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'Dinner: Impossible' Returning To Food Network Menu

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 20, 2008

TAMPA - It's not totally impossible that a disgraced chef can make a comeback. The Food Network is bringing back "Dinner: Impossible" with Robert Irvine.

Irvine, who once planned to open two restaurants in St. Petersburg, was dropped by the Food Network in March after revelations that he'd exaggerated details of his résumé.

The Food Network says all is forgiven because his fans want him back. Production of six new episodes will begin this month.

Irvine was caught cooking up fibs about his education, his culinary experience, British royals relationships, connections to the White House and owning a castle in Scotland.

He owned a modest home in New Jersey.

The muscular former cook in the British navy had charisma and a style that played well on television. In 2007, he became a national celebrity on "Dinner: Impossible," a reality series on which he whipped up gourmet meals in short order.

His career got sidetracked after he came to St. Petersburg with grandiose plans to open two high-end eateries, Ooze and Schmooze. Those plans were abandoned after his embellished past came to light.

"Our audience has continued to demonstrate its interest in and support for Robert," Food Network spokeswomen Carrie Welch says in a written statement. "He has taken responsibility and made a conscious effort to clear the air, rebuild the relationship with Food Network and apologize for the earlier inaccuracies."

"I am very excited to continue taping more episodes of 'Dinner: Impossible', " Irvine says in a written statement. "I am thrilled to further my relationship with the network and embark on more challenging episodes of this popular series."

New episodes starring Irvine will begin airing March 2009.

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