Even as Gordon Ramsay told the nation to go to their kitchens, a rival chef threatened to steal his thunder.

Ramsay had sounded his call to the kitchen on the video-sharing website, YouTube. A day later, Peter Oakley, 81, from Derbyshire, posted a culinary response that very quickly attracted three times as many viewers.

Under the name geriatric1927, Mr Oakley rose to prominence on YouTube in 2006, entertaining viewers with video blogs of his life as a widower, blues fan and former army radar technician. Until this week, however, he had not offered advice on cooking.

Speaking from his kitchen, he introduced his menu – a “delightful chicken casserole” – pausing only to gulp wine and blow his nose into his hands before wiping them on his apron. Then he presented his ingredients – a plastic tub he had opened earlier, placing it effortlessly inside his microwave.

“It’s most important that you time it right because soggy vegetables are just the pits,” he said, adding that one needed to “press the button”.

Commentators hailed the performance as brilliant. “Step aside Gordon!” wrote one. Ramsay played down the threat. “He’s cooking casserole in the microwave?” he asked. “Is he in Rotherham?”

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