Gary Rhodes documentary will show heartbreaking footage of chef's final hours

The ITV documentary will explore Gary's culinary career and his passion for celebrating British food as well as feature celebrities including Gordon Ramsay, Sir Alex Ferguson, Cheryl Baker and Ainsley Harriott.

A new ITV documentary about Gary Rhodes will see the chef in his final hours before he collapsed at home.

The MasterChef star tragically died at the age of 59 in November 2019 with his wife, Jennie, by his side as the result of a subdural hematoma - a bleed on the brain.

His family released a statement shortly after his death following "painful speculation" to confirm that after a "successful day" filming for a new ITV cookery show, Gary collapsed at their home and was rushed to hospital but died two days late.

The new documentary, Gary Rhodes: The First Rockstar Chef, will feature the heartbreaking footage of Gary gazing into the sunset while sat on a sand dune in the Dubai desert.

Adding to the poignant moment, Ainsley Harriott says in the film's voiceover: "As the sun set on what would have been his final day of filming, Gary felt on top of the world.

"Later that evening at home with [wife] Jennie, Gary collapsed and was rushed to hospital suffering from a subdural haematoma.

"Two days later, and with his family at his bedside, he died."

The one-off documentary will also explore his culinary career and his passion for celebrating British food and include archive footage from across the years as well as feature celebrities including Ainsley, Gordon Ramsay, Sir Alex Ferguson and Cheryl Baker.

They all pay tribute to the award-winning chef, and remember him as a family man and as a dear friend.

Gary's two sons Sam and George will also feature, sharing their memories of their dad cooking for the family - including the painstaking process of the preparation of his puddings after Sunday roasts.

In the programme, which airs on Saturday at 11:40am on ITV, Manchester United great Sir Alex remembers of the time he took the Manchester United players to Mayfair's Greenhouse restaurant, where Gary, a United fan, was head chef at the time.

He said: "We go back more than 20 years ago when he was a chef at the Greenhouse restaurant.

"My PA said there was a great chef who was a Man United fan who would love to meet you. He was a great chef, it was fantastic and that was my first time. We kept a friendship going for years after that."

Explaining his love for the Reds, Sam says: "When he was quite young his family moved up to Manchester
and it was there, when he was five years old, that he found his love for Manchester United."

George added: "It was Manchester United or nothing for Dad which meant it was Man Utd or nothing for us as well."

Gordon Ramsay also pays tribute to Gary saying: "Behind all that facade, behind all that character, was a real genius of a chef.

"He opened the door for so many of us to prove that you can be talented in your restaurant and on TV and that’s the difference.

"In the 90s, 95% of TV chefs didn't have restaurants, they barely had delis and sandwich bars, but this guy managed to have both.

"He was the real deal, he really knew his onions."

The talented chef earned five Michelin stars during his career and was awarded an OBE in 2006.

Gary appeared on popular BBC cookery programme Masterchef as well as Hell's Kitchen and he also fronted his own shows including Rhodes Around Britain and Rhodes Across China.

The celebrity chef also became well recognised for his trademark spikey hair do and an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.

Jamie Oliver described the father-of-two as "a fantastic chef and "incredible ambassador for British cooking" whilst James Martin also added that he was a "gent and genius".

Gary Rhodes: The First Rockstar Chef is on February 15 at 11.40am on ITV.