La Pizzeria owner Al Burzotta in talks with Netflix

Al Burzotta, owner of La Pizzeria in London Road, launched a channel for customers and fans on YouTube to give simple tips and advice on simple Sicilian recipes.

Its growing popularity is said to have caught the attention of Netflix, which is hoping to strike a deal with Mr Burzotta and get him to produce a new cooking series.

The 46-year-old said: "I had this idea of just doing a cooking channel basically free for my people that follow me and restaurant customers I decided to do for fun and that's really exploded.

"Netflix approached me saying they might give me a platform all depends how many videos I'm able to do and how successful they are.

"The goal of the show was quick and simple Sicilian cooking, having a family of five, my wife was always very busy cooking in the kitchen.

"So, I wanted to help mothers like her, by providing 20-minute recipes that are simple to cook and uses cheap ingredients that you can find easily in your home.

"This is for normal families that want healthy food for less hassle."

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Mr Burzotta is working with LLP Management Acting Agency & Film Production House on the proposed series, and is optimistic it will prove a success.

He is no stranger to the world of TV, having played small roles in Eastenders, The Bill and several Italian films.

He gave up acting to focus on family life and his restaurant, but is now eyeing up a return to the profession and even has some auditions booked in.

He added: "I gave up my acting for about 14 years once I met the love of my life, she deserved a stable husband and family, and I wanted more life experience outside of acting, which was setting me down a wild path.

"I now have three lovely children.

"During lockdown, I started getting calls for interviews, asking if I wanted to return to acting, and so now I have a few auditions, including a show by the creators of Narcos."