FORGET the Great British Bake Off.

A Lymm man has launched a radio station in response to our craze for culinary creations.

Andy Richards presents Chef Radio from his home studio in Massey Avenue and works with some of the most celebrated chefs like Marco Pierre White, Simon Rimmer, Paul Hollywood and Aldo Zilli.

But 15 years ago the dad-of-two knew nothing about food and cooking.

His interest started when he took a van and lorry driving job with Peter's Food Service in Warrington, dropping food to catering outlets across the north west.

Andy said: "I didn’t know an avocado from a passion fruit at first. It was a minefield. Those first couple of months were a nightmare."

But he began to enjoy it and after three years Andy started a job for his wife Karen Richards' parents' catering recruitment business Anne Stewart.

The company was based in Stockton Heath at the time and moved to Wilderspool Causeway and Andy arranged chef placements.

Then a visit to Chester Race Course Food and Drink Festival was enough to convince him to carve his own career in the food industry.

Andy added: "I thoroughly enjoyed the food festival atmosphere and tasting and smelling all the lovely foods that were on offer. I also enjoyed watched chefs doing cooking demonstrations.

"It was funny because Simon Rimmer was there. He is now a good friend of mine. I know him very well and we do events together but at the time I didn’t even know who he was.

"I decided I wanted to do something different, challenging and interesting."

The first venture that Andy set up was a private chef hire agency

Andy, who has lived in Lymm for 14 years, said: "I recruited top class chefs who would work for me on a freelance basis. It worked well and I sent chefs to cater for celebrity events at the Beijing Olympic Games and Man United.

"I even had the England rugby team doing cup cake decorating."

Then the 50-year-old launched Chef Radio online seven months ago using all his contacts to set up regular interviews with chefs, nutritionists, travel writers and even a food archaeologist.

There is news on events and features on food education with Andy speaking to chefs and experts from all over the world.

Andy also had to get to grips with the technical side of setting up a radio station.

The former Culcheth High School pupil added: "It was a lot of hard work and it’s been a couple of years of studying but if you want to get somewhere in life the only person standing in your way is yourself really."

So how did the first broadcast go?

"I was terrified," said Andy, who has lived in the Warrington area for 25 years.

"I could have said let’s forget it but I’d already spent thousands of pounds setting it all up.

"Seven months later I’ve got my confidence. I’ve even given talks about Chef Radio at the Nantwich Cheese Awards

"I do stutter and get nervous from time to time but I’ve learnt how to get away with it like most presenters and politicians do. It’s all fun now."

Andy, who is currently managing chefs for an upcoming BBC programme, has also got to know The Great British Bake Off team through his work.

He added: "Paul Hollywood is a great guy and a really good entertainer. Mary Berry is lovely. She’s a really fragile old lady but so strong willed for her age. It’s been privilege to work with them.

"I call them up and we do events together. We also cook for celebrities. One of my chefs is about to cook for Elton John.

"I’m really passionate about food now and I’ve started to cook. My wife Karen is a chef so she did all the cooking when I first met her.

"It was only really when I started doing this delivery job that I learnt about food. I’ve picked stuff up from my wife and by working closely with chefs.

"At this time of the year I like to make wholesome vegetable soups and stews and warming things like that. But I love pasta dishes and vegetarian food."

- Anyone with a computer, tablet or smartphone can tune into Chef Radio. Visit chefradio.co.uk/listen-now

DAVID MORGAN