Keith Floyd named most decadent foodie by Olive magazine

05 February 2007 by Emily Manson

Keith Floyd, the infamous bon viveur, restaurateur and TV chef has been named the most decadent foodie of all time.

Known for his love of red wine and gutsy food, Floyd originally shot to fame in the 1980s with his TV programmes, but has now beaten Anthony Bourdain, Marco Pierre White and Delia Smith to the title, top foodie, by Olive magazine.

He said: "I am delighted to have been nominated most decadent foodie by Olive. Food has been at the heart of my life for so many years. There is one more thing - love. Love for food and love for those you invite to your table."

US chef Anthony Bourdain took second place, after exploring gastronomic experiences as diverse as ants' eggs, sheep's testicles and even a whole cobra.

Former Michelin-starred chef/restaurateur Marco Pierre White beat Delia Smith to take third place, while the Norwich FC supporter was still in the premier league, coming in fourth.

Other famous faces to make it into Olive's top 50 most decadent foodies include Henry VIII, the gluttonous Tudor monarch who consumed so much he had to be carried by servants.

Olive's top 50 decadent foodies

1. Keith Floyd
2. Anthony Bourdain
3. Marco Pierre White
4. Delia Smith
5. Oz Clarke
6. Boris Johnson
7. Marina O'Loughlin
8. Greg Wallace
9. Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths in Withnail and I)
10. Peter Langan and Richard Shepherd
11. Richard Corrigan
12. Dale Degroff
13. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
14. Graham Kerr
15. Giles Coren
16. Two Fat Ladies
17. Raymond Blanc
18. Henry VIII
19. Fergus Henderson
20. Jonathan Meades
21. Jonathan Downey
22. Damien Hirst
23. Iqbal Wahab
24. Stephen Fry
25. Alan Crompton-Batt
26. Charles Campion
27. Matthew Norman
28. Chris Evans
29. Salvatore Calabrese
30. The Swedish Chef
31. Christopher Hirst
32. Gerard Depardieu
33. Geoff Merill
34. Dick Bradsell
35. Antonin Careme
36. Jeffrey Steingarten
37. Oliver Peyton
38. Sir Clement Freud
39. Elizabeth David
40. Bill Baker
41. The Hairy Bikers
42. Piers Morgan
43. Sir Michael Caine
44. Will Self
45. Zoe Williams
46. Rowley Leigh
47. Babette (from Babette's Feast)
48. Janet Street-Porter
49. Ben Reed
50. Antonio Carluccio