Jamie Oliver

An Alexis Soyer of his generation: television personality, prolific writer of cookery books, restaurateur, philanthropist extraordinaire. Jamie’s an Essex boy, born in 1975 to his publican parents, Sally and the rambunctious Trevor. Trev put young Jamie to work in The Cricketers at the Dickensian age of ten and Jamie the chef was born.

Told he had no hope by his careers master, it was under Italian Stallion mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, and later the wonderful Rose Gray at The River Café, that the boy Jamie matured into the Naked Chef. I shot his first portraits, for the cover of The Times Saturday magazine. We became firm friends and are now more like brothers. Today he employs thousands, and influences millions in hundreds of countries. Yet he is the same excitable, loveable scamp, generous godfather and extraordinary friend as always. I have so much to thank him for.