Jay Rayner

Jay Rayner is a British journalist, food critic, and broadcaster with a career spanning over three decades. Born in London in 1966, he began as a freelance journalist for The Observer and The Independent on Sunday after editing Leeds University's student newspaper. Named 1992's Young Journalist of the Year, he became The Observer's restaurant critic in 1999 - a role he held for 25 years until his 2024 move to the Financial Times. During COVID-19, he notably suspended negative restaurant reviews to support the struggling industry. Beyond food criticism, Rayner has written investigative features on politics and social issues for major publications, authored novels shortlisted for literary prizes, and won multiple awards including Critic of the Year (2006, 2023, 2025) and the Derek Cooper Award for investigative food journalism. His broadcast work includes judging on MasterChef UK and hosting BBC Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet.