Come Dine With Me: Anthony’s
a winner

Mr Deas, a former navy medic who lives in Warwick Terrace, Leamington, was judged to have the best culinary and hosting skills by his fellow contestants on the Channel Four show Come Dine With Me.

The 38-year-old taught himself how to create a menu consisting of butternut squash soup, venison and cheesecake for the five-part show, which was filmed last November and screened last week.

Mr Deas said: “I can follow a recipe but I entered just to see if I could do it

“It was really enjoyable but hard work alright.

“I’m amazed to have won, it was really surprising and I’m really chuffed.”

Mr Deas’ Come Dine With Me experience started last year when he applied for the show “for a joke” after being shown a flyer by a neighbour.

He was selected from 470 applicants from in and around Warwick and Leamington.

His fellow contestants were Adam Kitchiner from Rowington, Alexis Walmsley from Kenilworth, Shrewley villager Antonia Dallow and Lisa Merrell, who lives in Southam.

The successful entrants took turns in hosting dinner parties over the course of a week and scoring one another on their performances before the total was totted up and Mr Deas was presented with a £1,000 prize.

Customers at the Grand Union restaurant in Clemens Street, Leamington, can ‘come dine’ with Mr Deas on Wednesday night

He is cooking and serving his menu from the show from 7.30pm.

Mr Deas said: “I’m absolutely terrified but it’s good publicity for the restaurant.”

Tickets cost £24.95.

Call 888278 or go online.

www.the-grand-union.co.uk