BBC’s Saturday Kitchen legend Russell Norman left a fortune of £1.4million to his family after his untimely death at 57 last November. The culinary maestro, who was also a successful restaurateur and mentor to aspiring chefs on the telly, bequeathed a whopping £1,437,000 including business and personal assets.
His will, penned in 2013, instructed that his estate should go to his estranged wife Jules Norman, whom he married in 2004 but had separated from before his passing. He also expressed his desire to be cremated and for his partner to inherit his shares in his businesses.
Known as “the coolest man in food” for his trailblazing dishes, Norman authored four cookbooks following his rise to fame on the much-loved BBC show Saturday Kitchen.
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Born in Perivale, North West London, Russell discovered his passion for cooking after leaving a short-lived career as a civil servant. He worked various roles in hotel restaurants before launching the iconic Soho bar Polpo in 2009, which became famous for its innovative small plates, blaring music, and hipster wait staff.
Norman was known for his no-reservations policy, turning away even the most VIP of diners.
(Image: Getty Images)
He later opened the acclaimed Italian eatery Brutto and the trendy cocktail spot Spuntino. A February inquest revealed the star died in the garden of his Ashford, Kent home following a heated row with his girlfriend while under the influence.
Details about when he and Jules parted ways remain vague, but she was present at his side at the time of his death, reports The Sun.
He was discovered on November 18 and immediately taken to hospital, tragically passing away without regaining consciousness five days later. A gripping courtroom saga unfolded as jurors heard how the wealthy Russell retreated into his Pluckley garden following a spat with his partner, Dr Genevieve Verdigel.
Reliving the harrowing incident, art historian Dr Verdigel recounted her alarm upon finding her partner unresponsive: “I ran back inside to call 999.” In disarray, she attempted lifesaving efforts, exclaiming, “I was trying to do CPR. I was screaming and the people next door came round.”
The inquiry shed light on the sad reality that Russell had succumbed to a level of intoxication double that deemed legal for driving, alongside battling “suicidal tendencies” observed in the lead-up to his untimely end.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
