Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson share tributes to Bill Granger after Australian celebrity chef’s death aged 54

British celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson have paid tribute to Bill Granger following the Australian food pioneer's tragic death from cancer at the age of 54.

Oliver, 48, took to Instagram to express his sadness: 'This is devastating news, I'm so sad to hear this, what a man he was…. a wonderful person, kind calm soul.'

“I admired everything he represented in food. I remember the first time I met him, many moons ago, he couldn't have been nicer and his food was so good,” Oliver added.

In a second tribute to Jamie's Instagram Story, the British celebrity chef wrote that he “loved Bill so much.”

“This is such sad news… I loved Bill Granger so much, he was such a wonderful man, warm, charming, and he had an extraordinary ease and cooking style that could only come from Australia,” Jamie wrote.

“Bless you Bill, so much love! What a guy. So much love for his family and friends.'

Meanwhile, Nigella, 63, said she was 'heartbroken' to hear Granger had died.

“He was the sweetest man, and the joy he gave us – whether through his food, his books, the spaces he made for us, or personally – came from the kindness, generosity and pure, radiant exuberance of himself. .it's too cruel,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

World-famous Australian chef Bill has died at the age of 54, his family revealed in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday.

“This is such sad news… I loved Bill Granger so much, he was such a wonderful man, warm, charming, and had an extraordinary ease and cooking style that could only come from Australia,” Jamie wrote in an Instagram post post

Meanwhile, Nigella Lawson, 63, (pictured) said she was 'heartbroken' to hear Granger had died.

“He was the sweetest man, and the joy he gave us – whether through his food, his books, the spaces he made for us, or personally – came from the kindness, generosity and pure, radiant exuberance of himself. .it's too cruel,” she wrote in an Instagram post

“He will be deeply missed by all, with his loss felt most deeply by his adored family, who are grateful for all the love and support given,” the message said.

“It is with great sadness that the family of Bill Granger announce that he passed away on December 25 at the age of 54.

'Bill, a devoted husband and father, died peacefully in hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters, Edie, Inès and Bunny, at his bedside in their adopted home in London.'

Australian chef Bill (pictured) died at the age of 54, his family revealed in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday

Former MasterChef judge Matt Preston also remembered Bill as a 'really nice guy and an inspiration'.

'I'm so sorry to hear this news… Together (with Natalie by his side) he helped shape the image of modern Australian food around the world. My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone he worked with at this sad time,” he wrote.

Australian actor Jason Donovan said Bill's death is “devastating” news.

'Wonderful father and husband. Fantastic man! Ray of Australian sunshine,” the former Neighbors star said.

Born in Melbourne, Bill was a self-taught chef who became a celebrated global restaurateur and food writer with a career spanning more than 30 years

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Bill was a self-taught chef who became a celebrated global restaurateur and food writer with a career spanning more than 30 years.

In 1999, he and his wife Natalie began a professional partnership that launched the company worldwide. Together they built a successful business that today has 19 restaurants in Sydney, London, Greater Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Seoul.

Bill wrote fourteen cookbooks, created five TV series and was recently honored with the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2023.

He will be remembered as the 'King of Breakfast' for turning unpretentious food into something special full of sunshine and for encouraging the growth of Australian casual and communal dining around the world.

The self-taught chef left art school at the age of 24 and opened his first 'Bills' restaurant in Sydney's Darlinghurst in 1992.

Bill went on to own an empire of 18 cafes and restaurants around the world, including Japan, Hawaii and London.

The chef was credited with inventing a breakfast item that has come to define a generation: the humble avocado on toast.