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There's no doubt that GordonRamsay can turn aroundviewing figures as well asailing restaurants. Look

at the evidence - this year'sHell's Kitchen was as limp aslettuce without him, and his owncomment on the reformattedshow, which featured Gary Rhodesand Jean-Christophe Novelligoinghead-to-head, is telling. 'I didn'twatch it, I was in Tokyo,'he says.'But I got letters saying,"Come back, all is forgiven.'"

So why was Ramsaymissing from the show?'I was in fear of becomingwrapped up in the caricaturethat ITVportrayed,' he says.With this in mind, the

38-year-old chef signed anexclusive deal with Channel 4,and this week returns for a newsix-part series of the Baftaaward-winning Ramsay's Kitchen.Vightmares in which our favourite!Iothead will be whipping moreclueless caterers into shape as~ as revisiting two restaurants:mm the previous series.

His first rescue mission is:.aIian restaurant La Lantema in

Hertfordshire. Its owner and headchef Alex and his best mate andmaitre d' Gavin are making a realdog's dinner of the business. Alexhas remortgaged his home, and therestaurant is losing £1,000 a week.Yethe's driving around in a BMWwith the numberplate Al CHEF.

'I was gobsmacked,' says Ramsay.'If I saw a car with that numberplateoutside my restaurant at Claridges,

I'd throw eggs at it.' Ramsay madeAlexsell it, suggesting people itmight suit. First of all he offered itto his arch-rival Antony WorrallThompson, who declined, as didRamsay's Hell'sKitchen replacementJean-Christophe Novelli.ButNovelli'sco-star was a differentmatter. 'Gary Rhodes bought it!'exclaims Ramsay.'I called himand said, "Youare an AI chefand you have a six-pack, do you

NEW SERIESRAMSAY'SKITCHENNIGHTMARESC4 .TUESDAY

The knives arebeing sharpenedand the expletivesare on stand by asno-nonsense chefGordon Ramsayreturns to help moreclueless caterers

fancy a personalisednumberplate?" He paid£500,which doubledLa Lantema's takingsthat night.'

Later in the series,Ramsayvisits D-Place, arestaurant in Essex. .'D-Place is D-Nightmare';jhe says. 'I asked for a :creme brOlee, and it was

liquid. The chef hadforgotten to cook it!'

Despite his 1infamous strictness'1in the kitchen, 'Ramsay reveals thad

his wifeTanais the '

disciplinarian at home.She's a big fan of C4's

Supernanny, and even hasa 'naughty rug' for theirfour children. It seems hiswork has inspired Tana,who is set to follow in his footstepsas a TVchef. 'She's a talented cook,but they're all my recipes,' he jokes.

Ramsay clearly dotes on theirkids, Megan, seven, five-year-oldtwins Jack and Holly and Matilda,three, even if he doesn't alwaysappreciate their hobbies. 'Jack

wanted to go to ballet. I said, "nomate, I love Billy Elliot but you arenot going to f***ingballet.'''

And as for Megan's violinplaying, 'It sounds like someone'sput a cat in the microwave!' hesays. 'But I can see myself in her.she can be very determined.'

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