Do you know your celebrity chefs?

Our fun run-down of the most famous TV chefs around

Click through our gallery of celebrity chefs to enjoy some little-known facts about the big names in the world of food.

By Jack Shamash

Jamie Oliver

Amiable and Essex-based, he did badly at school but helped out in the kitchen of his dad\'s pub. Went to Westminster Catering College and was spotted during the making of a television programme on the Riverside Café and offered his own show. Much-loved by the shareholders at Sainsburys, he\'s married to childhood sweetheart Jools (Aah!). Restaurants: Worked at River Café and Neal Street Restaurant. Set up 15 in London\'s East End as not-for-profit restaurant, where poor youngsters could learn the restaurant trade. TV: Naked Chef, Return of the Naked Chef, Jamie\'s School Dinners (revealed how bad most school food is) and Ministry of Food, in which (shock horror) he uses the F-word. Catch phrases: ‘Lovely jubbly\', ‘Pucker tucker\', ‘Bish bosh\'

Gordon Ramsay

Humble background in Glasgow and the Midlands, became footballer for Glasgow Rangers; left after injury. Learnt to cook and swear. Worked for Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White; won lots of Michelin stars. Battled the media over an alleged extra marital affair. Restaurants: Head chef at Aubergine - acquired two Michelin stars. In 1998 opened the ‘Gordon Ramsay\' restaurant. Then opened ‘Gordon Ramsay\' at Claridges. Owns a string of restaurants in London and USA. TV: The F Word, Ramsay\'s Kitchen Nightmares, Hell\'s Kitchen, which feature Ramsay bullying inexperienced staff. Catch phrases: \"Look here you f****r. This is a lot of f****** sh***. Why don\'t you just f*** off!\'

Delia Smith

Attractive Norfolk woman who abandoned her hairdressing career, became a food writer for the Daily Mirror and then a TV chef. Specialised in idiot-proof recipes. Made heaps of money and is now a director of Norwich Football Club. Closely linked to Sainsburys - she and her husband help run ‘The Magazine\'. Recently stirred up controversy by encouraging people to use lots of convenience food - eg tinned mince in spaghetti bolognaise (yuck!). Restaurants: None. TV: Family Fare, Delia\'s How to Cook (three series), How to Cheat at Cookery. Catch phrase: ‘Here\'s something that anyone can do.\'

Nigella Lawson

Daughter of Conservative chancellor Nigel Lawson. Became journalist and food writer; makes middle-aged men weak at the knees by pouting at the camera. In the 90s her life was seriously affected by cancer - her sister and her huband (journalist John Diamond) both died of the disease. Went on to marry Charles Saatchi - one of the richest men in the UK. Restaurants: None. Why on earth would she want to work in a restaurant? TV: Nigella Bites, Forever Summer, Nigella Feasts, Nigella Express. Catch phrase: ‘This is absolutely delicious\' (pops item of food into mouth, licks lips, stares lustfully at camera).

Antonio Carluccio

Born in Salerno in Italy, son of a station master. Came to London in 1975 as a wine importer, before entering restaurant business. Became one of the first of the modern celebrity chefs. Recently suffered from depression and stabbed himself in the chest. Restaurants: Managed and later owned Neal Street Restaurant, opened very successful Carluccio chain of café/restaurants. TV: The Food and Drink Programme, Antonio Carluccio\'s Italian Feasts. Catch phrase: ‘You must use fresh Parmesan. Not the packeted stuff that smells like old socks.\'

Phil Vickery

Softly spoken chef, best known for marrying TV presenter Fern Britton. Born in Folkestone, worked at various restaurants around the south of England, specialised in puddings and English cooking. Won Michelin stars. Promotes the supermarket Aldi. Restaurants: Formerly Head Chef at Castle Hotel in Taunton, Somerset. TV: Ready Steady Cook, This Morning. Catchphrase: ‘This will be lovely - trust me!\'

Read our interview with Phil here

Raymond Blanc

Born in Besancon, France. In 1972 (aged 23) came to England to work as a waiter. Took over the running of the restaurant when the chef fell ill. Opened the Quat\' Saisons and in 1977, and later opened the larger Le Manoir au Quat\' Saisons near Oxford. Has since opened a catering school for keen amateurs at Le Manoir. Gets quite poetical about food. Restaurants: Le Manoir aux Quat\' Saisons and a small chain of French style brasseries serving simple French food. TV: ‘The Restaurant\' in which couples competed to run a commercial restaurant. Catchphrase: ‘I want to show ze beauty and texture and flavour of food\'.

