Quotes

I was a bit of a show-off at school. I told jokes a lot because I wanted to have friends.

Mum passed on her cooking skills to all her children.

I say time and time again - yes, cooking is wonderful to cook for your loved ones and see them eat the food but the most important thing is getting them all sat around the table together.

My dad Chester was a pianist and later a well-known television entertainer so football was never really something that was on his radar. However when I was a young boy a family friend took me to see an Arsenal game and from that moment on I was totally and utterly hooked.

If I hadn't become a chef I would have loved to be a top tennis player, although I was never good enough so it wasn't really an option. But that has never dimmed my love of the game, which started in childhood when I was lucky enough to be a ball boy at Wimbledon.

Although my family is originally from Jamaica, I grew up in a diverse community in south London. As my parents were immigrants they made every effort to integrate and we used to go to a wonderful church where we befriended families from all over the world.

People can be comfortable, really, once you invite them into the kitchen.

I like introducing people to new dishes and new flavors.

I very much consider myself British.

Growing up, a black face on TV was really rare.

I love the humour of the British and I love the countryside.

My mum wanted me to be a doctor because she worked in nursing. So she was quite disappointed when I came back from a holiday in France, and said I wanted to be a chef.

Performing has always been instinctive to me. I remember people saying, 'he doesn't know if he's a chef or an entertainer.' But what's wrong with being both? It's like saying you can't run the 100 and the 200 metres.

I do feel that over the years from watching programmes that tell people 'you're not good enough,' I just don't like it.

I'm always interested in cooking and helping to bring people together.

Everywhere I have gone in the world, even though we don't speak the same language, food is the same language.

What I like best is showing people how to have fun in the kitchen. And sharing my love of cooking.

I certainly love a boogie and once the music starts I'm usually one of the first out there on the dance floor.

To a degree and If I'm playing a game, I do my best to win.

It's a brilliant place to be. It's rewarding. Gardens are so rewarding.

A lot of people go for the serious angle because, ultimately, that's what it's all about. But it doesn't necessarily mean that's the only way of cooking.

When you look at people cooking in Britain - and Dubai, too - they're not that adventurous. They need to be encouraged somehow. And not everybody needs to be shouted at.

I've propelled myself into the media world and I've been able to get my style of cooking across with my personality.

I'm a warm person and I like people to feel comfortable - if they're comfortable they're going to relax, cook and feel good.

People always think I'm this zany character. But I think I just see the funny side of life, I don't see the negative side, and I think that's a very good energy to be around.