Gordon Ramsay, who is made an OBE, is the most famous and explosive of the current host of celebrity chefs on television.

Ramsay was on the books of Glasgow Rangers as a teenager, but injury put paid to his chances of a professional footballing career. Instead, he switched to cooking.

He now has restaurants in the Connaught, Claridge's, at the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, in Dubai and has set his eyes on more sites.

But he is best known for his uncompromising broadcasts, his fiery temper, sometimes filling the kitchen and the TV screen with streams of expletives.

It is his seemingly uncontrollable demeanour which makes him such a favourite with TV programme makers. Most recently, he has been the

star of several hit series, including Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen and The F-Word.

Meanwhile, Heston Blumenthal, proprietor of The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire - last April voted the best restaurant in the world - is also made an OBE. There is also an OBE for Alan Yau, a restaurateur who is said to have re-invented Chinese food in Britain.