TV chef Keith Floyd dies aged 65

Keith Floyd, the flamboyant TV chef and restaurateur, has died aged 65 following a heart attack at his partner’s home in Dorset yesterday.

Floyd, who had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in June, became an instant TV favourite when his groundbreaking cookery show, Floyd on Fish, first aired in 1984. His ‘chaotic’ cooking style and eccentric personality led to him being described as an ‘inspiration’ for cooks and chefs around the world.

He began his culinary career in Bristol, where he opened three restaurants under the brand Floyd’s Restaurant, but after all three suffered financial problems, he moved to France. Upon his return, Floyd opened yet another business in Bristol, named simply Restaurant.

Floyd’s extrovert personality and skill soon saw a string of book launches, while a position as a radio chef for BBC West lead to Floyd becoming famous as a TV chef.

His final TV appearance was aired just yesterday, the day he died, in a one-on-one interview with documentary-maker Keith Allen.

In an interview with the BBC​, Marco Pierre White described Floyd as an ‘intelligent, beautiful man’.

“Keith was an exceptional human being,” he said. “His ability to inspire people to cook just with his words and the way he did things was extraordinary. Chefs today don’t have that. It’s a very sad day, for my industry and also for a nation. The very sad thing is a little piece of Britain today died which will never be replaced.”

Floyd was married four times and leaves behind two children, Patrick and Poppy.

Watch Keith Floyd demonstrate how to slow cook beef in red wine:​