Robt760's indignation that I should refer to him as a cook rather than a chef is in contradiction to how "proper" chefs ie those that cook in their restaurants rather than the absent celebrity ones on TV. Many of the top UK ones are really quite anxious to be called and thought of as cooks rather than chefs - and say so.
Chefs have papers. It doesn't matter if they actively cook in a restaurant. Much like a pilot has a license whether they actually fly or not.