Rick Stein was born on 4 January 1947 in Churchill, Oxfordshire, England, to Eric Stein and Dorothy Stein. He grew up on a farm, which influenced his appreciation of fresh ingredients and food culture.

He was educated at Uppingham School and later studied English at New College, University of Oxford, graduating in 1971 after initially struggling academically.

Stein began his career in the 1970s after opening The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow with his first wife, Jill. This became the foundation of a major hospitality business including restaurants, hotels, and cookery schools.

He became a well-known television presenter on the BBC, hosting numerous food travel series. In 2026, he presented Rick Stein’s Australia on BBC Two, a six-part culinary travel series exploring Australian food culture.

He lives between the UK and Australia with his wife and remains active as a chef, writer, and broadcaster.