FAMILY and friends welcomed novice chef Aaron Siwoku home yesterday, Tuesday, after his stay in the notorious Hell's Kitchen.

Aaron abandoned his home in Hollands Road, Northwich, to battle it out for the chance to run his own restaurant in the reality television series, but viewers voted him out last week - despite kitchen leader Gary Rhodes' praising his cookery skills.

The former Grange pupil was tipped to win so his shock exit stunned many viewers.

Aaron told the Guardian: "I was surprised to go because I'd become Gary's top boy.

"I didn't know how the public had perceived me but it was so nice to come out and have a good response from people rather than seeing loads of negative press."

Aaron has stepped straight out of the kitchen into the frying pan of media frenzy surrounding the show.

He said: "It's been fantastic. I've been interviewed on numerous radio stations and television shows and I've even done a photoshoot for a Sunday paper.

"People are beeping their horns at me in the street and I've had loads of girls coming up to me, which can't be a bad thing. I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can while it lasts."

But Aaron is still harbouring feelings for his red kitchen teammate Sam Ramplin.

"It's difficult to say what will happen because it's such a false environment in there," he said.

"Sam and I got on really well and we'll definitely meet up when she's out and see how things go from there."

Aaron said there were drawbacks to taking part in the programme. He added: "It was hard being cut off from everyone and not being able to pick up the phone and ring my sister to share a joke.

"But the worst thing was definitely the sleep. I was working harder than I've ever worked in my life and coping with just four hours a night, when I'm used to about nine."

Aaron will now return to running website www.talenttext.com and will front Warrington Borough Council's healthy eating in schools campaign.