BBC2: The Restaurant Series 3
The Contestants: Barney & Badger

Barney & Badger

Barney and Badger (Gary and Barrington) are from Essex and Kent.

These former military men, with a combination of 35 years in army service, see modern English cuisine as the order of the day.

They want to create "a relaxed and informal dining experience", but they intend to operate both front and back of house with military precision as they share the same work ethic – "to get the job done" – and see running a restaurant as the same as running any army operation.

Badger was in the army for 22 years, serving as a logistics specialist.

Barney is a sergeant with 13 years as an army chef and an NVQ 3 in catering. While head chef at the barracks in Colchester, he was cooking for 400 soldiers on a budget of £1.97 per person each day.

He is dedicated to honing his skills and regularly organises large catering functions within the army. He's also cooked for royalty, including Princess Anne and Prince Harry.

The pair joined forces to take part in The Restaurant – they've known each other for just six weeks after Badger head-hunted chef Barney to apply with him to create an unbeatable combination.

On the menu in their self-named eatery, Barrington and Badger, would be signature dishes including pan-fried sea bass, slow-roasted pork belly and lobster-stuffed chicken.

"My dream is to own a Michelin starred restaurant, if I am truthfully honest," says Barney.