In 1982, after a two-year global search, the BBC auditioned Ken Hom to be the star of a new Chinese cookery TV series.
In the show, called Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery, he introduced viewers to dishes like dim sum and spicy braised aubergine. He also gave advice on choosing and using a wok.
He tells Josephine McDermott about his sudden rise to celebrity and how he brought Chinese dishes to new audiences.
(Photo: Ken Hom. Credit: Chris Ridley/Radio Times/Getty Images)