Matt Tebbutt's Awkward TV Moment Recalling Chef Sacking
An episode of BBC's The One Show turned unexpectedly awkward as presenter Matt Tebbutt revisited the moment he was sacked by legendary chef Marco Pierre White. The Saturday Kitchen host, 52, appeared on the popular chat show on Wednesday, April 1, where co-host Angellica Bell playfully probed him about the uncomfortable incident.
Career Discussion Turns to Candid Confession
Matt Tebbutt joined Angellica Bell and her co-host JB Gill to discuss his latest career venture: a new podcast exploring the stories behind celebrities' supermarket favourites. Before diving into this new endeavour, Angellica inquired about how Matt began his culinary journey, specifically asking about his experience with Marco Pierre White.
"Marco Pierre White, he gave you your big break when you started out. What was that like?" Angellica asked. Matt elaborated, describing White as "a bit of a legend or he still is a legend in the whole food industry" and emphasizing the importance of such mentors for aspiring chefs.
The Sacking Revelation
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Angellica noted, "You worked for him twice, was it twice?" Matt clarified that this referred to another chef, Alistair Little, before confessing, "Well I worked for him twice because I got sacked."
It became evident that Angellica already knew about the dismissal, as she interjected, "That's right. I'm like, 'I'm letting you gloss over that. I'll let you gloss over that.'" The studio erupted in laughter as Matt sarcastically responded, "Thank you, that is very sweet of you. I thought it was just bad intel."
Behind the Sacking Story
Matt then provided further detail about the incident. He explained that he started working at a three-star Michelin restaurant, "the pinnacle of Michelin cooking," straight out of catering school. "I really didn't know what I was going into and wow what a shock that was," he admitted. "So he sacked me after a month and then I went home."
The story took an amusing twist when Matt described receiving a phone call the next day from Marco Pierre White asking why he was at home. "I went, 'Well, because you sacked me last night' and he said 'oh, don't worry about that'," Matt recalled. He then returned to work at one of White's other restaurants, The Criterion, describing it as "really busy" and "often tough" but ultimately a fun experience.
Shift to Saturday Kitchen Easter Special
Later in the programme, the conversation shifted to Saturday Kitchen's upcoming Easter special. Angellica revealed that the show would be pre-recorded rather than broadcast live, a change from its usual format. The popular BBC programme, which typically airs live from 10:00 to 11:30 on Saturdays, features guest chefs preparing dishes and celebrity guests discussing their culinary preferences.
Pre-recorded instalments occasionally trigger disappointment among fans who favour the live format, adding an extra layer of discussion to the show's scheduling. The One Show broadcasts weekdays from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer, while Saturday Kitchen airs Saturdays from 10am on BBC One.
This candid exchange on The One Show provided viewers with a rare glimpse into the early career struggles of a prominent TV chef, blending humour with genuine revelation about the pressures of the culinary world.
