Rise of the Rockstar Chef: the BBC series on Marco Pierre White and a young Gordon Ramsay everyone is talking about

Updated 6 Nov 2026, 12:37 · First published 6 Nov 2026

A new BBC Two series tells the story of how a group of young, rebellious chefs turned British food upside down, led by Marco Pierre White and a young Gordon Ramsay. Rise of the Rockstar Chef started on Thursday night, and every episode is already on BBC iPlayer.

What is Rise of the Rockstar Chef about?

The documentary goes back to the late 1980s, when Marco Pierre White opened Harvey’s in Wandsworth in 1987 and took on the stuffy, French-influenced world of British fine dining. With his long hair, cigarettes and fierce temper, he became the first “rockstar chef”, and his kitchen became a training ground for the next generation.

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Where does Gordon Ramsay come in?

A young Gordon Ramsay worked under Marco Pierre White at Harvey’s, and their relationship, and later famous falling-out, is one of the threads running through the series. It also follows the rise of Heston Blumenthal and the chefs who went on to win Michelin stars of their own.

Who else appears?

Contributors include Marcus Wareing, Michel Roux Jr, Angela Hartnett, Clare Smyth and Tom Kerridge, many of whom learned their trade in the kitchens the series explores.

Read their stories: the chefs’ books

Loved the series? All three chefs have written books about their lives and their food, and they make a great Christmas present for any foodie.

White Heat 25Marco Pierre WhiteThe 25th anniversary edition of the legendary 1990 cookbook that inspired a generation of chefs, Gordon Ramsay included.View on Amazon ›

The Devil in the KitchenMarco Pierre WhiteHis autobiography: the kitchens, the tempers and the three Michelin stars.View on Amazon ›

Humble PieGordon RamsayGordon’s own story, from football to the top of the food world.View on Amazon ›

Idiot SandwichGordon RamsayMore than 100 sandwich recipes, named after his famous ‘idiot sandwich’ catchphrase.View on Amazon ›

Heston Blumenthal at HomeHeston BlumenthalHeston’s science-led recipes, written for the home cook.View on Amazon ›

Is This A Cookbook?Heston BlumenthalA playful look at food, memory and the senses.View on Amazon ›

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Is it worth watching?

If you love food or grew up watching Ramsay shout at people on TV, this is the origin story. And because the whole series is on iPlayer, it is an easy weekend binge.

Sources: BBC, Where To Watch, Deadline. Main image is a stock photo.