Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - I like the guy, I like what he cooks, how he cooks and what his River Cottage thing was all about.
Gordon Ramsay - As Bicks says, ultimately a fraud. I saw him haranguing a hapless restaurant owner somewhere in the south-west for selling reheated boil in the bag dishes and the rocket polisher subsequently got owned when it was revealed one of his own places was doing the same thing. A shame because he was trained by some of the best chefs around (MPW being one of them) and he has deservedly accrued Michelin stars when he was in the kitchen because he is actually very, very good. Unfortunately, he is also a word removed.
Keith Floyd - I loved the irascible old bastard. It was him, a series the Roux Brothers did and that MPW programme I have linked above that got me into cooking. Personally, I disagree with Bicks. I think he was a good chef and I've used many of his recipes. He knew his food and his booze and you've got to love that. He was a huge force in raising the standard and broadening the appeal of cooking in this country. I follow his drinking whilst I cook good shit ethos to this day!
Jamie Oliver - I'm ambivalent towards this budgie-tongued ****. The whole mockney thing gets on my tits and I don't like the programmes either but I don't dispute he has some talent as a chef.
Delia Smith - Just does not belong on this list. She is not a chef.
Nigella Lawson - I like her style and would **** her until the snot came out of her nose. Perfect evening - she cooks me dinner and then gets on all fours.
Ainsley Harriott - Just a joke. Panto beckons, I think.
James Martin - No problems with this guy. Knows his stuff and doesn't piss me off.
Anthony Worrall-Thompson - Meh.
Nigel Slater - Just wrong. I find him flesh-crawlingly creepy. He does the same kind of thing Nigella does with the glances to camera etc but is just a nasty fag.
Mrs Beaton - Haven't seen her on TV lately!
Ken Hom Haven't seen much of him lately, either.
Honourable mentions go to:
The Two Fat Ladies, they are/were great fun and totally bonkers.
Rick Stein - Just seems a thoroughly good guy and a very good chef.
Raymond Blanc - ditto
Antonio Carluccio - ditto
The legendary Elizabeth David.
Dishonourable mention:
John Burton-Race - to paraphrase "As Good As It Gets", '...you absolute horror of a human being'.
Might do some more as I think of them!