Michael Bukht - A tribute

Canterbury's Michael Bukht who has died at the age of 69 led a double life - as radio executive and one of the original TV cooks

Under his alter ego - Michael Barry - Bukht was known to millions as a presenter and 'crafty cook' on BBC2 television's  Food and Drink series, along with Chris Kelly and Jilly Goolden, during the 1980s and 90s.

He was the chef on the programmes, demonstrating the cooking and offering "crafty" tips to viewers, and he wrote nearly 30 cookery books. He was also chairman of the Food producers marketing organisation; Kentish fare

In his 'other' life Bukht studied history at King's College London and began a long and varied career in television and radio in 1963 as a BBC trainee where he worked on Mrs Dale's Diary and The World At One

He left the BBC to work in South Africa and Jamaica but moved to Canterbury in 1985 where he became Managing Director of Invicta radio, a forerunner to Heart. He stayed in Kent for the rest of his life. Staff from the time say he had no tolerance for 'inane patter!'

Later, Michael joined the GWR group and in 1992 was one of the co-founders of Classic FM, he was awarded an OBE in 1996.

Bukht was born to a Pakistani diplomat father and a domestic science teacher mother whose family originated from south Wales. He married the actor and dancer Jennie Jones in 1964, and is survived by her, a son and three daughters.

Mirza Michael John Bukht (Michael Barry), Radio executive, TV chef and  journalist, born 10 September 1941; died 4 August 2011

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