THE former chef of notorious Sildsen restaurant Bonapartes has found that the curse of Gordon Ramsay has not escaped him.

Tim Gray, 23, from Skipton was sacked from his job at Herriots in Skipton this week one day after the Channel 4 programme Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares was re-screened.

Tim, who says he has learnt so much from his contact with Ramsay, is disappointed he cannot seem to shake off the stigma attached to the programme.

Readers will remember that Tim came across as a hapless chef who could not even cook an omelette. He told the Herald that he had learnt his lesson.

"Just give me a chance to get on with my life, " he said.

Since leaving Bonapartes, Tim has worked at The Grouse in Silsden where he says he was doing a good job. But his reputation preceded him and customers began ringing up to complain that he was a member of staff.

He said that although he was a chef there, he was not the only one. He feels that the public forced him out of his job.

Tim then returned to his former workplace Beeties Gallery Restaurant in Saltaire.

He told the Herald that he returned to work at the only restaurant where he felt the owners had confidence in him.

Tim said the management at Beeties were always pleased with his work. The Herald tried to contact proprietor Wayne Brimicombe but he was on holiday.

Now Tim is not only out of work, but he has also lost his lodgings at Herriots.

"This job is my life and my accommodation as well. Where am I going after here?" he asked.

More than anything Tim just wants the chance to prove everyone wrong. To anyone who questions his ability he says that they should give him the chance to cook them a meal.

His biggest fear is that by taking part in the show which he hoped would launch his career it has in fact made him unemployable.

In a statement to the Herald, Herriots' general manager David Oliver said: "Tim Gray had worked at Herriots for five days and whilst not in a senior position he had secured this position under false pretences and therefore was dismissed.

"Herriots prides itself on its high standards, quality and integrity and as Tim had failed to disclose his previous employment at Bonapartes we considered his position to be untenable, as we look to progress with Herriots continued development."