Top chef Gary Rhodes could have found his next protege at an event at Thanet College.

Gary, a former student of the Broadstairs catering college, returned to help judge the National Junior Chef competition.

He said the standard was so high he could confidently offer all of the finalists a job.

“This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to encourage young people to join the catering industry and become part of it,” he added.

“I would be happy take on all eight finalists myself, their standard has been so high.”

Around 700 young people at schools and colleges around the country entered the competition and were whittled down to eight finalists invited to Broadstairs.

The winner was 16-year-old Jack Cunnell, from Stowmarket, Suffolk.