Hugh C. E. Fearnley-Whittingstall (born 14 January 1965) is a British celebrity chef, smallholder, television presenter, journalist, food writer and "real food" campaigner, known for his back-to-basics philosophy. He is best known for being the lead personality in the River Cottage series on UK's Channel 4, which focuses on his efforts to become a self-reliant downshifted smallholder in rural England and feed himself, family and friends with locally produced and sourced fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs and meat.

Born in Piccadilly, London and brought up in Gloucestershire, Fearnley-Whittingstall was educated at Eton College and St. Peter's College, Oxford, where he read philosophy and psychology.

After graduating from university, he began a career in conservation work in Africa. He then spent a brief period as a sous-chef at River Café. Fearnley-Whittingstall says "being messy" and "lacking discipline" made him unsuited to working in the River Café kitchen. He regards it as an event that helped shape his current career.

He became a freelance journalist, published in Punch, the Evening Standard and The Sunday Times. In 1994 Macmillan published his Cuisine Bon Marché, which contained recipes and guidance on a wide range of food commonly found in British markets.

He is married to Marie and has two sons, Oscar and Freddy, and a daughter Chloe. His wife has recently had another baby called Louisa. They live on 37.19-acre (150,500 m²) Park Farm near Uplyme, close to the Dorset-Devon border.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall was voted "man of the year" in the Whickham lifestyle competition in 2007 and 2008. After a vote in early January 2009 he became the first person to win this award three years in a row.

His mother is gardener and writer Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall. His father is Robert Fearnley-Whittingstall.

His favourite type of apple is the Ashmead's Kernel.

Source: Wikipedia.org