Budding chef puts disability aside to star in TV show

A BUDDING CHEF from Yorkshire is determined not to let his disability hold him back as he stars in a new television programme alongside celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr.

Bradford-born Ben Whitehouse, 29, has Asperger syndrome and will star in the new Channel Four show, called Kitchen Impossible.

The programme sees top chef Michel Roux Jr train up eight people who are out of work and have disabilities.

They are all put through an intensive four-week introduction to catering to help them gain a top job in the industry.

Mr Whitehouse is one of the stars and works as volunteer on a sandwich delivery round – a job he says he took in a bid to overcome his fear of social situations after spending most of his life struggling to meet new people or talk to strangers.

He said he has recently realised that he is letting his Asperger’s control him – and is now determined to be the one controlling his condition.

Speaking about the show, which will be screened this week, Mr Whitehouse said: “Knowing that I’m 30 in a couple of months’ time is good motivation for me.

“I want to be settled in my life once I turn 30.

“So I’ve got six months now to sort my life out and get paid work and my own place.”

The first episode of Kitchen Impossible will be on Thursday, October 29.

It will start at screened at 9pm on Channel Four.