Murray evicted from kitchen show

Pub Landlord Al Murray has been evicted from Gordon Ramsay’s Hell's Kitchen.

The comic was an early favourite to win the show, but  was tonight voted out by the public.

When presenter Angus Deayton told him the news, Murray swore, took off his chef's hat then hugged each of the remaining contestants – Edwina Currie, Matt Goss, Jennifer Ellison and Gimme Gimme Gimme's James Dreyfus.

Murray said: "I'm gutted, I'm really upset, I've been working really hard. I really got a lot out of it and I wanted to be there."

His departure comes even though his culinary skills were recognised as the best of the bunch by a group of food critics, who declared his fish pie their favourite dish.

Murray said he hoped Ellison would be crowned winner on Sunday.

Published: 4 Jun 2004