Carluccio's restaurant founder Antonio Carluccio dies at 80

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio has died aged 80.

A statement from the Italian chef's agent said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that Commendatore Antonio Carluccio OBE sadly passed away this morning."

Carluccio was known for his Italian restaurant chain Carluccio's, which was founded in 1999, and for appearing in TV programmes, including BBC Two series The Two Greedy Italians along with chef Gennaro Contaldo.

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He received the Commendatore, the equivalent of a British knighthood, from the Italian government in 1998 for services to Italy.

In 2007, he received an OBE from the Queen for his services to the catering industry.

He arrived in Britain in the 1970s.

The Yorkshire Post interviewed him in April of this year at the launch of his new restaurant in York.

Back in 2011, we spoke to the chef when he opened his branch on Greek Street in Leeds.

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