IAN Doody loves his role as house manager at scenic Hampton Court where he wakes to see swans gliding on the lake before he walks 55 steps to his office.

Now there are big ripples on the pond. The 36-year-old bachelor with "a passion for food" formerly ran a restaurant and pubs in Hereford. He is now facing a new challenge - television.

He triumphed as the winner of three rounds of a TV cooking contest hosted by celebrity chef James Martin of Ready Steady Cook and Housecall fame.

A camera crew accompanied Ian as he claimed his prize: he worked for two days in the kitchen with Raymond Blanc at the top chef's Birmingham restaurant.

Blanc has a reputation for being something of an ogre while creating gourmet meals but Ian got on well with him and describes the experience as "fantastic."

Ian first appears on screen in the pre-recorded Out of the Frying Pan competition tomorrow, (Friday).

His victory in the final is thus not yet 'public' but the bush telegraph is already at work.

Ian has been asked to write two articles for the BBC Good Food Magazine and to co-present a new Carlton TV cooking programme with a celebrity.

Friends are pulling his leg, asking whether they should speak to him directly or to his agent....

Ian is still feeling stunned by his success in a contest in which he had to compete with others like him - people who were not professional chefs but had close connections with cooking and food. They ranged from a sandwich shop manager to a pork pie maker a school cook and a farm worker.

In a video diary before the contest Ian admitted he was hopeless at making souffl and was horrified to be asked to cook a souffl omelette in round one. He was surprised to get through to the semi final where he enjoyed himself making a spicy, colourful Indian dish...

After winning that round he was faced with another ordeal by souffl at the final. It was a tricky one. He had to scoop out a lemon and create a souffl with the contents, returning the mix to the lemon skin for baking - all in 20 minutes.

Ian couldn't believe his luck - the end result was perfect. "I was completely amazed. My name was put forward for the competition by friends as a bit of a joke but I never ever expected to get as far as the final," he said.

"I knew when Carlton was planning to film the final but I was all set to attend a very important meeting at Hampton Court on that day. I had to be persuaded to change my plans."

He began his house manager role at the ornate 15th century mansion 18 months ago and has over-seen a booming season of civil weddings and wedding feasts - a new initiative at the house and its ancient chapel.

A win by Hampton Court Orangery as 'Tea Room of the Year' in the Flavours of Herefordshire Awards was another great boost for Ian and his team.

Whatever offers now come his way Ian Doody is determined to carry on with a job he loves in a place he finds "inspirational."