A MUCH-LOVED celebrity chef with links to west Dorset has been named in a poll of the best TV chefs of all time.

Keith Floyd, who was known for fronting TV cooking programmes with a pan in one hand and a glass of red wine, sadly passed away in 2009 at his partner's home in Bridport following a heart attack.

The iconic star - who became a household name in the 1980s, years before today’s celebrity chefs appeared on our screens - has now been named as one of the greatest ever in a poll by research agency Perspectus Global.

Mr Floyd came in at a respectable seventh place, just behind Rick Stein. In first, second and third place respectively, were present-day TV greats Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Mary Berry.

Meanwhile the study revealed that the average Brit watches up to five hours of cookery programmes every week, and that 71% will now search for a cookery clip online, rather than reaching for a recipe book.

Evie Porter of Perspectus Global said: “As the festive season approaches and the nation’s thoughts turn to food, we wanted to find out who the best loved TV chefs were, and it’s interesting to see that Gordon Ramsay, who has divided viewers with his sometimes foul-mouthed antics, has come out number one.”

Top 20 greatest tv chefs of all time

1. Gordon Ramsay – 41%

2. Jamie Oliver – 31%

3. Mary Berry – 25%

4. Delia Smith – 24%

5. Nigella Lawson – 23%

6. Rick Stein – 20%

7. Keith Floyd – 19%

8. James Martin – 17%

9. Raymond Blanc – 16%

10. Marco Pierre White – 15%

11. Fanny Cradock – 14%

12. Ainsley Harriott – 14%

13. Michel Roux Jr – 14%

14. Heston Blumenthal – 13%

15. Paul Hollywood – 10%

16. Nadiya Hussain – 8%

17. Anthony Warral Thompson – 6%

18. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – 6%

19. Madhur Jaffrey – 5%

20. Clarissa Dickson Wright – 4%