Robert Irvine Affair: The British Press

By JULIETTE ROSSANT You might think that the primary battle and the sinking economy are the only US stories making the UK press. But on the entertainment pages, it’s a different story. Robert Irvine's fabricated and padded resume is making news across the pond. (See Super Chef's coverage last week) The Guardian reports: Yesterday, however, Irvine's popularity was deflating as fast as an undercooked souffle after he confessed to telling tall tales about his past; the channel announced it would not be renewing his contract, saying it had discovered "embellishments and inaccuracies" in his resume. The BBC reports: Sir" Robert's impressive CV helped him secure wealthy backers for ambitious plans to open two upmarket restaurants in St Petersburg. But, following his exposure in the local paper, the restaurants remain vacant and Mr. Irvine's contract for a fifth season of his TV show has been cancelled. Down under in Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald quips: He was Sir Robert to his American audience, but as far as the English royal family are concerned it's a case of: "Who the bloody hell are you?"... Irvine claimed he was discovered by heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, while he was a chef on a Royal Navy vessel... At the bottom of his resume, outlined in bold: "My passion is to reach beyond inspiration - to be spectacularly creative"... Meanwhile, back here in the States The St. Petersburg Times's careful research has exposed a series of fabrications. Potentially more lucrative than his TV show, the paper also reported that HSN dropped his products, that no longer appear on the HSN website. The New York Times published a short piece today, too. Are Americans that gullible about royal connections and so easily impressed? Super Chef wants to know: Why weren't flags raised earlier Was some kind of a fact checker ever assigned to review the chef's resume before he went on air? Could Robert Irvine have gotten as far as he did without the lies? Many prominent chefs do not have lofty credentials and yet they manage to apprentice themselves to great teachers, work (and overwork) and succeed where Robert Irvine has failed (see profiles of chefs in Super Chef). And then of course there is Rachael Ray & Co. Related articles BBC The Guardian Anorak BBC The Spoof The Times Previous articles Robert Irvine Affair: Comments from Pros Robert Irvine Affair: from Gale Gand Robert Irvine Affair: from Josh Galliano Robert Irvine Affair: from Sam Fox Sneak Peak at Dinner: Impossible [Food Television - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef