The Savoy Grill is Gordon Ramsay’s pride and joy — and is where Margaret Thatcher used to dine with her husband, Sir Denis, by the Thames.
And the TV cook painstakingly picked a celebrated young chef — who has won a spate of Michelin stars for top hotels — to run the kitchen.
So I’m surprised to hear that Matt Worswick, 28, has suddenly been fired after only seven months in the role.
‘We are all shocked,’ says my man with the silver spoon. ‘There was an explosive incident in the kitchen and then Matt announced he was leaving.’
Gordon Ramsay (pictured with daughter Tilly in 2015) painstakingly picked a celebrated young chef – who has won Michelin stars for top hotels – to run the kitchen at The Savoy Grill
Worswick was being trumpeted as a protege of Ramsay, 55. Just like the short-tempered Glaswegian, he showed great early promise, winning a Michelin star aged 26.
Hiring him was a coup for the Savoy Grill: he’d previously worked at double-starred restaurant Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham, before becoming head chef at Glenapp Castle in Scotland, which was where he won his first star, and earned The Latymer hotel in Surrey a Michelin star after that.
Viewers of BBC show Masterchef: The Professionals may recognise him, as he reached the semi-finals in 2010.
Things were going so well for him at the Savoy that he was asked to launch a second restaurant at the five-star hotel, The River, in September.
But the chef confirms: ‘My journey has come to an end at the Savoy. I’d like to thank all the staff, past and present, for all their hard work and dedication. I’d like to wish Gordon Ramsay all the very best and continued success for the future.’
Ramsay was apparently abroad at the time of the incident in question.
So I’m surprised to hear that Matt Worswick (pictured), 28, has suddenly been fired after only seven months in the role. He was being trumpeted as a protege of Ramsay, 55
It is, of course, just the latest colourful chapter in Ramsay’s career. He rocketed to fame off the back of his angry antics, including firing a waiter for sipping water in view of customers and using the F-word 111 times in one edition of Kitchen Nightmares.
Known for his hot-headedness, he once slung the distinguished late critic A. A. Gill and his companion, Dame Joan Collins, out of his restaurant after Gill described him in a review as a failed sportsman who acted like an 11-year-old.
He has insulted other chefs, including Raymond Blanc whom he described as a ‘little French t***’.
Hotels are having bad luck with their top restaurateurs at the moment — I recently revealed that Claridge’s chef Daniel Humm stormed out after the hotel refused to let him turn the menu vegan.
HELENA AND NEW LOVER COHABIT (WITH HIS AND HERS PET RABBITS)
Helena Bonham Carter and the Edward Scissorhands director Tim Burton lived in inter-connecting houses during their 13-year relationship, with each property decorated to their own his ‘n’ hers tastes and personal styles.
So I’m surprised to learn that the 55-year-old actress has chosen to share a home with her boyfriend, art historian Rye Dag Holmboe, 32.
Helena Bonham Carter has chosen to share a home with her boyfriend, art historian Rye Dag Holmboe (both pictured), 32, despite living in inter-connecting houses with Tim Burton
The couple have added to their domestic bliss by adopting house rabbits, and are choosing art for their walls in North London together.
At an exhibition of works by collage artist Nicol Allan, Holmboe tells me: ‘Helena and I have been given six of the collages — she chose her favourite ones. In fact, her favourite is the cover of the book I did on his work.’
Helena, who has two children with Burton, showed me the painting she’s chosen for the hall, gushing: ‘Art is just one of the many things Rye has taught me about…’
Labour MP Stella Creasy has found an unlikely ally in her battle to be able to bring her baby into the Commons Chamber: Jacob Rees-Mogg.
He tells me: ‘I’d have loved to bring my own in, as they could say all their life, ‘I sat on the benches when I was one’.’
It could be rather crowded if he brings along all six of his Mogglets to hear debates.
Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren says she’s finally learned to smile because she’s sick of sucking in her cheeks like Posh Spice.
‘I don’t do a Victoria Beckham — she’s always got the smoulder on,’ she says. ‘I’m not so good at that anymore.’
Dame Helen adds: ‘I always had fat cheeks — and I still do, so I was always sucking my cheeks in.
‘But you can’t suck your cheeks in and smile at the same time — it’s absolutely impossible. So I guess I never smiled.’
David Beckham’s wife has said she regards her pout as her ‘armour’.
AND THEY’RE OFF… HORSEY SHEIKH AND WIFE SPLIT
As one of the most powerful figures in racing, who’s bred horses for the Queen, Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani is used to people gossiping about his prospects.
But now all the chatter is about the Qatari royal’s marriage reaching the final furlong.
I hear his American wife, Melissa Margolis, has publicly tweeted that they’ve split up.
However, her comments were later removed.
‘It’s very sad, but it’s over,’ one of her friends tells me. ‘She is absolutely devastated.’
