A PAINTER and decorator from Redditch has swapped paint tins for saucepans after his stint on BBC TV’s MasterChef.
Richard Bayliss was on the show in May this year, after making it down to the final 45.
He has always had a love of cooking, and was encouraged by his family to take on the challenge.
He said: “It was honestly the most terrifying experience.
“The pressure was immense, but to beat 20,000 other applicants gave me a boost of confidence.”
Richard applied for a job as a chef straight after the show finished filming.
Although he didn’t have any formal experience, he was invited into the kitchen to show off his skills and after 30 minutes he was hired.
Richard said: “After the show I knew it was what I wanted to do. I’d spent years working just for the pay cheque, but I wanted to do something for me.”
Richard now works at The Hart in Headless Cross.
He couldn’t tell anyone about taking part on the show, so it was a shock to his new colleagues when they saw him on TV.
“They couldn’t believe it – everyone was really shocked,” he said.
“In a way, I’m glad they found out after I was hired so I could prove my own skill.
“I couldn’t play the MasterChef card beforehand so to get the job on my own merit was great.”
Life as a chef has been an adjustment, but Richard said his family had been really supportive.
“Obviously being a painter and decorator I set my own hours so working as a chef has been a challenge.
“But my kids are all grown up now with their own lives and I said to myself ‘it’s your time now’.”
