After six weeks of heats, a week of exhausting semi-finals and a marathon seven days of finals it was a triumphant moment when James Nathan took the MasterChef title in 2008.

After enduring the sweltering heat in the jungle of Belize, cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants and being on the receiving end of criticism from the world's top chefs, the 36-year-old could have been forgiven for thinking the hard work was over, but it was just about to begin.

"After winning MasterChef I wanted to get my head around the industry so I did a number of stages at different restaurants. I worked at Le Gavroche, in London, for a week and then The Vineyard, in Newbury, for a month, I also did a weekend at Gidleigh Park working under Michael Caines. After that I did a week at Bentley's Oyster Bar, in Picadilly Circus. A bit later I went back to Bentley's and worked there for six months.

"I wasn't ever entirely comfortable working in the Michelin star restaurants, they are serious and there are some big egos. I think if I were a young man I would recommend anyone working there but I just couldn't keep up, it was unbelievably competitive and intimidating.

"Bentley's was quite different, it is good honest fun food and I really enjoyed it. The hours were tough though, working from 8am until close every day is about the standard and everyone is so young. I'm like the granddad of the kitchen. The biggest challenge was adapting to a new lifestyle at my age."

But living in London proved to be too much for the budding chef whose family were still in Bristol.

"At the end of the day we couldn't afford to move to London, chefs aren't paid well, but the capital is at the heart of the restaurant scene", he said.

"Then Michael Caines phoned out of the blue to say he'd just taken over the Priory in Bath and would I like to join the team there? I was a big fan of his work so it was a fantastic opportunity."

The family moved to Bath for the five months James worked in the kitchens. He started as a junior sous-chef but his inexperience meant he struggled to keep up with the rest of the kitchen.

He said: "I was flattered that Michael gave me that start but there were other guys that had worked for years to get to that level. They made me look like I was standing still in the kitchen, I just couldn't keep up so I was demoted."

The chef, who won the BBC cooking show crown with a mouthwatering mozzarella ravioli, a main course of pickled red cabbage and venison infused with lapsang souchong tea and a chocolate and orange pudding, now works as a demi chef de partie at Rick Stein's restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall.

"It's really good working for Rick, there is no messing about. We have a phenomenal numbers of covers, dinner for 200 is not uncommon, but Rick has built the business up slowly and its clear he still really cares and is passionate about food. It's great."

And living on the Cornish coast has meant James can indulge in his other passion.

"I love surfing, I've just come up from the beach with my daughter, Sophie, three, we were building sandcastles today though.

"It's fantastic. I had a dream of living in a harbour and working as a chef and this is ticking all the boxes. I've learnt that trying to run your own restaurant is a great way to lose a lot of money if you don't know what you are doing. I'm just happy being a chef and all the hustle and bustle that goes with it."

James, who still gets recognised for his MasterChef win, is next appearing in London and Birmingham as part of a live version of the show at the BBC Good Food Show.

Key elements from the MasterChef TV programme will come to life at the show giving visitors the unique opportunity to have-a-go in interactive workshops, watch theatre sessions hosted by John Torode and Gregg Wallace; see past winners demo live; taste winning dishes in the MasterChef Restaurant and more.

The show will take place in London, Olympia, 13-15 November and NEC Birmingham, 25–29 November.

Book tickets on 0844 579 3183.