Tom Kerridge: ‘My relationship with food and alcohol has been excessive – now I try to find control'

The Michelin-starred chef on hot dogs at rugby, kitchen nicknames – and why he doesn’t like watching himself on TV

My first food memory is eating corned beef and mustard in a hot crusty roll while watching The Pink Panther on a Saturday evening. Or having a fish and chips takeaway. Or maybe it was picking and eating my own strawberries – fond memories of long summers spent in the sunshine with mates. I grew up in the centre of Gloucester, but it wasn’t too far to get out into fields.

After my first coffee, I’m out jogging at 6am, thinking how much I hate it and wishing the jog was over. But it’s necessary for me. My relationship with food and alcohol has been excessive and now I try to find control and balance. Using the brain is fantastic, but as I get older I realise that I need to be doing more physically. I’ll allow myself a burger and chips, but I don’t have them every day.

'Gently brutal' is how I’d describe working in a kitchen. It’s relentless, but it’s always friendly