Derry chef to appear on Great British Menu

Phelim O’Hagan, who has been head chef at Browns Bonds Hill for the last seven years, said it was a ‘huge honour’ to be asked to take part in the competition.

He follows in the footsteps of chef patron at the Waterside restaurant Ian Orr, who took part in the series in 2013.

Phelim admits he was initially undecided about going on the show as he doesn’t like being in front of the camera.

However, he said after a couple of days he realised he ‘would be a fool to pass it up’.

Phelim is one of four chefs from the North taking part in series 16, which begins later this month.

He said it was a ‘huge honour’ to be representing Northern Ireland.

This year the series will mark the 30th anniversary of Sir Timothy Berners-Lee donating the world wide web to the world, as well as Helen Sharman becoming the first astronaut from these isles to go into space.

The chefs from across the UK will create dishes celebrating science and innovation to be in with a chance of serving them at the Great British Menu banquet.

Phelim, who began washing dishes in Harry’s Restaurant as a teenager before deciding to become a chef, said he has taken his inspiration for his dishes from scientific advances in Northern Ireland.

The new series of Great British Menu begins on BBC Two at 8pm on March 24.