Keith Floyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Floyd
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Floyd in 2003
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| Born | 28 December 1943 Sulhamstead, Berkshire, England
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| Died | 14 September 2009 (aged 65) Dorchester, Dorset, England
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| Years active | 1984–2009 |
| Spouse(s) | Jesmond Ruttledge (divorced) Julie Hatcher (divorced) Shaunagh Mullett
(m. 1991; div. 1994)Teresa Smith
(m. 1995; div. 2008) |
| Partner(s) | Celia Martin (until 2009, his death) |
| Children | 2 |
Keith Floyd (born December 28, 1943 – died September 14, 2009) was a famous British chef and TV star. He hosted many cooking shows for the BBC and wrote popular cookbooks. People loved his unique and fun way of cooking on TV. He often cooked with a glass of wine in hand, which was part of his charm. He was known for taking cooking shows out of the studio and into exciting locations.
Contents
Early Life and Early Career
Keith Floyd was born in Sulhamstead, England, on December 28, 1943. He grew up in a small town called Wiveliscombe in Somerset. His family worked hard to send him to a private school, Wellington School. He was popular and good at rugby, but he had to leave school at 16 because of money issues.
After school, Keith worked as a reporter for a newspaper. He later joined the British Army in 1963, serving in the Royal Tank Regiment. Even in the army, he loved food and would ask the cooks to make special meals. After three years, he left the army and worked in various jobs related to food, like being a barman or washing dishes.
Becoming a TV Chef
By 1971, Keith owned three restaurants in Bristol. However, he often faced money problems with his businesses. He later moved to the south of France and opened another restaurant, but that also ran into financial trouble. He then returned to Britain and opened another restaurant with help from friends.
His restaurant in Bristol became popular with actors and TV people. Keith's first cookbook, Floyd's Food, was published before he became a TV star. He got his start in television on a local radio show in Bristol. A TV producer saw his talent and offered him a spot on a BBC show. This led to his first BBC TV series, Floyd on Fish, in 1984. This show made him very famous across the country. Keith always said he wasn't a trained chef, but he had a natural talent for cooking.
He became well known for his unique cooking style. He would often cook with a glass of wine in one hand, sometimes in unusual places like on a fishing boat in rough seas. He was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first to film cooking shows outside of a studio. He traveled all over the world, cooking local dishes in his own fun and sometimes messy way.
Keith also owned a pub called the Maltsters Arms in Devon. Famous chefs sometimes worked there, but Keith was often seen chatting at the bar more than cooking in the kitchen. Despite his TV success, Keith continued to have money problems.
In 2008, he traveled to Singapore and Thailand for new business ideas. He was involved with his restaurant, Floyd's Brasserie, in Phuket, Thailand, which was his first restaurant in Asia.
A TV show called Keith Meets Keith was broadcast in 2009. In the show, Keith Floyd talked about how he felt modern TV chefs focused more on themselves than on the food.
Other Television Appearances
Keith Floyd was featured on the show This Is Your Life in 1991. He also appeared in some episodes of the children's TV series Balamory, playing a chef in a song. In 2006, he was on the ITV show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, where he showed the hosts how to bake a cake.
Special Recognition
A bistro bar in Thailand, on the island of Koh Samui, was named after him: Floyd's Beach Bistro Restaurant. Keith visited it while filming his series Far Flung Floyd and became good friends with the family who owned the resort.
Personal Life and Interests
Keith Floyd had two children, a son and a daughter. He spent many years living in France. In the 1970s, he lived in the south-east of France, where he learned a lot about French food and wine. This time in France greatly influenced his cooking style. He later moved back to France in his final years.
Keith was a big fan of the rock band the Stranglers. Their music was often used as theme songs for his TV shows.
Health and Legacy
In his later years, Keith Floyd faced some health challenges. He was hospitalized a few times, but he always tried to recover and continue his work.
Keith Floyd passed away from a heart attack on September 14, 2009, at the age of 65. Many famous chefs shared their sadness and respect for him. Antony Worrall Thompson said that all modern TV chefs owe their careers to Keith. Marco Pierre White said that Keith "inspired a nation" and that a "little piece of Britain today died which will never be replaced." They remembered him as a wonderful person who could inspire people to cook just with his words and unique style.
Broadcast and Writing Output
Images for kids
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Floyd in 2003
