After almost three decades as one of the country’s favourite TV chefs, Ainsley Harriott has become something of a national institution. Best known for his twenty-one series of Ready, Steady, Cook, and with many solo primetime cooking series under his belt, he has become the master of fresh, fun, accessible cuisine.

Born and raised in London, Ainsley was inspired to cook by his mother and trained at Westminster College before embarking on a career in London’s top hotels and restaurants. In the early 1990s, he was invited to become resident chef on BBC TV’s Good Morning with Anne and Nick. This in turn led to Ready, Steady, Cook and his TV career taking off. His endeavours include Ainsley’s Mediterranean Cookbook, Ainsley’s Good Mood Food, Best of British by the Sea with Grace Dent, Ainsley’s Fantastic Flavours, and most recently, Ainsley’s Taste of Malta and Ainsley’s National Trust Cook Off, as well as various series in the USA, South Africa and Australia.