Russell Norman dead at 57: BBC Saturday Kitchen chef and award-winning restaurant owner dies after short health battle
His best friend and business partner has revealed the star's last moments
A BBC star, chef and award-winning restaurant owner has died after a short health battle.
Russell Norman sadly passed away aged 57 in hospital surrounded by his family and friends on Thursday.
A close friend said Russell’s wife Jules and three children were at his bedside at the time.
The tragedy comes just weeks after his fourth cookbook was published.
Russell was well-known for presenting BBC2‘s six-part doc The Restaurant Man.
The 2014 series saw Russell use his extensive knowledge to help others make their restaurants a success.
One year later, he made an appearance on hit show Saturday Kitchen to cook up a storm.
Business partner Richard Beatty, who co-founded restaurants Spuntino and Polpo with Russell, has since paid tribute to his “best friend”.
He said: “It is with the greatest sadness I announce the loss of my best friend Russell Norman.
“After a short battle in hospital, he died surrounded by family and friend.
“Russell is survived by his wife and three children, I ask that you respect the privacy of his family, friends and colleagues at this time.”
Restaurant critic Jay Rayner paid tribute, adding: “So sorry to hear of the death, far too young, of Russell Norman.
“He was one of the most gifted of restaurateurs, a terrific writer and an awful lot of fun to be around.
“He very much lived life his own way. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
It is not yet known how the talented chef died.
In 2021, Russell founded restaurant Trattoria BRUTTO and soon had a long waiting list of customers wanting to dine there.
It’s understood his wife Jules and son Ollie will now run it.
Russell first made headlines when he won an award for his first cookbook in 2012.
POLPO: A Venetian Cookbook (of Sorts) bagged Waterstones Book of The Year.
In 2016, his second cookbook won the Guild Food Writers Award for best food and travel book.
Russell previously described his third project – VENICE: Four Seasons of Home Cooking – like an exile.
He said: “I exiled myself i the world’s most beautiful city for over a year in order to learn to cook like a 90-year-old Venetian granny.”
His latest book to hit the shelves before he passed was BRUTTO: A Simple Florentine Cookbook.
