Food fame beckons as Sunderland chef Ryan Riley makes his Saturday Kitchen debut on BBC One

Sunderland chef Ryan Riley who runs the Life Kitchen charity, is now a TV chef following his appearance on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen. Picture by Stu Norton.

Ryan appeared on Saturday Kitchen on BBC One, showing the nation how to prepare parmesan cod with salt and vinegar cucumber, which he described on the programme as “a really amazing, quick, simple lunch dish”.

The former Washington School pupil appeared on the popular Saturday morning cookery show alongside presenter and chef Matt Tebbut, wine expert Olly Smith and fellow chef Brad Carter.

The show’s special guest was New Tricks and Sexy Beastactress, Amanda Redman.

Ryan, 26, is the founder of Life Kitchen - a charitable project providing free cooking classes for people living with cancer and their families.

He was inspired to start the charity after losing his mother Krista to cancer in 2014, at the age of just 47.

It is operated from a formerly run-down building in Mowbray Park and was officially opened by Nigella Lawson in 2019. Jamie Oliver and Sue Perkins were other famous names to support the scheme.

Ryan has also written a cookery book; Life Kitchen featuring “quick, easy, mouth-watering recipes to revive the joy of eating”, which he promoted on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio.

After his television appearance, Ryan tweeted: “Thank you so so so much to Saturday Kitchen for such a fabulous time. My first time cooking live on TV! The Life Kitchen cookbook is out now.

“Thank you Matt Tebbutt, Olly Smith, Brad Carter and Amanda Redman for looking after me!”