I hear Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani’s American wife, Melissa Margolis (both pictured in November 2018), has publicly tweeted that they’ve split up
When I contact Melissa, she declines to say more, explaining: ‘At this moment in time, I have no further comment.’
Fahad is a first cousin of the super-rich Emir of Qatar, where the football World Cup is to be held next year.
His father, Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, was prime minister of the oil-rich gulf state for 11 years. The family owns a mansion in Park Lane, Mayfair, of which the Queen once reportedly said: ‘This place makes Buckingham Palace look rather dull’.
He married Melissa, a former showjumper, just three years ago. According to his Twitter page, he lives by the mantra of, ‘Never back down and no regrets’.
A spokesman for the couple tells me: ‘We won’t comment on personal matters — particularly a deleted tweet.’
This could be a lively wedding: professional party planner Victoria ‘Tor’ Dashwood, whose ancestor founded the 18th century Hellfire Club, renowned for its scandalous soirees, has become engaged.
Tor, 30, whose parents, Sir Edward and Lady Dashwood, live at West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire, is to wed Tyrrells crisps heir James Chase, 31.
Tor insists it won’t be a lavish bash, telling me: ‘We haven’t started planning properly yet, but it will definitely be intimate.’
JAGGER EX DUMPS TOYBOY FOR LOOKALIKE
Sir Mick Jagger’s former inamorata, Luciana Gimenez, once claimed that having a ‘young lover is like having a drip put in my arm’.
And now the Brazilian TV host is enjoying a fresh injection of youth.
Sir Mick Jagger’s former inamorata, Luciana Gimenez (pictured), once claimed that having a ‘young lover is like having a drip put in my arm’
I hear Luciana, 52, who is the mother of the Rolling Stones singer’s son Lucas, 22, has split up with her toyboy, millionaire businessman Eduardo Buffara, 29, after two years together
She’s already enjoying a passionate new romance with another Brazilian businessman, Renato Breia (pictured), who, at 35, is still 17 years her junior
I hear Luciana, 52, who is the mother of the Rolling Stones singer’s son Lucas, 22, has split up with her toyboy, millionaire businessman Eduardo Buffara, 29, after two years together.
Happily, she’s already enjoying a passionate new romance with another Brazilian businessman, Renato Breia, who, at 35, is still 17 years her junior.
One of her friends says: ‘They’ve been seeing each other for the last two months and have been inseparable.’
He regularly gets into spats with his three brothers and feisty mother since he sold the splendid London HQ of The Lady magazine, earning him £12.4 m.
But Ben Budworth, 56, who lives at Bylaugh Hall in Norfolk, is now involved in a court case with his neighbour.
Andreus Medler, 52, is accused of theft and causing damage to Budworth’s immaculate lawns by performing ‘doughnuts’ in a car.
Norwich magistrates’ court was told yesterday that Medler intended to plead not guilty to both charges and the case was adjourned till February.
(VERY) MODERN MANNERS
Showing Britons round holiday homes in the Mediterranean or Florida would seem like a fantasy job, but A Place In The Sun presenter Laura Hamilton says that it’s left her needing cosmetic treatment.
‘My mum thought I was mad for having Botox,’ reveals the Channel 4 star.
‘I’ve had a little between my eyebrows, to get rid of the frown lines caused from being in the sun. I’m 40 next year, and I just wanted to do it.’
Showing Britons round holiday homes would seem like a fantasy job, but A Place In The Sun presenter Laura Hamilton (pictured) says that it’s left her needing cosmetic treatment
Hamilton, who was once a Dancing on Ice runner-up, adds: ‘I contemplated a boob reduction operation in my teens.
‘When I was 15, all of a sudden my boobs grew to a 28FF, and I had an out-of-proportion body.
‘When the doctor explained the procedure, it sounded scary, and I realised that I had my whole life ahead of me to settle into my body. I’m so glad I didn’t go through with it.’
INTENSIVE CARE DRAMA FOR HARRY PAL’S BABY
Like his close friend Prince Harry, Guy Pelly moved to the U.S. to find happiness with his American wife.
But Pelly, who is married to Holiday Inn heiress Elizabeth Wilson, has been going through a rather tough time recently.
Elizabeth has revealed that her new-born daughter had to be treated in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Virginia.
‘Our newest addition, baby Maple, spent the first few weeks of her life receiving excellent care from the doctors and nurses,’ she says. ‘We could not be more grateful and thankful.’
Former nightclub boss Pelly is godfather to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s younger son, Prince Louis.
He has known the princes since childhood and owns a vineyard, Merrie Mill Farm, also in Virginia, where he and Elizabeth live with their two other daughters, Willow and Clementine.
They visited Harry and Meghan at their Californian mansion last year to help them settle into life in the States.