Well-known food journalist and critic Jay Rayner has appeared as a judge on MasterChef multiple times and was the food pundit for the One Show.
He can also play the piano and tours with his own quartet, the Jay Rayner Quartet around the UK showing there is more to the food critic than meets the eye.
The 55-year-old chef was born in London to parents Desmond and Claire Rayner. Claire Rayner was a famous journalist and agony aunt writing for publications such as The Daily Telegraph and Woman's Own.
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Jay attended Leeds University studying politics where he also edited the student newspaper and after graduating from University he entered national newspaper journalism.
In his successful journalism career he has picked up many awards including Critic of the Year and has grown his career to also appear on TV.
He has judged many episodes of MasterChef and from 2009 to 2016 was the regular food pundit on the BBC chat show The One Show, alongside much more.
Jay has also written fiction and non-fiction works including The Marble Kiss published in 1994 and The Oyster House Siege published in 2007.
His non-fiction works include A Greedy Man in a Hungry World and The Man Who Ate The World. He also has a secret talent for playing the piano.
In 2012 he formed the Jay Rayner Quartet and has gigged across the UK with them at events such as the Buxton Festival and the EFG London Jazz Festival. He regularly practices the piano.
During the coronavirus pandemic Jay announced in 2020 that he would no longer publish negative reviews, which he is known for, to help businesses. He said if he can't be positive about the restaurant he would simply not review it.
Jay is married to Pat Gordon-Smith and has two sons with her Eddie and Dan.
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