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New show for Marco
HELL'S KITCH-END

Moody chef ... Marco Pierre White

ITV

THE recession has reached the world of celeb fine dining - with Hell's Kitchen getting the chop because it is too expensive.

ITV1 chiefs have ruled that dishing out free foie gras and veal to stars is doing nothing for the channel's bottom line.

So bosses have come up with a cheaper version instead.

It will still have moody chef Marco Pierre White throwing his weight around in front of a batch of washed-up celebrities trying to cook.

But its name is changing to Marco's Kitchen Burnout. And to cut costs, the show will be filmed in a real London restaurant - no doubt one of Marco's - and diners must pay for the grub.

Producers used to splash thousands of pounds on building a pretend five-star restaurant and kitchen from scratch at Three Mills Studios in East London.

Twelve chefs, three a night, will compete over four weeks. Each is set to man a section in the kitchen, turning out Michelin star-standard delicacies.

Customers will give their views on the food - and the worst chefs will be given one of Marco's trademark roastings and sent packing.

The four weekly winners will face-off in a semi-final before two are eventually left to compete for the title of Best Celebrity Chef.

Unlike Hell's Kitchen, the apprentice chefs will not live together, which will further ease bills - and the explosive backstage rows.

A show source said: "It's no secret that Hell's Kitchen was an expensive show. This time they're keeping the costs down and making it easier for decent celebs to take part - because they won't have to live with everyone else.

"Bosses are gunning for some good names so it should be a cracking show."

The show won't go out live but will be filmed in January and February next year and aired on Friday nights in April.

Last year five million viewers tuned in each night to watch stars including Anthea Turner and Bruce Grobbelaar.

A spokesperson said: "We are working on a new idea for Marco. Hell's Kitchen may well return in the future."