Marco Pierre White has revealed the surprising condition he set before agreeing to appear in a new BBC documentary alongside former protégé Gordon Ramsay, after initially turning down the offer
Marco Pierre White has opened up about his complicated relationship with Gordon Ramsay, revealing the surprising condition he set before agreeing to take part in a new television project with his former protégé.
The veteran chef, 64, became one of Britain’s most celebrated culinary figures after establishing himself at the top of the restaurant industry. But his career has also been marked by controversy, larger-than-life behaviour and a bitter falling-out with Ramsay, who once worked under him.
Now, the pair are revisiting their turbulent history in a new BBC documentary, although White has made it clear that he was not prepared to share the screen with just anyone.
Speaking to The Times, White revealed that Ramsay personally approached him about appearing in The Rise of the Rockstar Chef, which also features fellow three-Michelin-star chef Heston Blumenthal.
“Gordon called and asked me to be involved. [It was made by Ramsay’s production company.] I listened, then said, ‘No,’” White explained.
However, Ramsay was apparently prepared to negotiate, with White revealing that a second conversation changed his mind.
“He called me back the next day and said, ‘If we get rid of Jamie Oliver, will you do it?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’”
Asked why he had been reluctant to appear alongside Oliver, White acknowledged that the television chef had made his own mark on the food world but questioned his standing in fine dining.
“I understand why you’d want Jamie. He’s very good at what he does. But how many Michelin stars did he win?” he said.
After being reminded that Oliver had not won any, White pointed to the achievements of the documentary’s other leading chefs.
“How many did Heston and Gordon win? How many did I win?”
When the answer of three stars apiece was confirmed, White added: “Correct. Jamie has no stars. He belongs to a different jigsaw.”
The comments offer another glimpse into the fiercely competitive world that helped establish White as the original rock’n’roll chef, a reputation built on his extraordinary culinary achievements and reported antics away from the kitchen.
White’s relationship with Ramsay dates back to the late 1980s, when the future television star worked at Harveys, White’s London restaurant, for three years. The establishment earned two Michelin stars, while Restaurant Marco Pierre later secured another.
Their working relationship ended in 1989, with Ramsay previously recalling how he broke down in tears during his final service under White.
“I bawled my eyes out,” Ramsay has said. “I was f***ing upset.”
White’s assessment of the emotional farewell was blunt: “That’s true. Gordon cracked.”
Despite their reconciliation for the documentary, old grievances remain. White said the real reason they stopped speaking for years was Ramsay bringing television cameras to his wedding to Mati Conejero in 2000.
“Gordon bringing TV cameras to my wedding [to Mati Conejero in 2000] — that’s why I didn’t speak to him for years. Would you be happy if I brought a camera crew to your wedding? Why bring it up? Let sleeping dogs lie. Not clever.”
White also rejected suggestions that their long-running rivalry was simply entertainment for the cameras.
“It’s manufactured drama. I don’t do manufactured drama,” he said.
The new series revisits the pair’s history, including claims surrounding a missing reservations book at Ramsay’s restaurant Aubergine, which Ramsay later admitted he had staged himself.
Asked about stories concerning his famously rebellious past, White offered a brief explanation of his philosophy: “Most interesting boys are naughty.”
The Rise of the Rockstar Chef begins on November 5 at 9pm on BBC2
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
