Rick Stein's rollercoaster life from tragic death of dad to five-year affair
Renowned restauranteur Rick Stein has endured a turbulent journey on his way to the top.
He is one of the most recognisable chefs on TV after more than 40 years of fronting popular cooking shows that have taken him all over the world. And alongside his telly appearances, he's penned over 25 cookbooks whilst running restaurants in the UK and overseas.
In his latest BBC series Rick Stein's Food Stories, he immerses himself in the food traditions of others, this time in the North West. In tonight's episode, he takes a trip to the famous Bury market and meets Manchester chef Joe Otway, of the celebrated Higher Ground.
But away from his work, he has overcome some tough battles in his life, including his father's tragic suicide, a difficult divorce, and more recently, suffering with his health. He has had major surgery on his heart, which has left him feeling good, but he has admitted that at 77, he can't have much longer left.
"Even though at my age and with the normal realities of life I'm not going to last that much longer, I think as long as you've got your health and you're optimistic generally and enjoying your life, you don't tend to ponder too much about how little life you've got left," the chef told The One Show. Here, The Mirror takes a look at Rick's marriages, family tragedy and his famous children...
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Rick Stein's family heartbreak
The Stein family pictured before Rick's father Eric tragically jumped off a cliff (BBC)
Rick said it took him until his 70s to finally forgive his dad for what he did (BBC)In 1965 when Rick was just 18, his father Eric committed suicide by jumping from a cliff near the family’s holiday home on Trevose Head, a National Trust beauty spot in North Cornwall. Eric, who had bipolar disorder, had just retired from his role as Managing Director at Distillers Company – then involved in the marketing of controversial birth defect drug Thalidomide.
He was on a walk with Rick’s sister Zoe when he suddenly jumped. Rick later discovered he had made several attempts to take his own life before this. He had never been close with his father. "I suspect that if he had survived until I was in my twenties, our relationship would have improved," Stein told the Independent.
Distraught by his father’s sudden death, Rick went to Australia where he worked in an abattoir and in a naval dockyard before taking some time out by travelling to New Zealand and Mexico. But it wasn’t until he reached his 70s that Rick revealed he had finally forgiven his father for what he did.
He told the Radio Times in 2020: “The suicide of a parent is a kick in the teeth. But I have to say that latterly – and I never would have believed this – I’m much more aware of my father’s positive side. The older I get, the more I want to be like him. I’m so much older than he was when he died. But there you go. You know, I think I have probably forgiven him.”
Rick Stein's two wives and affair scandal
Rick with first wife Jill, who he was married to for 27 years and is still business partners with (Mirror pix)Rick met his first wife Jill Newstead in the early 1970s after he came back from Australia and settled in Padstow, Cornwall. They married in 1975 and that same year opened The Seafood Restaurant, a small bistro on the harbourside in Padstow that remains there today and would become the start of the Stein restaurant empire.
They were married for 27 years until it emerged Rick had been having an affair with his Australian publicist Sarah Burns, who is 20 years his junior. When wife Jill found out, she slapped both Rick and Sarah across the face in a packed restaurant. Back in 2013, Rick told the Mirror he knew he was in the wrong but said overwork and stress was to blame for the affair. He said: "The business was eating us alive. What happened had nothing to do with Jill. It’s more to do with the nature of the restaurant business - it’s just so bloody demanding.
Rick and second wife, former publicist Sarah who he had a five-year affair with (Getty Images)“It takes over your life and our lives didn’t exist outside it. The more successful we got, we had to keep the restaurant going all year and then we didn’t go away on our holidays. We didn’t have a life outside the business and we kind of fell out of love. I’d never [been unfaithful] before and I certainly won’t do it again, that’s for sure. I’m just so happy now. Obviously, it’s not great for the person who has been left, but it’s not great for you either."
Despite Sarah being on the other side of the world, Rick managed to keep the affair secret from Jill for five years - and only found out when she discovered a heap of international phone bills. After the slapping incident, he begged Jill to take him back. She refused and he went back to Sarah. They married in 2011 and he now splits his time between London, Australia and Cornwall. But he remains on good terms with ex Jill, who still helps run his empire.
Rick Stein's famous kids
Rick has three sons, but chef Jack is easily the most recognisable (ITV)Rick and first wife Jill have three sons together, who are all big players in the Stein family business. Ed, 44, is the eldest and in charge of property, architecture and design and led the recent expansion of the business outside the sites in Cornwall. The official Stein website says he is also a keen forager, fisherman, beekeeper, orchard manager and vegetable grower.
Jack, 42, is chef-director of the family’s hotel and restaurant empire and is perhaps the most recognisable as he has followed his famous dad into TV, appearing on shows such as Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch and Steph’s Packed Lunch. After learning his trade in his dad’s kitchens, he worked at restaurants all over the world before taking on his current role in 2017 and launching his own cookery course at Rick Stein’s Cookery School. He was even voted the Best Chef in the 2023 Food Magazine Reader Awards.
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Youngest son Charlie, 37, is a former wine merchant who is now co-director of the family business and officially in charge of the booze. He has appeared on TV too alongside big brother Jack in Wine, Dine and Stein.
Rick Stein has a very famous nephew
DJ Judge Jules, appearing on MasterChef, is Rick Stein's nephew (PA)Not many people will know that Rick has a very famous nephew – who is none other than trance DJ Judge Jules. The revelation came to light during an episode of Celebrity MasterChef in 2019, in which Jules – whose real name is Julius O’Riordan - appeared on. During a chat with host Gregg Wallace he revealed that while he isn’t a judge, he is a qualified lawyer away from his career as a DJ.
Asked what the connection was between law, music and cooking, Jules dropped the bombshell: “Me Uncle. Rick Stein.” He then revealed how Rick used to be a DJ too in his younger days “so there’s a bit of a weird synergy thing going on there”.
Rick Stein's health worries
Rick is now 77 and recently underwent a major heart operation on orders from his doctor who spotted a problem with his aorta. Though it went well and he is feeling much better, he admitted he fears he might not have long left to live, but is making the most of what time he does have left.
He told The Times: “Having had the operation and recovered, the improvement in my health has left me tremendously optimistic. Even though at my age and with the normal realities of life, I'm not going to last that much longer, I think as long as you've got your health and you're optimistic generally and enjoying your life, you don't tend to ponder too much about how little life you've got left."
The culinary legend revealed he was out of breath for years before doctors said he needed surgery to save his life. Rick got the surgery last year at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Before going under the knife, his doctor saw his heart test results and said his aorta was in trouble. Medicine could help for a bit, but surgery was a must. "And then, a bit over a year ago, he said, 'You're going to have to have the op'," Rick recalled.
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