HERTFORDSHIRE’S only Michelin-starred chef narrowly missed out on a place in the final of BBC Two’s Great British Menu last night (Thursday).

Phil Thompson, executive chef at the Auberge du Lac, on the Brocket Hall estate, was pipped to a place in the final of the TV competition, losing out to chefs Tom Kerridge and Tom Aiken by just one point.

Phil told the Welwyn Hatfield Times he believed it was a few early mistakes which proved costly, but that he still felt he had “done myself justice”.

“It was the nerves,” he said. “I made some stupid mistakes on my first course because I was so nervous. I’d never been on TV before, and there I was, being watched by millions, next to two of the best chefs in the country.

“But I thought it went all right. I was always up against it. Nobody knew who I was and I just set out to do myself justice. I wanted to show people that I’m not some fiery, egotistical chef, and I think I did that.”