Real-life nightmare for Ramsay star

A second Lake District chef has left the London job he was offered by chef Gordon Ramsay after appearing on the Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares TV programme earlier this year.

Ian Waddle quit his job as demi chef de partie at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's after just three weeks because he was unhappy with its long-hours culture.

His departure follows that of Claire Porter from Angela Hartnett's Menu restaurant in the Connaught hotel in London. Porter, like Waddle, was discovered by Ramsay at the Glasshouse restaurant in Ambleside.

Ramsay told Waddle at the Glasshouse: "I can't believe you've only been cooking for three months. You're a f****** natural." But, according to Glasshouse owner Neil Farrell, Waddle hadn't enjoyed Claridge's and felt there was more to life than doing the same thing over and over again during a 19-hour day.

"He came from a kitchen where he could have a bit of a laugh," said Farrell, who added that he was "gutted" that the two hadn't lasted the course. "Ian could have done it had he been chaperoned. He was a great chef in the making - he had a natural gift."

Waddle is currently working for an outside catering company in London's Canary Wharf.