Celebrity chefs pay tribute to MasterChef's Gary Rhodes who passed away aged 59
He passed away yesterday
Last updated 27th Nov 2019
MasterChef star Gary Rhodes has died at the age of 59. The news has been confirmed by his family, who says they are "deeply saddened" by his death.
The restaurateur appeared on TV programmes such as Hell's Kitchen and BBC One cooking show MasterChef, as well as presenting his own prime-time show Rhodes Around Britain.
In a statement released by his family, they said, "The Rhodes family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of beloved husband, father and brother, Gary Rhodes OBE.
"Gary passed away last evening, Tuesday 26 November, at the age of 59, with his beloved wife Jennie by his side. The family would like to thank everyone for their support and ask for privacy during this time."
The chef, known for his spikey hair style, also ran restaurants at two hotels in Dubai, and the teams who worked with him have since released a statement, saying they are "devastated" by the news.
They said, "No words can express our sadness at Gary's death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rhodes family."
Gary's fellow celebrity chefs have taken to social media to pay tribute to their friend and colleague.
Gary's cause of death has not been confirmed.