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Over the last 25 years, Ainsley, a "sarf" London boy, has cooked up quite a career for himself. He's worked in top restaurants and as a caterer to celebrities, as a singer and comedian on radio and television and, most famously of all, as one of Britain’s best-loved celebrity chefs.

Ainsley's lifelong passion for cooking is a tribute to his mother Peppy who encouraged him to help with the cooking for family and friends in what was always an open house in Balham, south London. Following the rules he learned from his mother, he tells people to "use fresh ingredients, have everything ready beforehand and never say it's too difficult!" His philosophy is that simple dishes can be just as good as the fancy stuff.

At 16, Ainsley got a job as a junior trainee in a West End restaurant where he graduated to commis chef. After a while he took a career break and toured Europe as part of a musical duo (his show-business talents were probably inherited from his musician/actor dad, Chester). Returning to England, he teamed up with partner Paul Boross to form the Calypso Twins, gaining several TV credits, a record release and a prominent position on London's comedy circuit.

But cooking remained Ainsley's first love and he pursued his career in top hotels, gaining experience in all aspects of the craft. BBC Radio asked him to present More Nosh, Less Dosh, then a call followed from BBC TV's Good Morning with Anne and Nick and Ainsley moved in to become the resident chef. From there his popularity grew with Ready, Steady, Cook and Can't Cook, Won't Cook.

In 1997, Ainsley's first solo series, Ainsley's Barbecue Bible, took him around the world, sampling and cooking the very best open-air food. This was followed by Ainsley's Meals in Minutes, Ainsley’s Big Cook Out and, most recently, two successful series of Ainsley’s Gourmet Express.

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