Moray kitchen star Ross to be on MasterChef
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The new series of 'MasterChef: The Professionals' starting the week after next will feature a contestant who grew up in Moray.
Ross Burgess will be competing against some of the nation's very best when the series begins later this month.
However, after leaving Elgin Academy, Ross originally intended to become a joiner.
The 31-year-old recalls: "The only problem was I couldn't get an apprenticeship anywhere for love or money.
"Just to keep my mum happy I ended up getting a job at Scribbles. It was only meant to be a temporary thing but, much to my surprise, I discovered I absolutely loved it."
After a year Ross went on to work at the Mansfield Hotel.
Then, after another two-and-half-years he moved down to Edinburgh, where he got the chance to do work experience in Tom Kitchin's famous Michelin starred restaurant The Kitchin.
After some time working around the city he and his partner, Amy, then headed off to the other side of the world.
For the next five years he worked in various restaurants in Australia.
He also got the chance to travel extensively in the Far East.
Ross said: "Amy is as obsessed with food as I am. Other people travel to places to see the sites. We travel to taste the cuisine.
"Countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan and South Korea have all been so influential to me as a chef.
"I love how they use simple and fresh ingredients to create an explosion of flavours.
"Travelling changed my whole approach to cooking."
Back in Scotland, Ross enrolled at Moray College in 2015 to study for a HND in professional cookery.
He says: "It's one of the best courses anywhere in Scotland and the college's Beachtree restaurant serves some fantastic food.
"Studying there also gave me the chance to experiment and try things out. You'd be given recipes and dishes to prepare but the team at the college really allowed you the freedom to put your own spin on things."
Ross has avidly watched every previous series of MasterChef.
He says: "I've always loved the programme. I was one of those viewers who'd shout at the TV.
"Eventually Amy got tired of me telling everyone what they should and shouldn't be doing.
"She told me I should apply to go on it myself.
"So I ended up writing in during the course of last November.
"Then, in February, I got the first of several calls back.
"To end up being picked to go on the show was just beyond belief."
Filming took place in London over the course of the summer.
Ross says: "It was so strange to be in the same kitchen you see on TV. To say it was like a dream is an understatement.
"However, I knew I had to forget all that and focus fully on the competition instead."
How Ross fared is a strict secret until the series is aired. All he can confirm is that it was "an experience of a lifetime".
He says: "It might sound cheesy but I learned a lot about myself as well as about being a chef.
"I've never had that much confidence in the dishes I make. I probably would never have gone on the show without Amy pushing me to do it.
"But I'm so glad I did. It's certainly something I'll remember for the rest of my days."
Talking about secrets, the Northern Scot has a happy one that concerns both Ross and Moray.
However, we'll leave that for another day and, for the moment, just wish him well in the contest.
Ross will be appearing on 'MasterChef: The Professionals', presented by Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing, on BBC1 during the evening of Wednesday, November 18.
Amongst those cheering him on will be his mum Mel, who works at the Elgin branch of Marks & Spencer, his step-dad Colin, who works at Glen Moray, and his sister Lisa and brother-in-law Tom, who live in Roseisle.
