Restaurant winner back serving troops in Helmand

A Royal Marine whose culinary skills on BBC show The Restaurant persuaded Raymond Blanc to offer him a gastropub has quit and is now working in Afghanistan.

Jeremy Hooper, 37, and his wife Jane opened Eight at The Thatch, in Thame, Oxfordshire, after being chosen by the French chef in 2007.

At the time he was a corporal with the Commando Logistic Regiment at RMB Chivenor.

The couple quit the pub after eight months following disagreements over its direction.

After a stint as a catering consultant Mr Hooper returned to the services. He now serves up to 150 meals a day to personnel in Helmand.

"I just try and be as creative as possible with what I've got," he said.

The Beef Wellington he cooked for US Army VIPs at Camp Bastion earned him a medal.