Rick Stein on his TV future after saying he’s ‘not going to last much longer’
The celebrity chef has been on the small screen since the 80s
What did you miss?
Rick Stein has explained why he keeps making TV after he said that he thought he was “not going to last that much longer”.
The TV chef, 77, had heart surgery in 2023 and told The Times earlier this month that at his age “and with the normal realities of life” he may not have a lot of time left. However, the star said he was feeling “optimistic” after the surgery and has gone on to unveil a new show, Rick Stein's Food Stories, and announce a theatre tour.
And speaking on ITV’s This Morning, he has now shared just what keeps bringing him back to television.
What, how, and why?
Opening up to hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, Stein said that he loves working with his crew and that filming with them is like being on holiday with family. “I’ve always loved crews, I still do,” he said.
“Do you know, the real reason I still do TV is because I love the crew I work with… the banter, and also when you finish work, you have a drink and you always look forward to it. We always used to say at 5.29pm, the toys have been put away and we are going to have a beer.”
Stein, who has been on TV since the 80s, went on: “It’s like going on holidays with your family. "Because we know each other and... We have tiffs but they are not serious because we know exactly how we all operate.”
What else did Rick Stein say?
The chef also talked about his theatre tour, which kicks off in March and includes 14 stops up and down the country.
He told the presenters: “I just like an audience, it’s funny, you know, because I’m a chef. Why would I like an audience? I just, you know, I’m sure you’ve felt it, when you get a great reaction from the people in the audience it just spurs you on to do, sort of, good things.”
It comes after Rick told The Times that he feared he was "not going to last that much longer". He told the publication: “Having had the operation and recovered, the improvement in my health has left me tremendously optimistic."
He added: “Even though at my age and with the normal realities of life I'm not going to last that much longer. I think as long as you’ve got your health and you’re optimistic generally and enjoying your life, you don’t tend to ponder too much about how little life you’ve got left.”
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