US winner of Gordon Ramsay's Hell’s Kitchen barred from top Savoy job

The winner of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen USA has been denied her prize of a top job at the Savoy Grill after her application for a work visa was turned down by the Home Office.

Holli Ugalde, 25, was left "crushed" and bitterly disappointed. The single mother from California was due to work alongside head chef Andy Cook for six months when the restaurant reopens at the end of the month.

She said: "I was incredibly excited when I won and felt crushed when I found out I wouldn't be going to London.

"The last time I spoke to Gordon Ramsay was when we appeared on a chat show together in August. It is deeply disappointing that I will not be working at the Savoy Grill."

The chef will receive a cash prize as an alternative but the failure to deliver her promised job is likely to anger US fans of the show.

Her agent Zlata Faerman said: "It's like the X Factor winner not getting a record deal."

ITV Studios America, which was responsible for the visa application, said it regretted that "due to legal reasons Holli Ugalde will not be able to take up the chef position at the Savoy Grill", adding: "Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to obtain a work visa for Holli. In accordance with the terms of her contract with ITV, Holli has been paid the cash prize instead."

A spokeswoman for Gordon Ramsay said: "We were sorry to find out that Holli Ugalde can't join the team. Holli is a great chef and it's terrific that she's doing so well in the US."

Ugalde said: "Winning Hell's Kitchen was a great experience but I cannot go to London. I have been so fortunate in all the opportunities that have come up since winning Hell's Kitchen and I am excited about my future career as a chef."

Ramsay and Jamie Oliver were mocked in the latest episode of US cartoon South Park.

The Ramsay character turned on cookery contestants while Oliver wept as he asked: "Why won't anyone listen to me?"