Marcus Wareing Quits Gordon Ramsay BBC Show Weeks Before Filming
Marcus Wareing has reportedly withdrawn from a planned BBC cookery series with Gordon Ramsay, bringing production to a halt just weeks before filming was scheduled to start. The show, which was to be made by Ramsay's production company Studio Ramsay and hosted by Wareing, had been highly anticipated after the two chefs publicly ended their long-running feud earlier this year.
According to a source cited by The Sun, Wareing, 56, told producers last week that he no longer wanted to take part. "Sadly, the format has already fallen apart," the source said. "It's a shame as there was so much excitement about the reunion. It all feels pretty final, but the BBC could try to rescue it in another way. They liked the concept and the talent involved."
The reason for Wareing's decision remains unclear. Sources have denied that he fell out with Ramsay, 59, during pre-production meetings, but no further explanation has been given. The show, described as focusing on cooks improving their skills and celebrating home cooking, was expected to air on BBC2 next year.
The development marks an abrupt reversal for the pair, who had only recently buried the hatchet after a feud that spanned more than a decade. In June, Wareing said of the project: "This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Gordon again. It's been many years since we last shared a kitchen. I can't wait to get started." Ramsay also expressed delight at their reunion, saying: "Marcus and I go back a long way. And I'm delighted we're coming together to bring this special series to BBC Daytime."
The roots of their conflict date back to 2008, when Wareing, who had been head chef at one of Ramsay's restaurants, left to launch his own venture. The pair had earlier opened the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Pétrus together in 1999 and moved it to The Berkeley hotel in 2003. Wareing's desire to take over the lease of Pétrus led to a legal battle, with Ramsay retaining the restaurant's name and Wareing opening his own restaurant at The Berkeley.
The rift was famously bitter. In a 2011 interview with Weekend Magazine, Wareing recalled: "Gordon verbally kicked the s* out of you. Then he would buy you a beer. He put me through mental torture." However, in more recent years, Wareing described the feud as "the best thing that ever happened to both of us," and the pair were said to have resolved their differences months before agreeing to work together again.
A BBC spokesman declined to comment, while representatives for Ramsay and Wareing have been contacted for comment.