Saturday Kitchen star Russell Norman left estranged wife £1.4m fortune after his tragic death

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Russell Norman, the celebrated TV chef and restaurateur who appeared on Saturday Kitchen has reportedly left a fortune of £1.4 million to his family.

The culinary star, who sadly passed away in November last year, bequeathed his wealth to his estranged wife Jules Norman and their three children; Ollie, Martha, and Mabel.

His estate, valued at £1,437,000, included both business interests and personal possessions. According to reports, his will, which was signed in 2013, directed that his assets should go to his wife Jules, whom he married in 2004 but was separated from at the time of his death, the Mirror reports.

Born in Perivale, west London, Russell had also expressed his desire to be cremated and for his partner to inherit his shares in his businesses, as per The Sun. Known for mentoring aspiring chefs on television and hailed as "the coolest man in food", Russell also authored four cookbooks following his rise to fame on the BBC's much-loved 'Saturday Kitchen'.

With an academic background in English and a brief stint as a civil servant, Russell made his mark in the culinary world when he co-founded the iconic Soho bar Polpo in 2009. His career flourished over the years, but tragedy struck when he was taken to hospital unconscious after an argument with his girlfriend in November 2023.

He died five days later, and an inquest in February concluded that his death was suicide by hanging, with evidence of "suicidal tendencies" prior to his passing.

In a statement read by Coroner Katrina Hepburn, Russell's partner Dr Genevieve Verdigel, an art historian, described the harrowing moment she found him unconscious in the garden. She said: "I ran back inside to call 999. I was trying to do CPR. I was screaming and the people next door came round."

Following his tragic passing, social media was awash with heartfelt tributes from fans and fellow TV stars. Former Saturday Kitchen host James Martin hailed him as a "giant" of the restaurant world.

Food critic Jay Rayner mourned the loss of the late star, describing him as "one of the most gifted of restaurateurs". He added: "So sorry to hear of the death, far too young, of Russell Norman."

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