Ainsley Harriott
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| Ainsley Harriott | |
 "Big Ains" in 2007. Photo: David Johnson
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| Born | 28 February 1957 Balham, London, England |
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| Occupation | Celebrity chef |
| Spouse | Clare Fellows |
Ainsley Harriott (born February 28, 1957) is an English celebrity chef. His most well-known role is perhaps that of presenting the quick-fire cookery programme Ready Steady Cook. He is of Jamaican descent, and is the son of pianist and actor Chester Harriott.
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[edit] Life
Harriott was born in Balham in south London. Harriott is married to former costume designer, Clare Fellows (The sister of Graham Fellows, the creator of John Shuttleworth and Jilted John). They have a son and a daughter, and a dog called Oscar. His famous catchphrase is: "What am I like?!" which he often says upon making a faux pas. He is commonly known to fans, old and young alike, as "Big Ains"[1]. He also has his own range of food, including pasta sauces and cereal bars.
[edit] Career
At sixteen, he obtained an apprenticeship at an East End restaurant and later worked as a commis (trainee) chef. However his talents lay in comedy and singing as well as cooking and Harriott formed the Calypso Twins with Paul Boross and released a record in the early 1990s, "World Party", which was a major turntable hit. The Calypso Twins went on to be regular headliners at The Comedy Store, London and Jongleurs and also performed all over America. They appeared on many TV and radio shows performing their comedy and music. 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.[2]
He 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 Harriott's rash, happy-go-lucky demeanour. 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, Harriott made his debut on US television with The Ainsley Harriott Show on WNBC in New York City. It lasted for 100 episodes before it was cancelled due to low ratings. Following this he went on to host Ready.. Set... Cook!, the US version of Ready Steady Cook. His time in America clearly left an impression on Detroit rapper Obie Trice, who name-checked him in the song "Adrenaline Rush" on the 8 Mile Soundtrack when he rapped: "I cook up the hot shit like Ainsley Harriott".
He is a fan of the British sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, having played the part of a GELF chief in the episode Emohawk: Polymorph II 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.
He has also collaborated with R'n'B artists Forever In Love (who consisted of singers Peter "Dick Van Dick" Strang and Ally 'MC' Wilson, along with human beat box Callum "I Look like Peter" McCrorie) providing additional vocals to the song Sad Departure on their breakthrough album From the Depths of my Heart in 2003. Harriott also does the voice over on the television advert for Covonia cough medicine and appears on Fairy Liquid television adverts.
Ainsley was the President of the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) 2004-2005 and presented their prestigious Awards Ceremony that year. TRIC has honoured stars and celebrities each year for three decades.
[edit] External links
- Ainsley Harriott fan site
- TRIC The Television and Radio Industries Club
- Ainsley Harriott at the Internet Movie Database
[edit] References
| Preceded by Fern Britton |
Host of Ready Steady Cook 2000-present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
