We don't have a TV these days but I always enjoyed the way Jamie, in his early days at least, made food so much more accessible and enjoyable (I was in my disinterested late teens when he very first appeared). His debut cookbook is one of my most dog-eared and enjoyed. Nigel Slater helped sow the seeds of this 90s revolution, heavily influenced by River Cafe (RIP RG) and others before them.
Real Food by NS is a classic.
It goes without saying that HFW is a leg-end. His passion for nature, food, welfare and sustainability really shine through. Gary Rhodes is a really inspiring chef, his recipes are creative and precise and I enjoy his books (look in charity shops!).
Can't let my hero go unmentioned - Keith Floyd (RIP). What a star. An entertaining, knowledgable and very clever chef, and always seeking out the "real" food (and local grog! ) wherever he was. I love his books (Floyd on Spain, Curry, Hangovers etc etc) which are half recipes, half funny anecdotes.
Delia is a sellout - look at those "how to cheat" programme's or whatever they were called! Bonkers.
PS.
Farmhouse Kitchen as you mentioned Wizard and
Dairy Book of British Cooking are two other commonn charity shop sights, well worth picking up for classic britidh dishes, pies, cakes, puddings and so on.
I'm hungry now!!!!