Yak Yak Yak: ICEx it’s the joy of chefs

Last week I spent a fun evening watching Latest Bill’s film of the extraordinary Lynn Ruth Miller, the octogenarian comedian, raconteur and burlesque artiste, yes you read that right. And after the screening I interviewed them, asking them about what it is that drives them on.

Funnily enough most of the things I wanted to ask them were things that I could easily ask myself, what is it that drives me forward? Well a week ago I realised what it is.

Three years ago I started a project called International Chef Exchange. It started in Maastricht when I met an extraordinary chef called Audrey Eussen. She was quite brilliant and sparked in me an idea to bring her to Brighton in an exchange project. When I got back I put the wheels in motion with the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival and I engaged with the restaurant at Drakes Hotel who became the most valuable partners in setting the project on its course.

Take a look on Amazon Prime and enjoy the joy of chefs

I then went to Bill Smith, we had launched Latest TV at that point, and asked if I could have a camera crew to film it. It was the start of an incredible journey that has taken me around the world meeting amazing chefs and food and drink producers.

It also turned me into a TV maker. When I started I was 57 and a novice. Now I am 60 and although I would never claim to be an expert I feel that I have learnt so much – and there is the answer, that it was drives me on.

There is another driving force of course and that is recognition, who amongst us does not like to be recognised for their achievements? When the series was finished it was gratifying to hear from friends and strangers alike that they had enjoyed the programmes. Now that recognition has reached a new level as International Chef Exchange is on Amazon Prime, yes you read that right, my programme has gone global and is already being seen by a huge and new audience. They have declared it to be the very opposite of Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Hell, a programme I love by the way. It is certainly about food passion and is not car crash TV, far from it. That said there are disasters and lots of laughs along the way.

If you missed it on Latest TV then take a look on Amazon Prime and enjoy the joy of chefs!