33 Facts About Robert Irvine

1.

Robert Paul Irvine is an English celebrity chef and talk show host who has appeared on and hosted a variety of Food Network programs including Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, Restaurant: Impossible, A Hero's Welcome, Operation Restaurant, All-Star Academy, Guy's Grocery Games, Chopped: Impossible, and Restaurant Express.

2.

Irvine launched The Robert Irvine Show, a daytime talk show which aired weekdays on The CW between 12 September 2016 and 25 May 2018.

3.

Robert Irvine began his cooking career upon enlisting in the UK's Royal Navy at the age of fifteen.

4.

Robert Irvine started his television career on Food Network on a show called Fit for a King, which was later re-titled before broadcast to Dinner: Impossible, where he would be given countless challenges over the course of the life of the show.

5.

Robert Irvine appeared in a December 2007 episode of Iron Chef America with Tyler Florence in a dessert battle against Paula Deen and Cat Cora in which the men lost.

6.

In 2006, Robert Irvine had announced his intention to open two restaurants in St Petersburg, Florida.

7.

Robert Irvine had impressed a Florida socialite with the claims he was a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, had a degree in food and nutrition from the University of Leeds, had worked on the wedding cake for Prince Charles and Princess Diana and had served at the White House as a chef, a claim Robert Irvine made in the opening segment of his Food Network show, Dinner: Impossible.

8.

In 2008, Robert Irvine posted to his blog to "set the record straight" regarding his past service and point out erroneous reports made by the St Petersburg Times.

9.

Robert Irvine has taken responsibility and made a conscious effort to clear the air, rebuild the relationship with Food Network and apologize for the earlier inaccuracies.

10.

The reasons cited were "the timing is not exactly right" and Robert Irvine "cannot commit to spending at least four days a week" at the restaurant as he had planned.

11.

Robert Irvine appeared in an episode of The Next Food Network Star on 8 June 2008.

12.

Robert Irvine continued as host of Dinner: Impossible until it ceased production in 2010, following its eighth season.

13.

Robert Irvine appears in the restaurant make-over show, Restaurant: Impossible, which premiered on 19 January 2011.

14.

Robert Irvine was the second chef eliminated from the competition after losing a peanut secret-ingredient showdown against Chef Michael Chiarello.

15.

On 2 December 2012, Robert Irvine appeared alongside Masaharu Morimoto and Ted Allen on the Battle Holiday Gingerbread episode of Iron Chef America representing Food Network against a team of Cooking Channel stars including Michael Symon, Nadia Giosia and Ben Sargent.

16.

Iron Chef Michael Symon commented on this by saying that he had a bet that Robert Irvine would remove his chef's coat after 25 minutes of the competition and that he lost because he removed it much earlier.

17.

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto stated that Robert Irvine removed his chef's coat to show off his muscles.

18.

In September 2016, Robert Irvine launched a daytime talk show which airs weekdays on The CW.

19.

Robert Irvine was featured on Chopped, Guy's Grocery Games and others.

20.

In July 2020, Food Network announced a two-year multi-platform contract with Robert Irvine leading new episodes of his series Restaurant: Impossible and developing mid- and short-form video segments for both linear and digital venues, including Food Network's Kitchen app.

21.

In June 2021, Discovery+ announced a new series starring Robert Irvine called The Globe.

22.

Robert Irvine became co-owner of Boardroom Spirits, a distillery in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

23.

Robert Irvine developed a passion for weight training and physical fitness at an early age, played rugby, and by the time he joined the UK's Royal Navy, was strong enough to be a wheelman in the Field Gun Competition, carrying a large cannon wheel for his team.

24.

In 2018, he published his fourth book, Family Table By Robert Irvine, which presented his favourite family-style recipes along with a collection of essays on how to connect with your family through activity.

25.

Between 2012 and 2016, Robert Irvine launched a bevy of healthy food products, including Fit Crunch protein bars, as well as a "better for you" cheesecake and frozen crab cakes.

26.

Robert Irvine has been involved with the Children Uniting Nations charity that was founded by southern California socialite Daphna Ziman.

27.

Robert Irvine was one of a team of celebrity chefs who participated in their fundraising dinner for the 77th Academy Awards in 2005 in addition to serving as Head Chef at their 78th Academy Awards dinner in 2006.

28.

Robert Irvine is a member of the Council of Chefs, Cora's charity dedicated to helping hungry children.

29.

Robert Irvine toured Afghanistan in 2013 with the Honoring Our Troops Tour and hosted a Meals Ready to Eat competition.

30.

Robert Irvine is a regular contributor to the Gary Sinise Foundation and regularly appears at the organization's Invincible Spirit Festivals.

31.

Robert Irvine helped raise more than $118,000 to pay for the hospital expenses of a Escondido, California, restaurant owner who was previously featured on an episode of Restaurant: Impossible.

32.

Robert Irvine lived with his wife Karen in Absecon, New Jersey, before buying another home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he lived until at least 2002.

33.

Robert Irvine married professional wrestler Gail Kim on 10 May 2012.