RIP Keith Floyd

Yesterday's Times ran an obituary for Keith Floyd, the British chef, cookbook author, and cooking show host who died on Monday at the age of 65. Although his name is hardly as well-known as Julia Child's or even the Frugal Gourmet's, Floyd earned a devoted following here and in the U.K. for his shows, which were aired throughout the 1980s. Long before the Food Network gave rise to the cooking show cult of personality, Floyd invigorated the format with his humor, flamboyance, and trademark bowties. He made over 20 series with the BBC, including Floyd on France, Floyd on Fish, and Floyd's American Pie. The YouTube clip above shows Floyd making slow-cooked beef in red wine. "For those of you who are vegetarians, switch off," he warns. "Because this program is going to really upset you."