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Saturday Kitchen sensation Russell Norman left a staggering £1.4million to his wife following his tragic passing, it has emerged today.
The celebrated BBC chef and restaurateur, who passed away in November last year, bequeathed the hefty inheritance to his loved ones, including his three offspring; Ollie, Martha, and Mabel. His estate, valued at £1,437,000, encompasses both business interests and personal belongings, as per recent disclosures.
According to his will, drafted in 2013, his wealth was to be transferred to his estranged spouse Jules Norman, whom he married in 2004 but from whom he had parted ways prior to his demise. The culinary maestro, hailing from Perivale in west London, also expressed his desire for cremation and instructed that his partner should inherit his stake in his ventures, as reported by The Sun.
At 57, Russell was revered for guiding aspiring chefs on television and earned the title "the coolest man in food" due to his trailblazing gastronomic creations. He also authored four cookbooks, rising to prominence through the much-loved BBC show Saturday Kitchen.
Russell, an English graduate, initially embarked on a career as a civil servant before venturing into the culinary world. In 2009, he launched the iconic Soho establishment Polpo with a colleague, marking the start of his illustrious journey in the food industry, reports the Mirror.
However, in a distressing turn of events, the father was urgently taken to hospital unconscious after a dispute with his girlfriend in November 2023. Sadly, he passed away five days later, and a February inquest concluded that Russell's death was a suicide by hanging.
Testimonies during the inquest revealed that he had exhibited "suicidal tendencies" leading up to his untimely end.
Coroner Katrina Hepburn relayed a heart-rending statement from Russell Norman's partner, Dr Genevieve Verdigel, an art expert, who found him unresponsive in the garden. She recounted the traumatic experience: "I ran back inside to call 999. I was trying to do CPR. I was screaming and the people next door came round."
Following the esteemed chef's passing, social media channels swelled with heartfelt homage from fans and television colleagues alike. Celebrated cooking star and former Saturday Kitchen host James Martin commemorated him as a "giant" in the culinary arena.
Esteemed food critic Jay Rayner paid respects to the illustrious restaurateur, expressing his condolences online: "So sorry to hear of the death, far too young, of Russell Norman."
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