Hell's Kitchen, Wednesday 9pm, ITV1

Posted by Will Parkhouse

Our rating:
I was expecting Hell's Kitchen to be a dog's dinner without Olympic swearer Gordon Ramsay holding the culinary reins. But actually, so far, it's turned out to be a televisual feast.

The thing about new boss Marco Pierre White is that he isn't as one-dimensional as, say, The Apprentice's Sir Alan Sugar - or indeed his Hell’s Kitchen predecessor. Where Siralan will either shout at you for talking back or shout at you for not sticking up for yourself, and Ramsay will just shout at you because he likes shouting, MPW is less of a cartoon character.

"He's on our side and he just wants to help us," said a starry-eyed Abigail Clancy on last night's show. She's right – Ramsay's foul temper was just downright demoralising for the rookie chefs, designed to make them cry into their tarte Tropezienne. But the great White does genuinely seem to want this motley crew to succeed.

At the same time, he's hilariously unpredictable. First, his rousing and genuinely encouraging speech to the troops caused a number of the older women to fall in love with him ("Marco is God," gushed Anneka Rice). Then, he spent the evening in a massive sulk, calling the meal prepared by Jim Davidson "s***" merely because the comic had sprinkled a few chives on it. Maybe it's because the producers are trying to badden him up by whispering evil words into his otherwise pious ears - or maybe he's just a bit of a nutter. Either way, Gordon Ramsay can chef off.

Comments

[Andrew]

So its offensive to call someone a "shirtlifter" when clearly he is one, but its fine to bully a great british comedian on british tv. What is going wrong with the british mentality!! come on people what happened to FREEDOM OF SPEECH?????

[jo]

Can't watch any longer whilst that wretched Paul is still part of programee - sad as I have enjoyed watching - but even the silence button is not enough to cut that OTT performance from such a diva!

[Chris]

My god i have to say i found the removal of Jim D a complete travesty all done to a hypersensitive homosexual man (i would say something else but clearly you can't have an opinion these days if its non PC) As for the idea of bullying - last i checked everyone seemed to be ganging up on Jim rather than other way round - Please please PLEASE get rid of that irritating Brian

[Sue]

I love Hells Kitchen, but where the hell did they dig up that onerous little man Jim Davidson from. He thought he was correct with every sick comment he made, and he thought he was Head Chef with his actions.
I for one am glad he slunk off p.d.q back to Dubai although how they stick him I'll never know. Has anyone actually seen Mr Davidson on TV in the last 20years apart from TV re-runs.
No wonder he's been married many, many times, and I bet he says he wasn't at fault there too.

[sue]

i watched 'hells kitchen' for the first time last nite,yes it was a 'hell' for me to watch cos there was nothing else to watch im sick to death of all these sort of programmes for actors who have gone out of fashion last night was insulting,yes its a free speech country but there's free speech and just rudeness and manners to your fellow people,and ive had it all from 'normal'people cos im fat,blonde bimbo,no teeth cos of a cancer scare but they keep on insulting us fatties,so yes to free speech no just to insult and hurt people just give me 'normal' tv programmes thank goodness for off buttons which i use regular but have to still pay same tv licence money for crap tv which 'normal' people enjoy.

Heather,

what a f***ing joke, have u tasted mpw food?
have u worked in a kitchen?
Mpw is a true leader and a true professional 100% behind his team,we need more people like him in the kitchen to show what english chefs can do.

[Terry]

Poor old Jim. Sent off for daring to break the PC law. Great to have an old fashioned laugh like the old days instead of being afraid to say anything to upset the gay crowd. False tears and smutty innuendos - they seem to get away with it.

[Dee]

Love Hell's Kitchen! So much better without Ramsey swearing at everyone.
Get rid of the two blonde moaners Adelle and Abby then we will have a decent contest. Brian also needs to go - Big Brother tactics and playing the gay card should not be allowed in Hell's Kitchen. he needs to grow up.
Jim and Barry should be in the final - both top blokes. People were wrong to boo Jim as he only states what thousands of others are thinking. Vote for Jim!!

[sarah massey]

Dont know what everyone is going on about. Marco pierre a dish? not my cuppa tea. Reminds me of dracula.

