He said: “I love working in care homes, it presents a unique set of challenges to a chef.
“We work in what is our residents’ home and there is nothing more personal than food – it allows people to express their preference, their past and their individuality and it is our job to cater to all of that."
Contestants were given a box of 15 ingredients to create a two-course menu. Watson’s menu consisted of chicken supreme stuffed with chorizo and chili rice cracker powder, classic fondant potato, butternut puree and a fig and red wine jus followed by and Oreo crumb and chocolate torte with brittle sugar and pineapple salsa.
Runners-up were Lorraine Robinson from Chandler Court, Alex Wendling from Lennox House and Stuart Passey at Pear Tree Court.
Care UK Group operates 119 residential care homes across the country, as well as supporting GP surgeries, NHS trusts, the 111 call service and some prison healthcare contracts.
The group reported revenue of £171.6m for the first three quarters of financial year 2018, with residential care services accounting for £82.4m of that.