Career: Despite being untrained, Fearnley-Whittingstall became a sous chef at the River Cafe, but claims he had to leave because he was too messy. Since then, he's worked as a restaurant critic, but gained fame by hosting A Cook on the Wild Side and TV series Escape to River Cottage in 1999, which focused on his experiences of running a self-sufficient smallholding in Dorset. It also showcased his love of using ingredients growing naturally in the countryside. He's hosted several spin-off series, including TV Dinners, The River Cottage Treatment, and Treats from the Edwardian Country House. He has his own production company and spearheaded a campaign to highlight the maltreatment of animals, particularly chickens.