurants, this hugely popular celebrity chef has made a recording, done the comedy circuit and has also been a musical performer.

Ainsley Harriet attributes his success with his kitchen and other skills to his mother, who taught him how to live his life with passion, and she is the tribute to his cooking.

TV Food Personality

Before becoming a successful TV food personality, Ainsley presented ‘More Nosh, Less Dosh’ on BBC Radio 5.

Television shows with Ainsley Harriet have included:

Good Morning With Anne And Nick
Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ainsley’s Barbecue Bible
Ainsley’s Meals In Minutes
Ainsley’s Big Cook Out
Ainsley’s Gourmet Express

Ready Steady Cook

‘Ready Steady Cook’ is probably one of Ainsley Harriet’s most successful shows, and is broadcast on satellite channel BBC Food.

Two contestants (usually celebrities or well-known members of the public) are paired with two celebrity chefs, and each team are given a bag of ingredients, usually to a budget of £5. The two teams are named ‘red kitchen’ and ‘green kitchen’.

The teams then have to make a brilliant meal using these ingredients, in 20 minutes, without any warning beforehand what the ingredients will be. Ainsley is on hand to help each team out, and ask them a few questions about their food.

Completed dishes are then voted for by the studio audience.

Current chefs on the show other than Ainsley Harriet include the following: