Godfather of Italian cooking Antonio Carluccio

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio has died aged 80.

A statement from the Italian chef’s agent said: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Commendatore Antonio Carluccio OBE sadly passed away this morning.”

Carluccio, dubbed the Godfather of Italian gastronomy, was known for his restaurant chain Carluccio’s and for appearing on BBC2 series Two Greedy Italians along with chef Gennaro Contaldo.

Carluccio opened the Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden in 1981, when he was named runner-up Sunday Times Cook of the Year.

The restaurant was patronised by the Prince of Wales and Sir Elton John and launched the career of Jamie Oliver before it closed in 2007.

He co-founded the high street restaurant chain Carluccio’s in 1999 and was awarded the AA hospitality lifetime achievement award in 2012. He later sold his interest in the restaurant chain but maintained involvement from a distance.

Brought up in Italy’s north-west region as one of six children, Carluccio briefly worked as a journalist in Turin before moving to Vienna and then Germany, and eventually to London to work as a wine merchant, before devoting himself to restaurants.

Carluccio has written more than a dozen books based on Italian food.

He received the Commendatore, the equivalent of a British knighthood, from the Italian government in 1998 for services to Italy.

In 2007, Carluccio received an OBE from the Queen for his services to the catering industry.

TV chef James Martin has paid tribute to Carluccio.

Martin said in a statement: “It was a privilege and an honour to have met and worked with Antonio, one of the true greats of TV chefs.

“His passion and commitment to both the restaurant business and to television was lifelong. He was a giant in the food world and he helped bring Italian food to the masses around the world.

“My thoughts go out to his family. Sadly missed.”

Celebrity chef and This Morning regular Gino D’Acampo posted a tribute for Carluccio on Twitter.

He wrote: “I’d like to dedicate tonight’s episode of ‘Italian Coastal Escape’ to my good friend Antonio @CookCarluccio. “Sending all my love to his family.

“I will remember the good times we had together xxxx.”

Mr Carluccio was 80.