Levi Roots facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Levi Roots
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Roots at the Notting Hill Carnival 2010
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| Born |
Keith Valentine Graham
24 June 1958 Clarendon, Jamaica
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| Years active | 1982–present |
| Known for | Reggae Reggae Sauce |
| Children | 8 |
Keith Valentine Graham (born 24 June 1958), known as Levi Roots, is a Jamaican-British businessman and chef. He lives in Daventry, Northamptonshire. He became famous after appearing on the TV show Dragons' Den. On the show, he successfully presented his special product, Reggae Reggae Sauce.
Early Life
Levi Roots was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. His parents moved to the United Kingdom. He was raised by his grandmother until he was 11 years old. Then, he joined his parents in the UK. He grew up as a Christian. When he was 18, he became a follower of the Rastafari faith.
Career
Music
Levi Roots has performed with famous musicians. These include James Brown and Maxi Priest. In 1998, he was nominated for a MOBO award. This award was for Best Reggae Act. He was also a friend of Bob Marley when Marley lived in the UK. In 1996, he sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" for Nelson Mandela. This was during Mandela's visit to Brixton.
Reggae Reggae Sauce
Levi Roots became very well-known in 2007. This was after he appeared on the UK TV show Dragons' Den. On the show, he asked for money to help his business. He received £50,000 to develop his Reggae Reggae Sauce.
Reggae Reggae Sauce is a type of jerk barbecue sauce. In 2006, 4,000 bottles of the sauce were sold. This happened at the Notting Hill Carnival.
Later, he took his sauce to a food trade show. A producer from the BBC saw him there. The producer asked him to appear on Dragons' Den. He was on the first episode of the fourth series in February 2007. He asked for £50,000 for 20% of his business. Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh offered him the money. They asked for a 40% share in his business. Soon after his TV appearance, Sainsbury's supermarket decided to sell the sauce. They stocked it in 600 of their stores.
Restaurants
Levi Roots opened his first London restaurant. It was called the Papine Jerk Centre. It was located in Battersea, near Clapham Junction. It was open from 2010 to 2012. His children worked with him at the restaurant. The restaurant also provided lunch for a local school. In December 2015, Roots opened another restaurant. This one was a franchise in Westfield Stratford City. It closed in 2019.
Books and TV Shows
Levi Roots' Reggae Reggae Cookbook was published in 2008. Peter Jones, who invested in his sauce, wrote the foreword. The book shares Levi Roots' story. It also introduces readers to Caribbean ingredients. To promote his cookbook, Roots appeared on BBC's Ready Steady Cook. This was on 3 June 2008. He came in second place.
Roots also had his own cooking show. It was called Caribbean Food Made Easy. It aired on BBC2. A book with the same name was published in August 2009. The show followed Roots as he traveled. He visited places in the UK and Jamaica. He showed easy ways to cook Caribbean food at home.
In 2010, Roots appeared on Celebrity Mastermind. He came in second place. He also appeared on Big Brother. On that show, he cooked a Caribbean barbecue for the housemates. Roots also had a special role in the 2011 movie Anuvahood. He played himself in the film. On 22 February 2018, he was in an episode of Death in Paradise. He played the character Billy Springer.
Roots entered the twenty-third series of Celebrity Big Brother. He joined the show on 4 March 2024. He was evicted on 15 March 2024. He spent 11 days in the house.
Personal Life
Levi Roots spoke about his relationship with his father. He said it was difficult. He mentioned that his father was "a bit of a stranger." He also said that his brothers and sisters went to school in Jamaica. But he, being the youngest, did not get an education there. He felt this was a disappointment to his father.
In 2021, Roots was appointed Chair of St Pauls Carnival in Bristol. In May 2024, Roots became a Patron of RIFT Social Enterprise. This group helps people with convictions. It also helps those who have been unemployed for a long time. They support them in starting their own businesses.
Levi Roots has received two honorary doctor degrees. One is from the University of the West of England. The other is from the University of Westminster.
