Oliver was born born 26 May 1963, in Paddington, London to Antiguan parents, spent a few years in Kent and Cyprus and was brought up in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, from the age of 10. Her father served in the Royal Air Force and was based at RAF Honington; her mother taught at a primary school in the town.
Early career
Oliver is a former member of the band Rip Rig + Panic who appeared in an episode of Series 1 of The Young Ones. She used to co-host alongside Ice-T, the Channel 4 television show Baadasss TV, and for a time worked at BBC Radio London. She has also participated in the BBC's coverage of the Glastonbury Festival.
For four years she ran a successful ephemeral restaurant, The Moveable Feast. After being creative director of The Birdcage pub on London's Colombia Road, she launched her own restaurant at The Jackdaw and Star, a renovated pub in the heart of Homerton. She opened her award-winning restaurant, Andi's, in 2016, and in 2020 created her newest food project entitled Wadadli Kitchen.
She is best known for her appearances on the BBC TV cooking show Great British Menu. She is the author of the book The Pepperpot Diaries: Stories From My Caribbean Table, published in 2023.
Other music projects
After 1983, Andi became involved in Kalimba, an African-inspired band. In 1990 she joined forces with her brother, forming the Mighty Hog.
In April 2007, she began presenting a six-part cookery show, Neneh and Andi Dish it Up, with her friend Neneh Cherry for BBC2.
In summer 2012, she was a guest judge on the TV show Food Glorious Food, presented by Carol Vorderman during the Harrogate Regional Heats, first broadcast on 27 February 2013.
In summer 2014, she opened her own kitchen, Sugarshack.
2022, documentary, The Caribbean with Andi and Miquita.
2024, host of culinary series, Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feast.
Personal life
Oliver has a daughter, television presenter Miquita Oliver, from a previous relationship with Robin Baillie, a Scottish art history teacher. Her brother Sean died in 1990 of sickle cell anaemia aged 27. She lives in Wanstead, East London with her partner Garfield Hackett.
Andi is allergic to shellfish.
Book
The Pepperpot Diaries: Stories From My Caribbean Table, photography by Robert Billington (DK, 27 April 2023), ISBN9780241560211
