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Celebrity chef Keith Floyd dies Celebrity chef Keith Floyd dies
(40 minutes later)
Celebrity chef Keith Floyd has died following a heart attack, aged 65.Celebrity chef Keith Floyd has died following a heart attack, aged 65.
He died at his partner's Dorset home on Monday, said his autobiography ghost-writer, James Steen. Floyd had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in June.He died at his partner's Dorset home on Monday, said his autobiography ghost-writer, James Steen. Floyd had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in June.
From Faringdon in Oxfordshire, Floyd shot to fame in the 1980s in ground-breaking cookery shows, fronted with huge enthusiasm and wineglass in hand. He shot to fame in the 1980s in ground-breaking cookery shows, presented with huge enthusiasm and wineglass in hand.
Chef Marco Pierre White described Floyd as a "natural cook" who had "inspired a nation" with his programmes. Chef Marco Pierre White said Floyd had "inspired a nation" with his programmes, while Jamie Oliver said he had been "the best television chef".
Floyd's idiosyncratic, often shambolic style of presentation endeared him to millions of viewers around the world. White said: "What he did to inspire a nation, I don't know another man who has done what he has done. Keith was not just one of the best, he was the best television chef Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/4938830.stm">Obituary: Keith Floyd class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8256416.stm">In Pictures: Keith Floyd
"He had this great ability at the stove, great confidence. He was a natural cook. Floyd's eccentric, often shambolic style of presentation endeared him to millions of viewers around the world.
That was his charm, completely, the fact that if it all went wrong he just threw it in the bin and carried on Celebrity chef Phil Vickery class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/4938830.stm">Obituary: Keith Floyd White said: "He had this great ability at the stove, great confidence. He was a natural cook.
"But his very special talent was he could articulate himself and deliver inspiration with words. He spoke in a way that everybody could understand.""But his very special talent was he could articulate himself and deliver inspiration with words. He spoke in a way that everybody could understand."
He added: "A little piece of Britain died yesterday which will never be replaced.He added: "A little piece of Britain died yesterday which will never be replaced.
"He was an individual, he was a maverick, he was mercurial, he was magical, he was special, he was rare.""He was an individual, he was a maverick, he was mercurial, he was magical, he was special, he was rare."
Celebrity chef Phil Vickery called Floyd "the original television chef". Floyd's unique presentation style was an instant hit
Wine-fuelled flamboyance Oliver said: "Keith was not just one of the best, he was the best television chef.
He opened his first restaurant, Floyd's Bistro, in Bristol, at the age of 22, and its success quickly led to him running three establishments. "An incredible man who lived life to the full and an inspiration to me and to so many others."
But a lack of business acumen that would plague him throughout his career soon forced him to sell up, after which a restaurant in France also proved a failure. "I think all of us modern TV chefs owe a living to him. He kind of spawned us all," said Antony Worrall Thompson.
It was on his return to Bristol, running a new bistro near the BBC studios in the city, that Floyd was discovered by television producer David Pritchard. He opened his first restaurant, Floyd's Bistro, in Bristol, at the age of 22.
Years later, it was running another establishment near the BBC studios in the city that Floyd was discovered by television producer David Pritchard.
Their 1985 series, Floyd on Fish, was an instant hit, and subsequent series took the chef all over the world.Their 1985 series, Floyd on Fish, was an instant hit, and subsequent series took the chef all over the world.
Wine-fuelled flamboyance
The programmes were ground-breaking at the time for taking the cooking out of a studio, but it was Floyd's wine-fuelled flamboyance that viewers loved.The programmes were ground-breaking at the time for taking the cooking out of a studio, but it was Floyd's wine-fuelled flamboyance that viewers loved.
"That was his charm, completely, the fact that if it all went wrong he just threw it in the bin and carried on," said Vickery."That was his charm, completely, the fact that if it all went wrong he just threw it in the bin and carried on," said Vickery.
"He didn't live in the sanitised world of perfect studio cookery; he was out and about, he loved his drink and he loved engaging with other people."He didn't live in the sanitised world of perfect studio cookery; he was out and about, he loved his drink and he loved engaging with other people.
"I think he was the untitled British gentleman abroad cooking.""I think he was the untitled British gentleman abroad cooking."
Worrall Thompson said: "He made cooking approachable and fun. He made us relax about food - until Keith came along, people were very uptight about eating out and he helped us to chill out about it."
Floyd wrote more than 20 books, many of them best-sellers. His autobiography, Stirred But Not Shaken, is due to be published next month.Floyd wrote more than 20 books, many of them best-sellers. His autobiography, Stirred But Not Shaken, is due to be published next month.
Mr Steen, the book's ghost-writer, said: "Writing the book was amazing, it was like a dream come true. Mr Steen, the book's ghost-writer, said: "For an autobiography you have to be introspective and he found that difficult to start with, but yesterday when I spoke to him he was a really happy man.
"For an autobiography you have to be introspective and he found that difficult to start with, but yesterday when I spoke to him he was a really happy man.
"He was very excited about it. The experience for him was therapeutic.""He was very excited about it. The experience for him was therapeutic."
A lack of business acumen plagued Floyd throughout his career, and he went bankrupt in the 1990s reportedly after a £36,000 cheque he had accepted for a drinks bill bounced.
He was married four times, with a son from his first marriage and a daughter from his second.
Dorset Police said the death had been reported to the coroner for west Dorset, and a routine post-mortem examination would be conducted.Dorset Police said the death had been reported to the coroner for west Dorset, and a routine post-mortem examination would be conducted.