A top London TV chef took a cocktail of drugs before being found dead in a graveyard, an inquest has heard.

Chris Wheeler, a star on BBC’s Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen, was found dead in Brompton Cemetery on the morning of February 27, 2026.

His wife reported him missing two days earlier, before his body was discovered at the cemetery in Kensington and Chelsea by a groundsman.

The inquest found that the cause of Mr Wheeler’s death was asphyxiation and a harmful mix of drugs, including methamphetamine, amphetamine, and ketamine.

The court heard that Mr Wheeler “had a history of mental health problems,” but that it was not clear whether he intended on taking his own life.

Pathologist Dr John Firth wrote in his report that there were no signs of injury and struggle and CCTV footage played in court confirmed that Mr Wheeler had entered the cemetery alone, according to reports.

“Although the drugs were not at fatal levels, I consider them contributory,” the pathology report said.

Jean Harkin, Assistant Coroner at Inner West London Coroner’s Court, added that there was no note indicating intention to self-harm and that Mr Wheeler did not have a history of self-harm. As a result, the death was recorded as an open verdict - meaning the full circumstances are not fully known.

There was also no evidence that Mr Wheeler had been addicted to any of these drugs.

The court heard that Mr Wheeler was an “exceptionally talented chef”, who “never complained” about the long hours or sacrifice of his profession.

The statement, read out by the coroner from his family, continued: “He worked incredibly hard and achieved so much during his career. He was a perfectionist and took immense pride in his work. Although his career left him with little free time, he always made sure to dedicate time to his family and the family have wonderful memories.”

He rose to fame after competing in the 2016 series of the Great British Menu, often appearing on Saturday Kitchen in the years after.

Prior to the show, he had trained under famous chef Jean-Christophe Novelli for a decade, becoming the youngest sous chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Most recently, he worked as executive chef at the Hurlingham club - a private members’ club in Fulham.

Aside from his career, Mr Wheeler shared two daughters with his wife Simona. In a statement read out in court, his daughters described him as a “truly sunny soul”.

Tributes to the chef have poured in since his death.

At Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, where Mr Wheeler worked as an executive chef, the hotel wrote in an Instagram post: “It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our former Executive Chef Chris Wheeler has very sadly passed.

“For over 20 years Chris wowed guests at Stoke Park with his incredible food, whether this was a dinner in Humphry's (which Chris led to win 3 AA Rosettes) or a fabulous event, a wedding or at The Boodles Tennis.

“Chris's food was always the talking point and the lasting memory for our guests for all these special moments.

“Chris wasn't just an extraordinary Chef, he was an extraordinary human being; highly respected by his peers and much loved by all who met him and by the Stoke Park team who had the privilege to work with him.”