Chef Bryn Williams visited James Martin in his Christmas Kitchen today to serve up a very rich winter soup.

Also in the kitchen today to have a chat and carry out the all-important taste test, is none other than hotel inspector-turned-fixer Alex Polizzi.

Alex is the star of TV series The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5. She comes from a long line of hoteliers; her mother is the hotel designer Olga Polizzi, who is Lord Forte’s daughter and the sister of Sir Rocco Forte. Alex trained at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and worked for Marco Pierre White for a time.

With her husband she started a wholesale bakery, Millers Bespoke Bakery, supplying bread to Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason.

She manages the Hotel Endsleigh in Milton Abbot, near Tavistock in Devon, which is owned by her mother.

To make his soup, Bryn melts butter in a saucepan over a gentle heat then added chopped parsnips and leek and fried for a few minutes.

He adds chestnuts and continues to fry for a couple of minutes before adding chicken stock. He lets it cook for about 20 minutes.

He then transfers the continent to food processor and blend until smooth.

Bryn serves his soup with pan fried scallops.