Chefs, Food & Drink speakers

A native of south-west France, the young Alain Ducasse went on to work under some of the most-respected chefs of his time – Michel Guérard, Gaston Lenôtre, Roger Vergé and Alain Chapel – before taking over at Louis XV in Monaco in 1987. Within less than four years, he had earned three Michelin stars. Today, he holds 19 Michelin stars across 23 restaurants in 8 countries.

Anjum Anand is a British Indian food writer and TV chef of Indian cuisine.

Brian Turner is a British chef, based in London. He has appeared as a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook since 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes.

ChefFed is a journalist, and entrepreneur with a unique penchant for creating memorable cooking and dining experiences.

After a TV production company first stumbled across Chris Bavin in 2011 he has gone from strength to strength and is currently co-presenting his fourth series of BBC1’s hugely successful series Eat Well For Less? With Gregg Wallace. The show has had incredible ratings across its first three series with the next two to be aired in 2017.

As star of the Food Network's hit show Rescue Chef, Danny Boome is a superhero in the kitchen, able to solve any kitchen crisis while pleasing the pickiest of eaters. Incredibly charismatic and energetic, Boome provides practical eating advice for aspiring cooks of any skill level. A strong believer that a healthy meal enhances both body and mind, his handy tips are designed to provide essential nutrition on the go.

Bristol born Dean was a digger driver before he applied to appear on Masterchef in 2005. Dean was narrowly beaten in the final, causing thousands of loyal Dean-fans to bombard the BBC with complaints that he should have taken first prize. Since then, Dean has gone from success-to-success. Dean is now a resident chef for Lorraine Kelly's cooking team on the ITV show Daybreak, and has his first cooking book was released in February of last year.

Gino D'Acampo is an Italian celebrity chef and media personality, best known for his food-focused television shows and cookbooks. D'Acampo rose to fame as a regular chef on the ITV show This Morning.

Gregg Wallace is an English television presenter known for co-presenting MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef.

Being recognised as one of the best and most wacky, outlandish chefs in Britain, Heston Blumenthal is the chef-proprietor of the Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire. He was awarded his first Michelin star in 2000 and has since received a further two. In 2002 he was awarded the Good Food Guide's Chef of the Year and the AA Guide's Restaurant of the Year awards. The Fat Duck was voted "Best Restaurant in the World" in 2005 and Heston was awarded an honorary degree by Reading University in 2006 in recognition of his unique scientific approach to food and outstanding achievements in biosciences.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a British celebrity chef, television personality, journalist and food writer. He has also become a well-known campaigner on issues related to food production and the environment, such as fisheries management and animal welfare.

Jason Vale, aka ‘Juice Master’, is the best-selling author of eleven books on health, addiction and juicing. His books have now sold over 3 million copies and have been translated into many languages. His most well known book - 7lbs In 7 days: The Juice Master Diet - went to number one of all books on Amazon and on Play.com it even knocked the Da Vinci Code from the top spot.

Jay Rayner is a British journalist, writer, broadcaster and food critic. His television appearances have earnt him the nickname Acid Rayner due to his sour demeanour.

Jean-Christophe was born in France where he left school at the age of 14 to become a baker. From there, Jean-Christophe has excelled to the top of the culinary world. Becoming a professional chef at the age of 20, winning his first 2 Michelin stars as Chef Patron at the Gordleton Mill. Jean-Christophe now owns restaurants all around the world, and has opened his own cookery school to pass on his gift to others.

Joe Wicks specialises in cooking and fitness books. His first published cookbook Lean in 15: 15-minute meals was a best-selling book in 2015, having sold over 900,000 copies.

Australian chef John Torode is the co-presenter of the MasterChef programmes. He and co-presenter Gregg Wallace have become household names guiding and judging nervous chefs as they aim to become MasterChef. John is also a successful restauranteur.

Ken Hom OBE was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona – his Cantonese parents emigrated to the US in the 1920s. Growing up, he found American food unpalatable compared with his mother's cooking, so she sent him to school with a flask of hot rice and stir-fried vegetables, much to the envy of his friends. In 1969, Ken went to university in California, where he funded his tuition by giving cooking lessons. They proved to be so popular that he was recommended to the BBC by Madhur Jaffrey; Ken’s first Chinese cookery programme followed soon after. Ken has also taught many great chefs, including Charlie Trotter, who went on to open the famous Trotters restaurant in Chicago. Ken has cooked for many politicians, including Tony and Cherie Blair, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the presidents Taiwan and France, as well as the Sultan of Brunei.

Kimberley Wilson, Waitrose/The Good Food Guide Restaurant Inspector Competition finalist, presenter on BBC2's Food & Drink, and finalist on The Great British Bake Off 2013.

In 2006, Levi became a Dragon Slayer; he won the heart and investment of Peter Jones with his Reggae Reggae Sauce pitch. Since then, the sauce has become a nationally loved product, seeing Levi venture into releasing cook books and recipes with his new-found culinary acclaim.

Lorraine is a British former model and television cook and is very supportive of the charities Barnardos and Tact which both deal with fostered and adopted children. She is also an ambassador for Rays of Sunshine, The Prince’s Trust and Sutton Community Farm. At the end of last year, Lorraine was also named as the government’s first Fostering Ambassador.

Celebrated chef, restaurateur and food writer Mark is known for his original take on British gastronomy, after 17 years as Chef Director at Caprice Holdings, he opened his first restaurant in 2008 - the distinguished Hix Oyster & Chop House in Smithfield, and has since opened a further five establishments including Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis and the award-winning Mark's bar, and of course the latest Tramshed all to great critical acclaim.

Founder of Little Venice Cake Company Mich is a qualified Food Scientist and has over 25 years experience in the industry. She is described as ‘Queen of Couture Cakes’ thanks to her multi-award winning designs and A-list clientele. Among her many accolades, Mich has been named as Harper’s Bazaar & CHANEL Entrepreneur, and her company recognised as a Walpole Luxury Brands of Tomorrow. A successful writer and author of six international bestselling books.

Michel Roux, Jr., is a French-English two-star Michelin chef at the London restaurant Le Gavroche.

Trend forecaster, academic, product developer, writer and broadcaster, Morgaine lives and breathes ideas and future trends. She asks the question 'why' so that she can deliver the 'what'. Identifying why people aspire to new things, she discovers what will be desirable and aspirational in the future. She endeavors to make food fun, informative and a social commentary on culture, class, behaviours and belief. She is the founder and director of Bellwether: Food Trends, a fashion/design/food/social trend (digital and print) compendium for global markets.

Nadiya Hussain won the sixth series of BBC's The Great British Bake Off in October 2015 and subsequently wrote for The Times Magazine, and signed a publishing deal with Penguin Random House.

Nigel writes and presents on food and especially drink. He also narrates power boat racing for Channel 4 and occasionally acts as rugby correspondent for BBC London. His passion for all kinds of booze has even taken him to the Edinburgh Fringe in a theatrical mission to make sherry trendy.

Championing dyslexia through a dynamic and diverse career that encompasses the world of the agile entrepreneur, international exploration, high altitude elite adventures, and innovation in aerospace and humanitarian aid. Mentor for the UK charity Heropreneurs.

Nigella Lawson is the bestselling author of ten books and is one of the most recognisable names and faces in the food industry across the globe.

Phil Vickery MBE is as happy and inspiring in front of a corporate audience as he is back home on the farm. Capped 73 times by England and also capped with British & Irish Lions he now commentates, presents and delivers after dinner speeches as well as awards hosting he remains a dab hand in the kitchen and enjoys country life.

Raymond is a completely self-taught chef, inspired by his mother (fondly referred to as Maman Blanc). Raymond grew up in Besançon, near Dijon. He arrived in England in 1972 and became a waiter at the Rose Revived in Newbridge, Oxford. When the chef fell ill, Raymond took over, and in 1975, he was promoted to chef. The rest, as they say, is history. Raymond went from strength to strength, gaining the Rose Revived a Michelin Star two years later. He then worked all hours to save for his own restaurant; he opened Les Quat' Saisons in Oxford in 1977 and soon won a host of distinctions.

Richard won his first Michelin star at Stephen Bull's Fulham Road restaurant in 1994, before launching the acclaimed Michelin-starred Lindsay House in London's Soho in 1997. In 2006, Richard took over the reins at the well-established London fish restaurant, Bentley's, opening a second Bentley's in Dublin in 2008. Richard has catered for numerous prestigious events, including lunch at 10 Downing Street for Tony Blair and the King and Queen of Jordan. He has appeared in several UK television cookery programmes and hosts the Irish TV series Corrigan Knows Food.

Following their successful pitch in the BBC’s Dragons Den, Richard decided to turn down the deal and move on to bigger missions. 6 years World travel focused on researching and interviewing World experts for Enrichd.org has grown into the book he is co-authoring with fellow celeb trainer in Hollywood. Just before pitching in the BBC’s Dragons' Den, Rich was on the operating table having a tumor removed from his left shoulder - oh and the BBC said ’no’ for a week before they did the shoot - overcoming adversity, motivation and making it happen is this mans' game!

Rick Stein is an English celebrity chef, restaurateur and television presenter.

Mumpreneur, Investor and Dragon, Sarah has won multiple entrepreneurial and business awards and has appeared on television programmes as a business expert including 'The Restaurant' and Dragon's Den. Sarah is a popular speaker in the UK and internationally on topics including all aspects of money saving, Leadership and Teamwork, Business Turnarounds, Food, Restaurant, Retail, Leisure industries and Entrepreneurism.

Sheila Dillon is a food journalist who began her career writing about the politics and business of food in New York at Food Monitor magazine. On returning to Britain she began work as a freelance reporter for Radio 4's The Food Programme and was then hired as a reporter on the programme. She went on to produce it for a number of years while Derek Cooper was the presenter covering the early days of BSE, the commercialisation of organic food, globalisation of the food industry - stories that didn't then interest mainstream media. She's been the programme's regular presenter since 2001.

Simon Rimmer is an English chef, best known for his on-screen partnership with Tim Lovejoy, with whom he co-hosted the BBC Two programme Something for the Weekend.

The late David Myers and Simon ‘Si’ King collectively known as the Hairy Bikers, are British television presenters who have fronted the series The Hairy Bikers Cookbook, The Hairy Bikers Ride Again, The Hairy Bakers and The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour Of Britain. Sadly David passed away 28th February 2024 and will be deeply missed.

Tom Kerridge is a professional English chef who has worked mainly in the UK. After initially appearing in several small television parts as a child actor, he decided to attend culinary school at the age of 18.

In 2002, William was appointed as the editor of Waitrose's magazine that was then named 'Food Illustrated', where his work led to a string of awards for his editorials, writing, photography, and stories. William still writes for Waitrose and a host of other magazines, even making his was onto our TV screens as a food critic and journalist.