Shamed chef Anthony Worrall-Thompson – cautioned by police after being caught shoplifting from his local Tesco supermarket – has withdrawn from guest appearances on MSC cruise ship Splendida.
The TV chef will be replaced by Michelin-starred Paul Rankin who joins the ship in Barcelona on February 5.
A statement on MSC’s website said it was making the announcement “with regret,” but made no mention of Worrall-Thompson’s recent troubles. A spokesperson later added: “In the wake of the coverage which appeared in the media and Mr Thompson’s own public announcement of his desire to seek appropriate treatment for his condition, we felt that his presence on board was no longer tenable at this particular time.”
The official statement continues: “The company is delighted to inform its guests that Michelin award winning chef Paul Rankin will be
Rankin’s Roscoff restaurant in Belfast was awarded Northern Ireland’s first Michelin star in 1991, but closed in 2005 after running into financial difficulties. The chef now runs Cayenne restaurant in the city, and his range of traditional foods, including Irish soda bread, is stocked by supermarkets throughout the UK.
Leave A Comment