15 Facts About Merrilees Parker

Merrilees Parker is mainly known for presenting television programmes combining food and travel as well as various more traditional cookery programmes.

Merrilees Parker was already passionate about cooking as a young girl, at which time she helped her grandmother, who is half-Portuguese, in the kitchen.

Merrilees Parker is married with two children, a girl and a boy.

Merrilees Parker has developed several career paths in parallel, mainly involving cooking.

Merrilees Parker began presenting in 1997 on a television programme called Barbecue Bible, in which she was credited as the Home Economist.

Merrilees Parker became a familiar face as a television chef in 1999 on a long-running BBC series Anything You Can Cook, which she presented together with Brian Turner.

Merrilees Parker appeared on Taste, for British Sky Broadcasting, and on Saturday Kitchen, for the BBC.

In 2006, Merrilees Parker co-presented Food Uncut on UKTV Food with Stefan Gates and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Merrilees Parker appeared as a guest chef on Daily Cooks and Saturday Cooks on ITV in 2007, and, in 2008, appeared regularly as a contestant on Daily Cooks Challenge.

On 10 August 2008, Merrilees Parker presented a documentary on Channel 4 called 'Kill it Skin it Wear it'.

At the age of 17, Merrilees Parker worked as a chalet girl in France, where she impressed the chef.

Merrilees Parker has been the chef at The Lansdowne in Primrose Hill in London.

Merrilees Parker was head chef at The Greyhound in Sonning Common.

Merrilees Parker has been contributing to the BBC print magazine Good Food since 2002 and contributes to Olive.

Merrilees Parker emphasises the need to adapt to the target audience, mentioning that for a children's birthday party, she creates food that is visually interesting and fun to eat, rather than being geared towards adult palates.