Celebrity chef Floyd dies

TV chef Keith Floyd has died at 65, following a heart attackÂ…

08:28 15 September 2009

Celebrity chef Keith Floyd has died aged 65, following a heart attack.

Floyd died at his partner's Dorset home on Monday, according to James Steen, who helped write his autobiography.

Floyd shot to fame in the 1980s in his ground-breaking cookery shows. His style usually saw him cook with a wine glass in one hand, while expressing great enthusiasm for his creations.

Floyd's idiosyncratic and chaotic approach to the usually stuffy world of TV presenting found him loved by millions of viewers around the world.

Chef Marco Pierre White described Floyd as a "natural cook" who had "inspired a nation" with his programmes.

White led the tributes, stating: "What he did to inspire a nation, I don't know another man who has done what he has done.

"He had this great ability at the stove, great confidence. He was a natural cook.

"But his very special talent was he could articulate himself and deliver inspiration with words. He spoke in a way that everybody could understand.

"He enriched many people's lives. It's very sad. A little piece of Britain died yesterday which will never be replaced.

"He was an individual, he was a maverick, he was mercurial, he was magical, he was special, he was rare."

Floyd had been diagnosed with cancer in June. During the 1980s he was one of Britain's most popular chefs, becoming an iconic character thanks to his individual style of presenting.