Burton Race finds backing for restaurant

I'm A Celebrity... star John Burton Race is to reopen the restaurant his wife closed while he was in the jungle.

The Michelin-starred New Angel eatery was in administration but has now secured financial backing from internet millionaire Clive Jacobs.

The chef's wife Kim, whom he left for another woman last March, closed the Dartmouth restaurant in November.

Bed and breakfast rooms are still thought to be on the market for £700,000, the sale of which will clear Burton Race's £181,000 debts.

He said of the opening: "I am more than excited about the prospect. It has been a lot of hard work. We are doing 12-hour days because we haven't got a lot of time but it is a brilliant feeling."

The 50-year-old said he will reopen the restaurant by Easter after Jacobs offered to finance it and let him remain at the helm. Gordon Ramsay had expressed interest but his bid fell through when Jacobs, who ran internet firms lastminute.com and holidayautos, made a better offer.

Burton Race is to film a new series of Best Dish for ITV. His new book Flavour First will be released at Easter.