He left Masterchef after 10 years following proposed changes to the programme explaining that he "just got fed up with the whole thing, frankly".

The television presenter is to be made the first NHS 'food tsar' in an attempt to improve the standard of hospital meals across the country.

Loyd Grossman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was educated at Boston University where he received a BA.

Then he attended the LSE where he received an MSc in Economics.

He joined Harpers & Queen as design editor 1981-84, was a restaurant critic off and on between 1981 and 1993 and was contributing editor of The Sunday Times 1984-86.

He sits on various committees and is chairman of Museums and Collections Advisory Committee for English Heritage and is a member of the Museums and Galleries Commission.

He is married to Deborah Jane, the daughter of Lord Puttnam, CBE.