Callum Deboys thought his days of being a chef were over.
The 26-year-old from Prestwick had his ambitions tragically cut short when a serious motorcycle accident saw his leg amputated.
Back then, Callum, aged just 19, was working in top kitchen Trump Turnberry as a pastry chef, after a stint on the Isle of Skye at a Michelin star diner.
But after that fateful day he realised life would never be the same, as he hung up his chefs apron and focused becoming a Paralympic star for team GB.
Now, he’s just one cook off away from being crowned the first winner of Gordon Ramsay’s new show Next Level Chef UK and claiming a top cash prize of £100,000.
It’s not bad from the lad who started as a Kitchen Porter in the Kirkmichael Arms.
Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Callum has opened up on his incredible experience which saw him whisked down to London to cook in a crazy three-tier multi-level kitchen, where he’s had just 15 seconds to grab ingredients and battle against 11 other contestants, to reach the final three.
All of this under the intense scrutiny of judges chef Gordon Ramsay, Michelin star cook Paul Ainsworth and top US chef, Nyesha Arrington.
Callum said: “I am just honoured to have my place in the show. I worked so hard just to get on it. It’s not every day you get to cook for Gordon Ramsay, so to say he’s tasted my food is just incredible.
“I went into this show not cooking for quite a long time. It was a hard decision for me to leave being a chef after what happened to me.
“I didn’t think my cooking skills anywhere near as good as they are. So to think I’ve managed to get to the final. It’s pretty special.”
Callum has revealed the huge task he undertook just to make it to the show with around 3,000 hopefuls from across the UK applying.
The ex-professional filmed home cooking videos of himself to send into the show, and competed in a cook off of 40 other chefs.
When the show cooked off Callum admits it was the most “stressful thing” he’s done in his life.
Callum also found himself rooted in the bottom level of the three-tier kitchens, with his journey to the final starting in the basement kitchen – a bog standard unit, with basic equipment.
But Callum admits he thrived under those conditions, after cooking in the intense semi-final from the basement.
He added: “I thrived in the basement kitchen.
“There are no expectations that come out of the basement, because you’ve got all the dodgy equipment and you get the last pick of ingredients. Anyone is just doubting that anything will come from the basement.
“When people doubt me that’s when I thrive, that’s when I’m at my best.”
If there was one dish that got the judges' mouths watering it was Callum’s take on a pork chop, with his versions in both the first round and the semi-final, earning top praise.
And that ability, has earned Callum his proud new nickname “Mr Pork Chop”.
Callum has told how mixing with Gordon Ramsay is an experience he’ll never forget.
He added: “I instantly clicked with Gordon, he was hilarious and every bit as mental as you think he would be. He’s so nice and so welcoming and just makes you feel at ease in the kitchen, but you obviously still want to impress him.”
Callum says no matter what the result he’ll be partying at home, with girlfriend Charlotte Crossland, mum Bridget, dad Richard and sister Abigail.
He added: “We’re going to have a Next Level Chef going out party and hopefully we’ll be £100,000 richer after it.”
The final of Next Level Chef will be shown on ITV1 at 9pm on Thursday, March 2.
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