Keith Floyd RIP

The Real Master Chef

We loved Keith Floyd. He, alone among the TV chefs, made us want to eat, drink and be merry. He made us want to cook. He made us want to travel the world. Above all, he made us want to take life and bite a big, fat chunk out of its arse. To be honest, Ramsay, Oliver, Rhodes et al leave us cold. Vulgarians. No style. Crass and obvious. We like Rick Stein, but beyond that the sweary, shouty, look-at-me egomaniacs can all go swivel. Mr Floyd was a legend, and we're going to miss him. Here are some things you should know about him, and then you can watch him show you how to cook a hearty beef dish. RIP.

* After watching Zulu, Keith joined th Army and become a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment.

* By 1971 Floyd had three restaurants in Bristol.

* After spending a few years in France, Keith opened a restaurant in Chandos Road, Bristol (called simply 'Restaurant') where lots of actors and telly people ate.

* Floyd's Food, his first cookbook, had an introduction by Leonard Rossiter, star of Rising Damp.

* Floyd was married four times and went broke many times over.