Currently hosting UKTV’s popular Food Uncut, Merrilees Parker has an impressive record in worldwide TV and food programming.

Always a keen cook, her enthusiasm turned into a passion when, aged 17, she took a job as a chalet girl in France. The chef was impressed with her natural talent and inspired her to continue cooking once she returned to London. Once home, she immediately joined the kitchen at the Eagle, London’s first gastropub.

Television production also fascinated her and Merrilees was able to combine her twin interests by beginning her TV career researching for the BBC and Channel 4. A natural in the kitchen, she was quickly noted as a talented home economist and food stylist.

Working with Antony Worrall Thompson introduced her to the intensive world of event and corporate catering through his company, Wiz Events. In this role, Merrilees worked as a chef at live events, including London Fashion Week and The Motor Show. She further developed her style at the Lansdowne in London’s Primrose Hill, earning rave reviews for her no-nonsense cuisine.

Her first big break came with Anything You Can Cook, a 27-part BBC2 series co-presented by Brian Turner. She followed this with a spell as resident cook on House Call, BBC1’s live daytime show, which aired through 2001.

Merrilees has gone on to guest regularly on BBC2’s Saturday Kitchen and UKTV Food’s Great Food Live, as well as becoming one of the main presenters on BBC2’s primetime series, Full On Food. She has also become a popular face on the USA’s prestigious Food Network, hosting and cooking on Planet Food’s long-running series of 50-minute food and travel programmes; the series also airs worldwide and will soon be seen on UK screens.

Merrilees also runs Pink Food, her own catering company, and speaks fluent French.