| Birth Name: | Simon Peter Rimmer |
| Birth Date: | 1963 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Wallasey, Wirral, England |
| Occupation: | Chef |
| Yearsactive: | 1990–present |
Simon Peter Rimmer (born 5 May 1963[1]) is an English celebrity chef, best known for his on-screen partnership with Tim Lovejoy.
Simon Peter Rimmer was born in Wallasey.
Rimmer originally studied fashion and textile design,[2] and later taught himself to cook.[3] In 1990, he bought Greens, a vegetarian restaurant in West Didsbury.[4] It closed in 2024.[5] He opened his second restaurant, Earle, in Hale in October 2006,[6] though this was sold to a local restaurateur in 2016.[7] In 2013, Rimmer served as a judge for British Sausage Week, helping to choose the winners and promote the event.[8]
Rimmer's television career began with Granada Breeze before appearing regularly on programmes including This Morning, The One Show, The Gadget Show and Pointless Celebrities.[9] He has presented Making a Meal of It for BBC Two,[10] Win It, Cook It,[11] Tricks of the Restaurant Trade,[12] Eat the Week with Iceland[13] and Secrets of Our Favourite Snacks[14] for Channel 4 and Breaking Into Tesco for Channel 5.[15] Rimmer is best known for his work alongside Tim Lovejoy presenting Something for the Weekend on BBC Two between 2006 and 2012 and Sunday Brunch, a show with a similar format on Channel 4.[16]
Rimmer has also appeared as a contestant on various TV shows. In 2006, he pitted his cooking talents against other skilled chefs on the first series of Great British Menu; losing in the North of England heat to Marcus Wareing. In 2008, he appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, choosing 'The History of Tranmere Rovers' as a specialist subject.[17] In August 2017, it was confirmed that Rimmer would take part in the fifteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Karen Clifton.[18] The pair were eliminated in week six.[19]
Rimmer's first book, The Accidental Vegetarian, was published in October 2004.[20] His second book, Rebel Cook, was published in October 2006.[21] His third book Lazy Brunch came out in 2008, co-written with Lovejoy and based on a feature in Something from the Weekend.[22] In 2009, Rimmer published his fourth book, The Seasoned Vegetarian.[23]
Rimmer supports Liverpool F.C. and was present during the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.[24]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2012 | Something for the Weekend | Co-presenter | With Tim Lovejoy |
| 2012— | Sunday Brunch | Co-presenter | 10 series; with Tim Lovejoy |
| 2014 | Daily Brunch | Co-presenter | 1 series; with Tim Lovejoy |
| Win It, Cook It | Presenter | 1 series | |
| 2016— | Tricks of the Restaurant Trade | Co-presenter | 3 series; with Kate Quilton, Adam Pearson and Sophie Morgan |
| 2017— | Eat the Week with Iceland | Presenter | 1 series |
| 2017 | Secrets of Our Favourite Snacks | Co-presenter | With Sophie Morgan |
| Strictly Come Dancing | Participant | Series 15 | |
| 2018 | Britain's Favourite Food | Presenter | Two-part series |