A FILM is going to be made about the life of celebrity chef and Reggae Reggae Sauce founder Levi Roots.

The film, which does not yet have a title, will be made by renowned writer-producers Meg Leonard and Nick Moorcroft.

It will chart the story of Roots’ life from living in poverty as a child in Jamaica, coming to the UK aged 11, where as an adult he was sentenced to nine years in prison for drugs offences, through to his appearance on Dragon’s Den and his success at the helm of his popular Caribbean food business, which today includes a restaurant, cookbooks and dozens of food products sold in supermarkets across the country.

The film is set to start filming in spring 2020 and will be shot on location in Jamaica and south London. A release date has not been announced.

Roots, an entrepreneur and musician, began his cooking career by selling his homemade jerk sauce, inspired by his grandmother, at Notting Hill Carnival. An appearance on TV show Dragon’s Den led to a £50,000 investment from businessman Peter Jones, which enabled Roots, 60, to start his own extremely successful empire.

“It’s ‘fab-ilicious’, which is that sweet point between fabulous and delicious … It’s amazing,” Roots told The Guardian.

Roots’ story is the “embodiment of triumph over adversity”, The Guardian reported Leonard said. “It’s a classic redemptive tale, and so relevant.”

Moorcroft told The Guardian the film will be a “life-affirming tale of hopes, dreams and second-chances, all set to an uplifting reggae soundtrack and bathed in Caribbean sunshine”.

Sharing his reaction to the news with his social media followers, Roots tweeted: “OMG! A movie is gonna be made about my life, someone pass me a f…ing spliff…sorry I mean a drink please!”