Ainsley Harriott

“I don't just loving cooking in a vacuum, as it were; I love cooking for people, with people, and laughing.”

“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.”

“So I've got mates I've known since I was five years old. Their children know my children. There's something really lovely about it. When you're an immigrant - my parents were immigrants, their brothers and sisters lived all over the world, Florida, Jamaica, some in Europe - it's a grounding thing. That community is critical.”

“I grew up not being intimidated by the kitchen.”

“When you're at the top you have to know how to delegate without putting the fear of God into people.”

“Cooking is about love, really, and cooking for your children is all about caring for them, building relationships.”

“My mum was the most wonderful cook and our house was always full of delicious food and interesting people. I remember dad entertaining the likes of Des O'Connor and Bruce Forsyth. But what really shaped my childhood were the amazing Jamaican dishes that mum produced so effortlessly.”

“I love energy, I love to give people energy, I love to feed off energy - it makes me happy.”

“My books are easy to use and real - and guess what, I sometimes use convenience food in my recipes!”

“Honey's just not honey. There's so many different varieties, so many different flavours.”

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

“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.”

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

“I think everyone knows that I'm the type of person who can have a good time without drinking.”

“My dad was a great eater but Mum was the cook.”

“It's my nature to be happy, and food is something I'm passionate about.”

“I used to quite like the idea of zooming in and out of traffic quite quickly, but when you get a decent car and kids in the back, you become more courteous.”

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

“I haven't got tinted windows. I get the odd 'Oi, Ains' and 'What's he like,' or 'I do enjoy your programmes,' depending on where you are. That's quite nice.”

“Christmas for me means starting the day with ackee and saltfish, and cornbread muffins.”