Louis Makepeace
| Louis Makepeace | |
|---|---|
 Makepeace in the Isle of Wight, 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Louis Roger W Makepeace April 2, 2000[1][2] Worcester, Worcestershire, United Kingdom |
| Education | Heart of Worcestershire College (performing arts)[3] |
| TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 115,000 (April 2025)[4] |
| Likes | 3m |
| Years active | 2022–present |
Louis Roger W Makepeace (born 2 April 2000) is a British internet personality and chef with achondroplasia. Makepeace first gained attention in 2018 at the age of 18 when he hit national headlines after being refused a place on a cooking course at the Heart of Worcestershire College due to his height.[5] [6]
Early life
[edit]Makepeace was born on 2 April 2000 and has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism affecting his limbs. He is 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m) in height.[7]
"Health and safety risk" due to height
[edit]Makepeace gained national attention in 2018 after sharing that the Heart of Worcestershire College had refused him a place on a cooking course due to his condition and had claimed that he was a "health and safety hazard" and that he would cause "disruption" to the other fourteen students undertaking the course.[8] Makepeace's mother, Pauline, reported that the college had told Louis that there was "no point in him doing the course as he would never be allowed to work in a commercial kitchen" due to his short stature.[8]
Makepeace had branded the incident involving him and the college as "highly humiliating", saying that the rejection from the college had highlighted his differences amongst his peers and had "embarrassed" him for being short, along with making him question his future aspirations to become a chef.[8] He claimed the college had told him that he would pose a risk to the other students in case he "got under their feet" and "in their way" which Makepeace described as "really humiliating".[8][9]
After the controversy Makepeace claimed that his confidence was badly damaged. He felt that people "just stared and laughed" at him. He also noted that some people treated him as they would a small child, disparaging him by doing things like pushing in front of him in queues. Makepeace stated that all he wanted was to be able to "do normal stuff" without being laughed at because of his height.[8]
In response, the college rejected the claims made by Makepeace and his mother Pauline and claimed that they had not discriminated against Makepeace because of his short stature. A spokesperson for the college said that Makepeace, after discussing the incident, had declined the college's new acceptance offer and had expressed that he no longer wished to study there.[10]
Recognition following height controversy
[edit]Following national publication of the controversy between Makepeace and the college due to his height, Makepeace received attention from celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, who offered Makepeace an apprenticeship.[11] Ramsay said the way that Makepeace had been treated by the college was "disgusting" and that he would "offer him an apprenticeship any day"[12]
Pied à Terre restaurant
[edit]On 13 September 2018 Makepeace began working as a chef in the Michelin star restaurant Pied à Terre, working alongside head chef Asimakis Chaniotis.[13]
Notable works
[edit]Hungry For It (2022)
[edit]In 2022 Makepeace starred in the BBC Three cooking competition Hungry For It. Prior to filming, Makepeace said: "Tall or small, I am the same standard as anyone else in the kitchen".[14] His role on the show highlighted a recent survey which suggests that 71% of people believe more should be done to bring attention to the lack of accessibility for disabled people in the hospitality industry.[14] Makepeace shares that a block had to be constructed by the production team for him to stand on in order to reach the countertops and stoves.[14]
TikTok Career
[edit]After his appearance on the show “Hungry for it” Makepeace created a TikTok account and began posting content such as GRWM, day in the life, and recipes. Makepeace's garden is not yet ready for the Euros, leaving his fans wondering if he was ever telling the truth about the garden at all.[clarification needed]
Personal life
[edit]Makepeace is 3 ft 10 in tall.[15] In a video posted to his TikTok account in April 2025, Makepeace states that his shoe size is a Junior Size 4. [16] However, a video dating from 2023 shows a new pair of Crocs labelled Junior Size 3.[17] This could be attributed to different brands having different shoe sizes.
Filmography
[edit]- Hungry For It (Contestant, 2022)
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Celebrating 25 Years". TikTok. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "Louis Makepeace Age, Birthday, Zodiac Sign and Birth Chart". 25 June 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "College denies learner with dwarfism was refused place, following national media reports". feweek.co.uk. August 28, 2018.
- ^ "Louis Makepeace on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "Worcester bartender cooking up a storm on BBC Three's Hungry For It". Worcester News. 15 June 2022.
- ^ Burke, Jude (28 August 2018). "College denies learner with dwarfism was refused place, following national media reports". feweek.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "Teen dwarf Louis Makepeace rejects college after "health and safety risk" row". Worcester News. 6 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "This dwarf has been 'banned' from a college cooking course because he's 'a health and safety risk'Dwarf 'banned' from college cooking course because he is 'a health and safety risk'". The Independent. August 29, 2018.
- ^ Diebelius, Georgia (August 27, 2018). "Dwarf 'banned' from cooking course because he would 'get under peoples' feet'".
- ^ "Worcester teen Louis Makepeace rejects college after row". Worcester News. 6 September 2018.
- ^ "Gordon Ramsay 'offers' teen with dwarfism apprenticeship after he's rejected from college for 'being a safety risk'". The Independent. August 29, 2018.
- ^ Drewett, Zoe (August 28, 2018). "Dwarf 'banned from college cooking course' gets job offer from Gordon Ramsay".
- ^ "BBC Hereford & Worcester - Louis Makepeace from Worcester, who says he was told he couldn't study catering at his local college because of his size, has been offered complimentary training at one of London's top restaurants. The 18-year-old, who has dwarfism, has been to Pied a Terre Restaurant today to meet the Head Chef Asimakis Chaniotis. | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
- ^ a b c Accessibility in Hospitality survey from a UK hospitality research company, which questioned 250 people, suggests 71% believe more should be done to bring attention to the lack of accessibility for disabled people in the hospitality industry
- ^ "Louis Makepeace". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "Worlds Largest Shoe - Louis Makepeace". TikTok. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "D A Y I N T H E L I F E 👣 How we doing everyone?". TikTok. Retrieved 26 April 2025.