Jay Rayner
Encyclopedia
Jay Rayner is a British
journalist
, writer
, broadcaster
, and food critic
.
Rayner is the younger son of journalist Claire Rayner
and Desmond Rayner, and attended the independent Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
. He joined The Observer
newspaper after graduating from Leeds University in 1988 where he was editor of the student newspaper
. He is currently restaurant critic of The Observer. He has written for a wide range of British newspapers and magazines such as GQ, Esquire
, Cosmopolitan
, the New Statesman
and Granta
. In 1992 he was named Young Journalist of the Year in the British Press Awards
.
His first novel The Marble Kiss published in 1994 was shortlisted for the Author's Club First Novel Award
and his second Day of Atonement (1998) was shortlisted for the Jewish Quarterly Prize for Fiction. His first work of non-fiction Stardust Falling was published in 2002 and was followed by his third novel The Apologist, published in the US as Eating Crow, in 2004.
In 1997 he won a Sony Radio Award for Papertalk, BBC Radio Five Live
's magazine programme about the newspaper business, which he presented.
He was one of the panel of critics who made up the titular "enemy" on the daytime cookery show Eating with the Enemy, and performs a similar role on the UK version of MasterChef. In addition he is the food reporter on the BBC magazine programme The One Show
. He was also on the panel of judges on the American programme Top Chef Masters
.
Rayner is a supporter of Sense-National Deafblind and Rubella Association
's campaign for older people with sensory loss.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, and food critic
Food critic
The terms food critic, food writer, and restaurant critic can all be used to describe a writer who analyzes food or restaurants and then publishes the results of their findings. While these terms are not strictly synonymous they are often used interchangeably, at least in some circumstances...
.
Rayner is the younger son of journalist Claire Rayner
Claire Rayner
Claire Berenice Rayner OBE was an English nurse, journalist, broadcaster and novelist, best known for her role for many years as an agony aunt.-Early life:...
and Desmond Rayner, and attended the independent Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School is a British independent school for boys aged 4–19. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and of the Haileybury Group....
. He joined The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
newspaper after graduating from Leeds University in 1988 where he was editor of the student newspaper
Leeds Student
Leeds Student is a British weekly student newspaper, published free every Friday during term-time and distributed around the University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The only paid position is that of the editor, who is elected yearly by members of Leeds University Union. The articles are written by...
. He is currently restaurant critic of The Observer. He has written for a wide range of British newspapers and magazines such as GQ, Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
, the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
and Granta
Granta
Granta is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centers on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make real." In 2007, The Observer stated, "In its blend of...
. In 1992 he was named Young Journalist of the Year in the British Press Awards
British Press Awards
The British Press Awards is an annual ceremony that celebrates the best of British journalism. Established in the 1970s, honours are voted on by a panel of journalists and newspaper executives...
.
His first novel The Marble Kiss published in 1994 was shortlisted for the Author's Club First Novel Award
Author's Club First Novel Award
Authors' Club Best First Novel Award is awarded by the Authors' Club to the most promising first novel of the year, written by a British author and published in the UK during the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is presented....
and his second Day of Atonement (1998) was shortlisted for the Jewish Quarterly Prize for Fiction. His first work of non-fiction Stardust Falling was published in 2002 and was followed by his third novel The Apologist, published in the US as Eating Crow, in 2004.
In 1997 he won a Sony Radio Award for Papertalk, BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's magazine programme about the newspaper business, which he presented.
He was one of the panel of critics who made up the titular "enemy" on the daytime cookery show Eating with the Enemy, and performs a similar role on the UK version of MasterChef. In addition he is the food reporter on the BBC magazine programme The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
. He was also on the panel of judges on the American programme Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters is an American reality competition show currently broadcast on the cable television network Bravo. It is a spinoff of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the series, 24 world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges...
.
Rayner is a supporter of Sense-National Deafblind and Rubella Association
Sense-National Deafblind and Rubella Association
Sense is a national charity in the United Kingdom that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind.-History:Sense was founded in 1955 as a self-help and support group for the parents of children whose disabilities were neither recognised nor provided for, children born...
's campaign for older people with sensory loss.
Fiction
- The Marble Kiss (1994), ISBN 0-333-62134-4
- Day of Atonement (1998), ISBN 0-552-99783-8
- The Apologist (2004), ISBN 1-55278-416-9
- The Oyster House Siege (2007), ISBN 1-84354-566-7
Non-fiction
- Star Dust Falling (2002), ISBN 0-552-99908-3
- The Man Who Ate The World (2008), ISBN 0-80508-669-2
Awards
- Restaurant Critic Of The Year, Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards (2001)
- Critic Of The Year, British Press Awards (2006)