Watching television chefs sparked off Thomas Kemp's interest in cooking - and made him feel he could cook up a storm himself.

The 20-year-old decided to start life at the stove after becoming glued to TV cook shows - and is now in the UK finals of a prestigious national competition.

Mr Kemp is a commis chef at Oxford's Randolph Hotel and will be taking part in the competition to gain the title of Meilleur Jeune Commis Rotisseur.

Mr Kemp, originally from Cowley, but now living in Norreys Road, Cumnor, is a former pupil at Matthew Arnold School and learned his cooking skills at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.

He said: "I used to watch television chefs on things like Ready, Steady, Cook and it sparked an interest. I felt I could probably do better.

"I love the job and enjoy eating high quality food. I actually started doing some cooking in the Bear and Ragged Staff at Cumnor when I was 15 and I've been here at the Randolph since 2003.

"I want to stay here another year and then possibly move to a London restaurant or even abroad.

"I'm looking forward to the competition."

Two years ago he was in a national competition for college students, devising a menu based on healthy eating. He did not get into the semi-finals, although he did cook for the judges.

The UK final of the commis chef competition is at Le Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London on Tuesday, and if he wins he will go forward to represent Great Britain in Frankfurt in September.

At the UK finals he will be presented with a sealed box of ingredients and will have three-and-a-half hours to create a three-course meal.

Michael Grange, general manager at the Randolph, said: "We are extremely proud of Thomas's professional abilities.

"We are 100 per cent behind Thomas and believe this award would give his confidence and skills an even greater boost, which can only benefit his career."