'Queen Elizabeth ate to survive. It was all very bland, very basic' - former Buckingham Palace chef Dan Ottaway on cooking for the royals and his move to Wicklow

""Lots of people say that one day Disney will ask us for the movie rights," laughs Dan Ottaway, referring to the meeting of he and his Irish fiance9e Deirdre Colgan in the regal surroundings of Buckingham Palace. "I was a chef in the palace and she was a footman.""

"It's a love story that embraces both the real-life Upstairs, Downstairs scenario and offers a 'cast of royals' that far outshines that of Downton Abbey. Nine years later, and now with two young children, Roise and Ada, to escape the hustle and bustle of London the couple have relocated to Ireland with Ottaway taking up the role of executive head chef at the Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort in Blessington, Co Wicklow."

"The relocation deal, of course, was sealed by Colgan enticing Ottaway with the possibility of having his own beehive on her family's farm in Tullamore, which Ottaway absolutely loves visiting."

Dan Ottaway met his Irish fiance9e Deirdre Colgan in the regal surroundings of Buckingham Palace, where he worked as a chef and she served as a footman. The couple have two children, Roise and Ada. To escape London's hustle the family relocated to Ireland, with Ottaway taking the role of executive head chef at the Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort in Blessington, County Wicklow. The relocation was sealed when Colgan offered Ottaway the possibility of maintaining his own beehive on her family's farm in Tullamore. Ottaway enjoys visiting the farm and the couple's story evokes an Upstairs, Downstairs contrast.

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