British celebrity TV Chef, Gary Rhodes is dead, as the death of the MasterChef TV Series star was made known to the public by his family on Wednesday morning.
The family of the late Gary Rhodes who released a statement announcing his death, said the London-born TV personality, who had been living and working in Dubai, died with his “beloved wife Jennie by his side” on Tuesday evening.
“The Rhodes family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of beloved husband, father and brother, Gary Rhodes OBE,” the family said in a statement to the Caterer.
“Gary Rhodes passed away last evening, Tuesday 26 November 2019, 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 statement said.
Rhodes and his spouse Jennie were married in 1989, having met at a catering college in Thanet.
He was famous for appearing on MasterChef, which he starred in as both a chef and presenter, as well as Hell’s Kitchen and Rhodes Around Britain.
He also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.
He received an OBE in 2006 for services to the hospitality industry.
He later moved to Dubai in 2011 where he worked at Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa.
In a statement, the hotel said its team was “devastated to hear of the tragic passing of Chef Gary Rhodes OBE”.
“Not only has the industry lost a true culinary legend, but we have also lost an inspirational human being and a very dear friend,” the statement 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.”
Jaideep Bhatia, PR director of the Grosvenor House Dubai, told the PA news agency Rhodes was working “until the day he died”.
He said: “He arrived in Dubai in 2007 and had two restaurants, Rhodes 2010 at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, and Rhodes W1 at the Grosvenor.
“He was working until the day he died. He was working until Tuesday.”