A CHIPPING Norton chef has 'no regrets' from his time on MasterChef: The Professionals, despite exiting the BBC show at the quarter-final stage.

Millions watched Dave John Hall, head chef at Whistlers, compete in the final 16 of the popular programme last night, but he was unable to advance to the next round.

But Mr Hall revealed business was booming at the restaurant thanks to his TV appearance and added he still talks to some of the chefs he met on the show.

He said: "I was thrilled just to get on and I had a blast.

"My mindset wasn't that I had to win. I'm definitely a better chef for it."

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Mr Hall, who lives just outside Oxfordshire, starred in last night's invention test, where he was given eggs and had to create a dish.

The chef produced a poached peach frangipane tart with cardamom custard and Italian meringue.

He said: "It couldn't have gone any better, it all fell into place. I received the sort of comments that I set out to get."

Mr Hall then sought to wow three restaurant critics with a play on fish and chips.

In this challenge, he cooked pan fried halibut with warm tartar sauce, salt and vinegar mash, tempura sorrel and sea vegetables, followed by chocolate fondant tart, clotted cream, poached raspberries and raspberry gel and honeycomb.