The chef and TV presenter on being lectured by his siblings, what to drink while playing backgammon – and cooking for his dog

I have a painting of an old lady stirring a pot on a fire in a West Indian kitchen, cooking with her children. It used to hang in my mum’s kitchen and now I’ve got it in mine. It’s lovely and tells of yesteryear.

My father was an entertainer and had lots of people in showbiz – like Des O’Connor – round in the front room. Mum used to make them snacks and nibbles and I’d watch the reactions of appreciation and hear the banter.