Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott was invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. The 63-year-old television presenter and entertainer, best known for daytime cooking shows 'Can't Cook, Won't Cook' and 'Ready Steady Cook', was recognised for his services to broadcasting and the culinary arts over a career spanning more than 30 years.
Harriott, known for his larger-than-life persona, described the honour as 'very special'. He said he initially thought the official envelope containing the notification was a parking fine. 'When I first got it I thought it was a parking ticket! It's got the crest on it. When you see an official stamp you go: what is this?'
The chef also had warm words for the new host of the revived 'Ready Steady Cook', which returned to British screens this week. Harriott said he sent a message to presenter Rylan Clark-Neal telling him to 'keep it going'. He praised Clark-Neal's 'relaxed' presenting style, saying: 'As a presenter I like what he does, I think he engages with people. He's very warm, he's got a relaxed style, so I'm sure that's going to work.'
Harriott, who has spent his career making cooking more accessible, said his passion remains food. 'I think it's kind of bringing food to people who perhaps a little bit shied away from it, (were) a little bit embarrassed about it,' he said. 'I think what I've tried to do over the years is to kind of open the door to say 'It's a meal, it's OK, don't panic, don't get worked up about it'.'
The chef planned to celebrate his royal honour by enjoying 'classic British fare' with his children at the Wolseley in London. He also noted that receiving the MBE was a bittersweet moment as it made him think of his late mother, who died in 1993.
