A COUPLE, who realised their personal dreams by opening a restaurant in Banbury, are leaving their premises for up to 12 weeks - to help two would-be chefs achieve their own cookery ambitions.

Dorothee and Pete Cape, who run Veritas in North Bar, are allowing their restaurant to be used as part of a new BBC TV talent show that will be screened in September.

Filming starts on April 16, and on that date Mr and Mrs Cape will hand their kitchen over to two of the show's contestants.

They do not yet know who the "squatters" will be, or what type of food they will serve up.

Mrs Cape said: "They could turn it into a fish and chip shop, we don't know, but we are looking forward to seeing our place on TV, even though they will change the name Veritas to something else.

"It is important that people in Banbury know that we are only moving out temporarily - and why we are going.

"We heard about the programme, offered our premises to the BBC, and they said yes.

"Now the time is near we are a bit apprehensive about it but the programme will raise awareness of Veritas and create tremendous interest in the place."

She added: "We will take a long holiday, but our restaurant will never be far from our minds. We don't know how long we'll be away. If our people get to the final it could be 12 weeks, but if they're knocked out early, it could be just five weeks."

A BBC spokesman said: "Over 1,000 new restaurants open every year in Britain, but unfortunately 900 close within 12 months.

"It's a dream many couples have because secretly we all think we can do it.

"For nine couples that opportunity has arrived. Britain's most celebrated restaurateur Raymond Blanc is going to give them a chance to make their dream come true. "

The programme is called The Restaurant, and nine couples who dream of running their own place will each be given a business in nine different locations.

They have to create their perfect restaurant and then open the doors to the paying public.

Every decision, every mistake they make, every argument they have, will be caught on camera.

They will be working and living together 24 hours a day.

Every week, each restaurant is visited by Raymond Blanc's two inspectors.

Drawing on their feedback and his own observations, Raymond selects the three poorest performing restaurants and sets them a specific challenge.

One of these restaurants will be eliminated from the competition at the end of the week.

After seven weeks just one couple and one restaurant will be left open.

The winners get a prize that money cannot buy - they will go into the restaurant business with Raymond and run their own place.