WEST Devon based celebrity chef and co-proprietor of the Horn of Plenty hotel and restaurant, Peter Gorton, showed 'plenty of guts' last Friday, when he was the main guest chef on a BBC3 TV programme.

The programme — 'Kill It, Cook It, Eat It' — was one of a six-part series hosted by Julia Bradbury, following the journey of farm animals from the pasture to our plates.

The one-hour programme saw Peter Gorton working with a group of six volunteers, who immersed themselves in the processes involved in meat production.

Some of the volunteers were vegetarians and vegans and the programme hoped to inform and challenge their beliefs, in a show that debates the ethics around meat production and eating in the UK today.

Peter prepared offal, showing the volunteers how to cook it and explaining the health benefits of eating different parts of the animal.

The programme followed Peter as he demonstrates how to transform the offal and different organs of a pig into delicious gourmet dishes.

From the head to testicles and heart to tongue, Peter showed how to make the most of every bit of the animal.

The chef told the Times that he was interested in taking part in this particular programme because of the offal factor, which challenged him to come up with some interesting dishes.

Although he admitted one dish he did not like was tripe, he said: 'It was great to be asked to take part in this series.

'I firmly believe that if people are able to taste well cooked offal they will change their mind about it.

'I hope that this comes across in the show.

'Offal has a bad reputation as we have become detached from eating 'real' meat and using every bit of the animal.

'I hope that this will show people that you can create delicious food that is packed with vitamins at a fraction of the price.'

The programme was aimed at people on low budgets.

Among the volunteers was Kerry, a married mother of two from Watford in Herffordshire, who has to live on a food budget of just £40 a week.

Peter was so impressed with her attitude that when he found out she wanted to be a chef herself, he offered her some work and training at the Horn of Plenty, which he hoped she would take up in the near future.