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TV CHEF 'SEX PEST'

Dan Doherty was banned from his own restaurant after ‘asking female staff for intercourse and oral sex’

TV Chef Dan Doherty was banned from his own restaurant for a month amid allegations he sexually harassed female staff by asking for sexual intercourse and oral sex.

The star, 33, who is a judge on BBC1’s Britain’s Best Home Cook alongside Mary Berry, 83, left his new gastropub last November while an external firm conducted an investigation.

 Dan Doherty was banned from his own restaurant over claims he demanded oral sex from female colleague
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Dan Doherty was banned from his own restaurant over claims he demanded oral sex from female colleagueCredit: Rex Features

The show, which debuted last year to fill the gap left on the channel by The Great British Bake Off, is hosted by, 47.

The company interviewed female bar and kitchen staff at The Royal Oak in London’s posh Marylebone about claims the chef demanded a “blow job” from a junior female colleague and told workers he wanted to see them without their kitchen whites on.

He is accused of fostering a culture of harassment at the venue since it opened last summer.

Four female staff have since left the company.

 Celebrity chef Doherty stars alongside Mary Berry on Britain's Best Home Cook on BBC One
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Celebrity chef Doherty stars alongside Mary Berry on Britain's Best Home Cook on BBC OneCredit: Planet Photos

The former head chef at the top London restaurant Duck & Waffle, was found guilty of “misconduct” by the external firm and forced to apologise in front of staff at a company-wide meeting last month.

He reportedly said: “I am sorry for causing any distress.”

The divorced father-of-one, who is in a relationship, has now been moved from head to executive chef, meaning he is back at work and will have oversight of the menu but will not be involved in the kitchen’s daily running or come into contact with its staff as frequently.

In a statement Doherty said: “I would never intentionally make offensive comments to anyone I work with, female or male. I have apologised to the whole team for any offence I may have inadvertently caused. It would never be my intention.”

Mary Berry takes on a new judging role in Britain's Best Home Cook on Thursday 8pm on BBC One
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