[elizabet]

Brian makes us laugh Will Parkhouse......NO he do's not...I am sick of men being girly,with his pretty pretty I am gay I am gay....just like it's a medal...do you hear Jim,Barry or Paul saying I am straight...But apart from him I think the program is great...love MPW

[Tony]

Andy obviousley dosnt know what he is talking about.
Lee Ryan is a spoilt pratt it was clear from the start he was not going to take instructions from any one he is a loner And could do with a bit of old fashioned national service and some manners to go with it.
I thought Jim Davidson and Marco handled the situation very well most Head Chefs would have blown thier top I know I have worked for some of the ignorant B*******s
Jim was made team leader and should have been treated with the respect that was put on him instead he was totaly ignored by Ryan who was intent on doing what he wanted and stuff any one else,he should have been bootet out just for that instead he then had to Gob off to Marco Has he got any brain at all.
Get a life Lee Ryan Get your Big Head out of the clouds and join the real world

[Andy]

Marco Pierre White wot a plank. Firstly the scruffy bloke wants to get a shave and haircut. He`s obviously got something going on with the other overweight plank Jim Davidson. Lee should have put one on him. Hes a loud mouth and turns out menu only fit for a local cafe.
Its all a shame we didnt have the likes of Vinnie Jones, Roy Keane, Liam Gallagher, Amy Winehouse in the kitchen.
Having said that MPW would have had them removed for being outspoken. Meat cleavers would have needed to be banned from the kitchen.
Get a hair net on Marco

[Angela]

Marco pierre White is pure class in my opinion. You can tell that you are in the presence of a Master. I don't miss Gordon Ramsay at all.

[Wanabe Chef]

If you have never worked in Restaurant Kitchen, you can not understand the skills and power of Marco, also he is a Head Chef looking out for his Staff, not taking any "Rubbish" from customers who have no idea of the work involued in the Catering Trade. Gordon was more worried about what people thought of him, Marco doesn't care if you like him or not, as he has nothing to prove to us mortals. If you find Marco to hard to watch and understand what he is teaching, then I'd say you would not last 5 seconds in a Real Kitchen

[Gary Moreton-Jones]

Marco turned around english food, he was the youngest chef in the world to gain three michelin stars, the first english chef to do it and where do you think ramsey learned to cook , ramsey is just copying how marco was 20 years ago, i think we can see marco has self control and fantastic man manegment skills it is about the food not about the chef

[Paolo]

Heather,
As good a chef as Marco is?

Give me a break and learn your history. First and youngest chef to 3 Michelin stars and was so cool he actually gave them back.

Who do you think Ramsay is imitating when he flies off the handle? Marco reduced Ramsay to tears years ago allegedly at Harvey's.

Not bad for a working class guy from Leeds.

[tbag]

may be a bit behind the times,but where is Gordy? Not quite the same without him. Come back Gordy,we miss you.

[Heather Walker]

This Marco is about as good a chef as I am and Im prettier. Not only is he the ugliest b.m I have ever set eyes on he looks dirty, he cant cook and he has one hell of an ego. I also think Jim Davidson needs to crawl back into the hole he was in YUK hes horrible. GO LEE, YOU WERE GREAT glad you had the sense to get out. Bring back our GORDON wont be watching another second of this crap

[steve]

Marco is a god to us chef. He lives in the real world people who slat him havent got a clue about who he is or where he comes from ,i recommend you try reading white heat for starters

[princeton]

He is the biggest t**t I have ever met he things such a hard his should go into boxing or a competition of who's got the ugliest eyes or something. HE IS NOT DISHY!!!!!!!!

[stuart telfer]

What!!!! Great white??? Great shi
#te more like. At least RAmsay loved the food, this guy just loves his ego. Refuse to watch another second.

[Mandy]

Marco is great, never thought i would enjoy watching without Gordon.
He's also quite dishy !!!
A true pro !!

[Chris Chard]

Marco Pierre White is one true professional. He tells it how it is and will obviously teach those who are willing to listen. He very obviously has a heart for those who will try and a big red-hot Trident for those who take the p***. Marco is world class and fantastic TV viewing too.

[bo bo]

i am scared