Richard E Grant and Jamie Oliver paid tribute to Australian celebrity chef Skye Gyngell on Sunday following her death from a rare skin cancer at the age of 62.
Skye was Australia’s first female recipient of a Michelin star and passed away following a fight with Merkel cell carcinoma.
Her heartbroken family issued a statement overnight saying: ‘We are deeply saddened to share news of Skye Gyngell’s passing on 22nd November in London, surrounded by her family and loved ones.’
Actor Richard, 68, paid tribute to her on Instagram after the news broke, saying Skye had kindly sent his family food parcels when his wife Joan was diagnosed with lung cancer.
He also told how Skye catered for Richard’s daughter Olivia’s wedding last September – as he shared snaps from the nuptials to his Story.Â
Richard penned in his tribute: ‘Devastated to hear that Chef Supremo Skye Gyngell has died.Â
Richard E Grant and Jamie Oliver paid tribute to Australian celebrity chef Skye Gyngell on Sunday following her death from a rare skin cancer at the age of 62
Actor Richard, 68, paid tribute to her on Instagram after the news broke, saying Skye had kindly sent his family food parcels when his wife Joan was diagnosed with lung cancer
‘I met Skye at Petersham Nurseries 21 years ago, became good friends, cooked through all her recipe books each summer in the south of France and in London, and when my wife was diagnosed, she sent us sublime food parcels to lift our spirits.Â
‘Her final act of generosity was to cater for our daughter @oliviagranted wedding last September. I will continue to cook her unique recipes as long as I am lucky enough to live.’
Meanwhile fellow chef Jamie, 50, wrote in his tribute: ‘This is incredibly sad to hear of her passing @sykegyngell was an amazing Cook and wonderful person she will be very missed rest in peace sweet lady.’
Her family’s statement continued: ‘Skye was a culinary visionary who influenced generations of chefs and growers globally to think about food and its connection to the land.
‘She leaves behind a remarkable legacy and is an inspiration to us all.’
Gyngell passed away following a fight with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and fast-growing skin cancer diagnosed when she found a lump on her neck in April 2024.
Gyngell was the daughter of legendary broadcaster Bruce Gyngell and his first wife, interior designer Ann Gyngell (née Barr), whose death was confirmed only days before her daughter’s.Â
Richard penned in his social media tribute: ‘Devastated to hear that Chef Supremo Skye Gyngell has died…’
He also told how Skye catered for Richard’s daughter Olivia’s wedding last September – as he shared snaps from the nuptials to his Story
Meanwhile fellow chef Jamie, 50, wrote in his tribute: ‘This is incredibly sad to hear of her passing @sykegyngell…’
He shared an image of her to his Story as he paid tributeÂ
He continued his tribute in another Story postÂ
Her heartbroken family issued a statement overnight saying: ‘We are deeply saddened to share news of Skye Gyngell’s passing on 22nd November in London’ (seen in 2015)
News of her mother’s death was was shared publicly by Channel Nine presenter Leila McKinnon, who is married to Gyngell’s brother, David Gyngell.Â
Born in Sydney in 1963, Gyngell trained in France and later worked in London before becoming head chef at Petersham Nurseries Café in Richmond when it opened in 2004.Â
She earned a Michelin star for the restaurant seven years later – the first and still the only Australian woman to do so.Â
She went on to become culinary director at Heckfield Place in 2012 and two years later opened her own celebrated restaurant, Spring, at Somerset House.Â
Alongside her restaurant work, Gyngell published several cookbooks and contributed widely to food writing.Â
