Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes has died aged 59.
According to a statement released by the chef’s family, he died on Tuesday 26 November "with his beloved wife Jennie by his side".
The statement continued: "The Rhodes family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of beloved husband, father and brother, Gary Rhodes OBE. The family would like to thank everyone for their support and ask for privacy during this time."
Rhodes died in Dubai, where he had been living and working since 2011, overseeing the two restaurants Rhodes W1 and Rhodes Twenty10.
Speaking about his untimely passing, Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, where the chef worked, said: "The team are devastated to hear of the tragic passing of Chef Gary Rhodes OBE. Not only has the industry lost a true culinary legend, we have also lost an inspirational human being and a very dear friend. 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."
Rhodes was born in south London in 1960, with his first chef job being at the Amsterdam Hilton. He went on to open his debut restaurant in 1977, before going on to forge a television career with his show Rhodes Around Britain, as well as making appearances on the likes of MasterChef and Hell’s Kitchen. In 2008, he was a contestant on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
A string of influential figures in the food and restaurant industry have paid tribute to Rhodes on social media. On Twitter, chef Gordon Ramsay wrote: "We lost a fantastic chef today in Gary Rhodes. He was a chef who put British Cuisine on the map. Sending all the love and prayers to your wife and kids. You'll be missed."
On his official Instagram page, fellow chef Jamie Oliver also penned a tribute: "Gary was a fantastic chef and incredible ambassador for British cooking, he was a massive inspiration to me as a young chef. He re-imagined modern British cuisine with elegance and fun. rest in peace chef."