Top Chef, Rick Stein, was today in mourning as his sidekick of some 17 years, Chalky the Jack Russell terrier, has gone to the great dog kennel in the sky.
The littler feller, famous for barking and snapping at various cameramen, producers and guests on the fishy blokes show, will be missed by some whilst others won't shed too many tears.
Padstow Postman, Lenny Letterbox, says:
"I won't miss the little bleeder! Every day he was snapping around my heels when I was delivering Rick's mail and the little sod actually drew blood on more than one occasion.
When I challenged Rick all he said was that Chalky wasn't normally like that and I must have done something to upset him. But have you seen the shows? He was like that with everybody but Rick himself," grumbles lugubrious Lenny.
The top TV fish fryer told us:
"Chalky was a great little chap and loved by all the viewers. He'll be sadly missed but hey-ho!
Anyway if you'd excuse me I have to get on with tonight's service and I have to give it my full attention. We're doing a special Vietnamese menu for one night only"
