Great British Menu chef Tom Anglesea opens up over dish inspired by late friend

Top London chef Tom Anglesea opened up about a friend who died from cancer who inspired his Great British Menu dish.

Former Gordon Ramsay cook Anglesea, 34, was revealed as the winner of the fish course on the BBC Two show on Tuesday and is in the running to be named overall winner in the series finale tonight.

The show sees chefs from across the country compete to have their dishes served at a four-course banquet for prominent guests.

Anglesea’s dish, “Lost souls in a fish bowl”, is inspired by the Pink Floyd track Wish You Were Here. It pays tribute to his friend Graham Irving, who passed away at the age of 26, three years after the pair met.

Anglesea, who is head chef at east London restaurant The Laughing Heart, said: “I remember travelling across Australia with Graham and that song always playing on the radio.

“So this dish is a tribute to him and the travels we had together. It is quite an emotional dish.”

The dish centres around scallops, which are paired with English wasabi and a dashi broth.

The Durham-born chef began his career at Ramsay’s Boxwood Cafe, before working at Michelin-starred Per Se in New York and at restaurants across Australia.

Anglesea earned his own Michelin star at The Red Lion pub in Pewsey, before setting up wine bar and restaurant The Laughing Heart with restaurateur Charlie Mellor.

The final episode of Great British Menu will air tonight at 8pm, in which Anglesea will go up against fellow London chef Luke Selby of Hide to be crowned overall winner of the competition.