A TOP Bolton chef is hoping a TV appearance will spice up his career and open up the door to appearing on future cookery programmes.

Terry Walker, head chef at the Blundell Arms, Horwich, is to appear in a new ITV1 show in May featuring Claire Sweeney and This Morning chef Gino D'Acampo.

Terry has already been filmed at the Blundell Arms teaching the celebrity chef how to cook Lancashire Hot Pot - one of his signature dishes.

Terry, aged 31, of Bank Top, Sharples, said: "I'm really thrilled. It could be the turning point in my career. I would really like to be involved in cookery programmes."

Terry got into cookery by accident when he was asked to cover staff shortages in the kitchen when he was working as a waiter.

He has never looked back and loves being able to create imaginative and sophisticated food, alongside traditional fare like his tasty hot pot.

Terry has worked for the Chef and Brewer company, who own the Chorley New Road pub, for five years and has been head chef for two years. "We have got a good reputation and the TV producers got wind of that and decided to ask us to take part in the show," he said.

The idea of the programme, called Chef Versus Britain, is that Claire and Gino travel around Britain meeting cooks who think they are as hot in the kitchen as the high-flying Italian.

Gino is challenged to cook his version of the contestant's signature dish, which is then judged by a panel of local judges.