TV chef Keith Floyd, whose booze-fuelled shows made him a household name, has died, his ghost-writer James Steen has said.

Floyd, 65, who revealed in July that he was battling bowel cancer, died of a heart attack at his partner's home in Dorset.

His friend Celia Martin told the Daily Mail that he had enjoyed a "good last day", celebrating encouraging news about his battle with cancer as well as her 65th birthday.

The pair lived in his house in the south of France, but had returned to her home in the UK for Floyd's medical treatment.

She said: "I'm still in shock, I feel like he is still here and I cannot get to grips with it. There is still his cigarette ash around the place and his clothes are still in the washing basket. I'm expecting him to get out of bed any minute."

Channel 4 star Jamie Oliver said Floyd was the premier TV chef and a huge influence on other kitchen gurus.

He said: "Keith was not just one of the best, he was THE best television chef."

Gordon Ramsay said: "Keith Floyd was a true original. A natural performer and a superb cook. He broke new ground with his programmes and his contribution to television cookery was immense."

Floyd's final TV appearance was broadcast on Channel 4 last night. In the show, Keith Meets Keith, the actor Keith Allen searched for his hero, Floyd, finally meeting him in rural France.

Allen said: "I'm in receipt of an email from Keith which he sent after he viewed the programme last week, in which he praised the show - he loved it."