1. Gary Rhodes was an English restaurateur and television chef, known for his love of English cuisine and ingredients and for his distinctive spiked hair style.
20 Facts About Gary Rhodes
1. 2.
Gary Rhodes fronted shows such as MasterChef, MasterChef USA, Hell's Kitchen, and his own series, Rhodes Around Britain.
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Gary Rhodes went on to feature in the ITV1 programme Saturday Cooks, as well as the UKTV Food show Local Food Hero before his sudden death at age 59.
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Gary Rhodes was born in Camberwell, South London, in 1960, to Gordon and Jean Gary Rhodes.
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Gary Rhodes moved with his family to Gillingham, Kent, where he went to The Howard School in Rainham.
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Gary Rhodes then attended catering college in Thanet where he met his wife Jennie.
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Gary Rhodes was hit by a Ford Transit van in Amsterdam, leaving him with serious injuries.
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Gary Rhodes then toured Europe in various jobs before becoming sous chef at the Reform Club in Pall Mall, and then on to the Michelin-starred Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, where he worked under Brian Turner.
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Gary Rhodes became the head chef at the Castle Hotel, Taunton, in Somerset.
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Gary Rhodes retained the hotel's Michelin star at the age of 26.
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In 1990, Gary Rhodes returned to London with his family to become head chef at The Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair.
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Gary Rhodes was awarded a Michelin star for The Greenhouse in January 1996.
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Gary Rhodes was a contributor to the BBC Good Food magazine.
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For two seasons, in 2000 and 2001, Gary Rhodes hosted the original MasterChef USA on PBS.
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Gary Rhodes was associated with a Cooking in Schools campaign with Flora UK and appeared in television adverts for Flora margarine, some of which featured him "driving a van topped with a giant styrofoam crumpet" which were banned.
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Gary Rhodes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 17 June 2006.
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Gary Rhodes appeared on the BBC Two spoof game show Shooting Stars, during which hosts Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer asked him to "represent fire through the medium of dance".
18.
Gary Rhodes competed, with professional partner Karen Hardy, in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing which began on 20 September 2008, and finished in 14th place.
19.
Gary Rhodes died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 26 November 2019; he was aged 59.
20.
Rock Oyster Media and Goldfinch TV said in a statement to the PA news agency that Gary Rhodes had become unwell, while filming, and died shortly thereafter.