Fleabag star Kadiff Kirwan has shared a touching story of Gary Rhodes’ kindness after the celebrity chef died aged 59.
The TV personality’s death was confirmed by his family on Wednesday morning, prompting fans and famous friends to share tributes online.
Kirwan, who played hairdresser Anthony in a memorable episode of Fleabag’s second series, shared a heartwarming anecdote which demonstrated the TV personality's generosity.
The actor told of how he worked at the chef’s London restaurant Rhodes W1 on his gap year before studying at drama school.
“So sad to hear about the death of Gary Rhodes,” he wrote. “In 2008 on my gap year I worked at his restaurant in Marble Arch to save for drama school.
“Gary was always so lovely. When I left to go to drama school he gave me one is [sic] his signed cookbooks, I opened it and there was £200 inside.”
A statement from Rhodes’ family said that the chef, 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,” they told the Caterer.
“Gary 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.”
Rhodes starred on MasterChef as a chef and a presenter, and also appeared on Hell’s Kitchen and Rhodes Around Britain.
He received an OBE for services to the hospitality industry in 2006 and moved to Dubai in 2011, where he worked at Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa.
Celebrity chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Ainsley Harriott were among those to pay tribute to Rhodes on Wednesday morning.
Oliver, 44, said Rhodes had been “a massive inspiration to me as a young chef” and that he “reimagined modern British cuisine with elegance and fun.”
Ramsay said that he “put British cuisine on the map” and sent “all the love and prayers to [his] wife and kids” while Harriott described him as “a true culinary icon and a lovely man.”
