CELEBRITIES were on the menu in West Devon this week as they lurked in one of the region's most prestigious kitchens as part of a new TV show. Actor John Nettles, best known for his roles in Bergerac and Midsomer Murders, put his best detective hat on to track down a Michelin-starred celebrity chef and capture him in action. On Monday, Mr Nettles visited Michael Caines in his kitchen at Gidleigh Park Hotel near Chagford to show how cooking is a form of entertainment — part of the remit for his new show, Nettles Applauds, to be aired later this year. Mr Nettles said: 'For the show, we're talking to people who perform in some sense and, for example, here Michael Caines entertains people. in so far as he cooks them wonderful food.' Television is now inundated with chefs and cookery programmes — a fact that Mr Nettles believes has made cooking more of a 'performance art' than ever, with chefs now taking on the roles of actors and performers. Sue Kendall, resident manager at Gidleigh Park Hotel, said: 'The producers of the show are talking about people who are the best of the best, so it is fantastic they came to Gidleigh Park and fantastic for Michael Caines, who is a champion of local food. 'We try to to be as close as we can be to perfection. John is a really great guy and it was wonderful for our customers to see him here.' Nettles Applauds, a six part series to be shown on ITV at the end of July, will examine the art of performance, its history and its customs, throughout the South West. Nettles Applauds will see its star travel from Swindon in the north of the region to Penzance in the far south to allow viewers to revel in the rich heritage of South West performance. The event at Gidleigh Park topped off an exciting weekend for Michael Caines, who was the face of Exeter's Festival of South West Food and Drink, a three day event held in the surrounds of Northenhay Gardens and Exeter Castle. This year the festival boasted a record number of producers exhibiting their wares and a record number of festival goers. Mr Caines said: 'It was a huge success, particularly the twinning with Tuscany and the after dark festival. It was bigger and better than ever before, received very well by the public and I am very proud of its success.'
