Chef John Burton Race has been commissioned by Channel 4 to appear in a follow-up to his French Leave television series. It means he has put his plans to buy a restaurant on hold.
The former two-Michelin-starred chef had been looking to buy a property since returning from France with his family 11 weeks ago. He hadn't found one, and gave up looking when the TV company contacted him.
Filming starts next month, with the first episode due to be shown in September. The series will be filmed in the West Country and, like French Leave, will feature Burton Race's wife, six children and Labrador dog.
John Burton Race moved his family to a farmhouse in south-west France for the filming of French Leave after closing his restaurant at London's Landmark hotel on 31 December 2002.
Its closure marked the end of a turbulent episode in Burton Race's career. The 70-seat restaurant opened in May 2000, and 18 months later Burton Race became its sole shareholder following a "massive bust-up" with the other shareholders. At the time, he dissolved his company, Burton Race Restaurants, set up a new one named Premier Associates and denied rumours he was filing for liquidation. Asked again about this, he said: "I've heard all sorts of things but the restaurant didn't go into liquidation. Everyone was paid up and I didn't owe anyone anything."
Before moving to the Landmark, John Burton Race owned and operated L'Ortolan restaurant in Shinfield, Berkshire, for 13 years.
Landmark hotel's John Burton Race restaurant closed >>