With a whisk in one hand, a glass of wine in the other and wearing his trademark bow-tie, Keith Floyd transformed the face of television cookery.
Whether rustling up a spicy prawn dish on a beach in Thailand, 40-clove garlic chicken in Provence or jambalaya in Louisiana, Floyd's idiosyncratic, often shambolic, style of presentation endeared him to millions of viewers around the world.
But Keith Floyd almost stumbled into stardom. Born in 1943, he was educated at Wellington School, Somerset, and became a junior newspaper reporter before the sight of the Michael Caine film Zulu led him into the Army.
He served as a second lieutenant in the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment before leaving to pursue a career in the catering industry.
After working as everything from a potato peeler to a dishwasher, Keith Floyd opened his first restaurant, Floyd's Bistro, in Bristol. He was a mere 22 years old.
His culinary style, with its emphasis on fish, proved a hit and he was soon running three establishments.
Keith Floyd on Floyd on Fish
The 1985 series Floyd on Fish established him as a star
But Floyd's lack of business acumen, and a staggering propensity to distribute largesse to all and sundry, soon proved his downfall, just as they would throughout his career.
After selling up, he sojourned in France for a while before buying a restaurant there. This too, was a failure and Floyd returned to Bristol and opened yet another bistro.
This restaurant, situated near the city's BBC studios, was frequented by a television producer and bon viveur by the name of David Pritchard.
It was Pritchard who first recognised the star potential of the place's eccentric, Stranglers-loving, patron.
Well lubricated
Though Floyd was well known among Bristol's foodies, and had already written his first book, Floyd's Food, it was television exposure that made him a star.
The 1985 series Floyd on Fish was unlike anything that had come before. For a start, Pritchard moved the action out of the television studio.
Bron
BBC