Couple’s recipe for love
A COUPLE hope they have found the recipe for a happy marriage after the groom proposed live on a TV cookery programme yesterday.
Carla Charalambous accepted the romantic proposal from Paul Lumley on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and they are planning a church wedding early next year.
Paul, 28, of Rotherhithe, south London, said: “I had decided to propose on Sunday anyway, so when I knew we were going on the programme I asked the producers if it would be all right to propose on air and they said it would.
“At the end of a viewer phone-in host James Martin turned to me and said, ‘I think you’ve got a question too’ and that’s when I proposed to Carla, and thankfully she said ‘yes’.
“It was a complete surprise to Carla, it wasn’t prearranged.”
Chef Francesco Mazzei was a star guest on the show. That brought back memories for Paul because he and Carla, 33, enjoyed a date at his restaurant in London early in their two-year relationship.
It was a complete surprise to Carla, it wasn’t prearranged
Both work for London-based restaurant chain Tragus Group, operator of such brands as Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia. “We both love food,” said Paul.