Raymond Blanc hits out at 'macho chefs'

Raymond Blanc has hit out at “macho” chefs, warning that kitchen bullies could soon be sent to jail under new employment laws.

The two-Michelin-starred chef, who is about to star in a new BBC Two series called The Restaurant, claimed that some fiery TV chefs, who “glorify violence” are living in the past.

“Soon they will go to prison, because new employment laws now give staff much more protection against bullying than before,” Blanc told the BBC’s Radio Times magazine.

He added: “I do not like to speak about the people, but [about] the culture they represent, which has a terrible influence on how people see this industry.”

Blanc said that his show, which follows nine couples as they try to run a successful restaurant, will be a refreshing change for viewers.

He cited a desire to bring respect back into the industry as his motive for appearing on screen and had special words of advice for Marco Pierre White on the eve of his programme Hells Kitchen starting on ITV.

“When Marco takes over Hell's Kitchen, will he promote food craft, careful man-management, or just this unfortunate aspect of behaviour, which involves the degradation of people?

“I think he will respect what I am telling him,” Blanc said.

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By Tom Vaughan

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