A talented young chef from Gateshead whose skills landed him in the TV spotlight says the experience will help him achieve his culinary dream.
Danny McPherson, from Bensham, has now turned 20 but was 19 when he took part in new BBC Three cookery competition Hungry For It, hosted by Stacey Dooley, which is currently screening on Tuesday nights. It sees TV cook Big Zuu and Chef Kay Kay - who is a personal cook for the likes of P Diddy and Justin Bieber - mentor rookie cooks wanting to make it in the trade, with a prize up for grabs of a culinary trip of a lifetime.
As one of 10 contestants, Danny put his skills to the test and also in passing, it turns out, he educated the famous hosts about the culinary delights of Greggs. "I explained to Chef Kay Kay what Greggs is - and the steak bake and yum yum!"
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The eight-part series got under way on June 7 and, while this week's viewers saw Danny leave the show, the experience, he says, has proved invaluable. Under the glare of the TV cameras, the youngest contestant in the show admits that he felt overwhelmed by it all and the stress built up.
He initially had thought the show was to be a live-stream and found it "surreal" that "a kid of 19 from Gateshead would get to showcase his cooking to the country on national TV". He says now: "It was amazing. I'm just a normal person, trying to put the North East on the map for food."
The programme revealed that the Gateshead talent, who has enjoyed cooking since the age of six and is influenced by Italian food, has a signature dish of mac and cheese with pepperoni and three cheeses. He used to work at Redhead's Mac 'n' Cheese in the Grainger Market, Newcastle, which he really enjoyed and it remains one of his favourite places to eat in Newcastle.
He says: "I've had some experience of working in a kitchen but this was very, very different to a normal kitchen. I found it massively overwhelming." But then everyone there was so supportive, he adds.
"I didn't adjust that well to the cameras but I managed to showcase my skill of cooking and my style of food." And the feedback and encouragement has really spurred him on.
"Big Zuu understood my back-story," he says and Chef Kay Kay, who flew in from LA to take part in the show, also offered huge help to all the contestants. Danny feels he flew the flag for the North East, as well as taking the opportunity to explain the delights of Geordie bakery Greggs.
While Hungry For It revealed Danny's end-goal is to open a restaurant, he says that his interest is more about playing a role in the local community and promoting cooking skills. While currently not working, he aims to go to college later in the year, with the plan of eventually teaching others how to cook.
For Danny it's all about helping people and he is keen to encourage them to learn the basics: "That means more to me."
The show has also opened him up to possibilities. There were countless opportunites on it to taste different flavours and foods and he admits: "There were some things I didn't even know existed before the show!" He adds: "If I had not gong through this overwhelming experience, I would not have the sort of knowledge I've now got."
Hungry For It continues on BBC Three on Tuesday nights at 8pm and the series, including Danny's episodes ahead of his elimination, are also available to view on iPlayer.
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