Read our interview with Raymond here

Albert Roux

There are lots of Rouxs. Albert and Michel Roux are brothers (and both are chefs). Confusingly, Albert\'s son is also called Michel (and is also a chef). Albert was born in 1935, came to UK at the age of 18 and worked in lots of rich private homes including the home of Sir Charles Clore (the store magnate). With his brother, he opened Le Gavroche in 1967, which won Britain\'s first Michelin star. They later opened the Waterside Tavern. In 1986, the brothers went their separate ways. Michel runs the Waterside Tavern, while Albert and Michel Jr run le Gavroche, which is one of only four British restaurants with three Michelin stars. Restaurants: Le Gavroche. TV: Masterchef, Cooking at Home with the Rouxs. Catchphrase: ‘I\'m not a celebrity chef: I\'m a restaurateur\'.

Antony Worral Thompson

Born Henry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson, his distinctive appearance is partly due to a rugby injury, incurred while at Public School in Canterbury. He studied catering management and worked at various restaurants in Essex. In 1979, aged 28, became head chef of Brinkley\'s Restaurant in Fulham. He currently runs restaurants, works in the media and supports animal charities. Restaurants: He ran Menage a Trois in Knightsbridge, which was popular with Princess Diana. Currently runs about half a dozen restaurants and pubs in south and west London, including the Notting Grill. TV: Saturday Kitchen, BBC\'s Food And Drink, Ready Steady Cook and appeared on I\'m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Catchphrase: ‘This is ever so easy\'

Read our interview with Antony here

Gary Rhodes

Born in South London, moved to Kent, his father left home when he was six. Went to Broadstairs Catering College and excelled. Worked at the Amsterdam Hilton, but was hit by a tram and needed brain surgery. At the age of 26 became head chef at the Castle Hotel in Taunton, where he was awarded a Michelin star four years in succession. Moved to London, where he did TV work, ran restaurants and launched range of cookware. Restaurants: Head Chef at the Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair (1990). Currently runs Rhodes Brasserie, Rhodes 24, the Calabash (in Granada) and the Arcadian Rhodes on a P&O Superliner. TV: Masterchef, Hell\'s Kitchen, Rhodes Around Britain, Gary\'s Perfect Christmas. Catchphrase: ‘If you don\'t like it, use just a little.\'

Fanny Cradock

One of the earliest TV cooks. Despite her plummy accent, her birth was actually registered in West Ham in 1909. Her background was poor and she married four times - on one occasion bigamously. She wrote for the Daily Telegraph and made her first programmes for the BBC in 1955. She specialised in extravagant dishes for elaborate dinner parties - often cooking with her husband, Johnnie, whom she henpecked mercilessly. Interest in her was rekindled after she was found living in squalor in 1987. Died in a nursing home in1994. Restaurants: None. She was a bon viveur, not a restauranteur. TV: Fanny\'s Kitchen, The Cradocks, Fanny Cradock Invites, Chez Bon Viveur, Craddock Cooks for Christmas. Catchphrases: ‘This won\'t stretch your purse\', ‘Oh do hurry up, Johnnie!\'

Ainsley Harriott

Born in 1957 in Balham, went to catering college at 16. While working as a chef, performed comedy at London clubs and made a successful record as part of a duo called The Calypso Twins. Was working at Lords Cricket Club when asked to present a radio show. Writes books and has his own range of food products. Restaurants: Various stints at London Hotels. Formerly Head chef at the Long Room at Lords\' Cricket Club. TV: Good Morning with Anne and Nick, Can\'t Cook Won\'t Cook, Ready Steady Cook, Ainsley\'s Big Cook Out, Ainsley\'s Barbeque Bible. Also presents non-food shows such as City Hospital. Catchphrases: ‘What am I like?\', ‘We need a bit of Suzy Salt and Percy Pepper\'

Gino D\'Acampo

Born in 1975 near Naples, he went to catering school and arrived in Britain in 1995. Worked at various London restaurants; spent a short time in prison (he says he got in with the wrong people). With his good looks, strong Italian accent and obvious charm, he is regularly on television. Also has his own range of food products. Restaurants: Worked at Sylvester Stallone\'s restaurant Mambo King in Marbella, was head chef at the Orchard in Belsize Park in London. TV: Saturday Cooks, Daily Cooks, Ready Steady Cook, An Italian in Mexico. Catchphrase: ‘Now is ze time to have fun\'

Read our interview with Gino here

Rick Stein

Studied English at Oxford University, before moving back to Cornwall. Ran a disco and a nightclub, which were failing until he decided to start serving local fish. Has so many businesses in Padstow, that the town is known as Padstein. The nation still mourns the death of his dog Chalky who was so often by his side on TV. Recently left his wife, who continues to manage the business, and is engaged to his Australian publicist. Restaurants: The Seafood Restaurant, St Petroc\'s Bistro, Rick Stein\'s Café and Stein\'s Fish and Chips, all in Padstow. TV: Rick Stein\'s Taste of the Sea, Seafood Odyssey, Food Heroes, Mediterranean Express. Catchphrase: ‘This one was caught today\'.

Read our Rick Stein interview here

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