MASTERCHEF winner Mat Follas yesterday insisted that running his own restaurant remains his goal – despite reports of a job offer from top restaurateur Raymond Blanc.

The 42-year-old television show champion from Beaminster said stories claiming he was set to work for the double Michelin starred chef had been somewhat over-egged.

He said: “I have not been offered anything… but it would be great to see Raymond and hopefully get a placement.”

Mr Follas said reports that the recession had forced him to shelve his plans to open his own eatery – preferably in the Bridport area – were untrue.

It was still his dream and he remained confident he could raise the money.

Reports linking him with Raymond Blanc, who runs the famous Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire, and several brasseries and patisseries, quoted the 59-year-old Frenchman as saying: “I would certainly be interested in hiring someone with his ability – with that MasterChef quality.”

But Mr Follas explained: “I got a call from a reporter who had spoken to Raymond Blanc who said he would be interested in talking to me but that’s as far as it’s gone.

“Hopefully there is something in it and hopefully I will get to see Raymond at some point and spend some time working with him.

“He is genuinely a cooking hero of mine – he is all about the fresh ingredients and has his own kitchen gardens – but it is a different style of cooking.”

Meanwhile, Mr Follas says he is still looking for somewhere to set up his new restaurant but has so far been unable to find anywhere suitable in Bridport.

He added: “Woollies was a bit large. I did look at a place in West Bay but that was also a bit big for my first place, too ambitious. What I am looking for is a 34-cover restaurant at the moment.”

Father-of-three Mr Follas who works as an IT engineer with IBM says the company has offered him a year’s sabbatical so he can pursue his dream of running a restaurant and have a job to go to if it doesn’t come off.

Mr Follas’ is new celebrity status has brought him invitations to star at the Melplash Show this August and take part in Cattistock’s Dorset Knob throwing contest. Raymond Blanc was unavailable for comment yesterday. His personal assistant at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons told The News she could not confirm stories about his job offer to Mr Follas.