Even not-so dedicated viewers of French TV will recognise the hirsute visage of chef Philippe Etchebest. He’s a staple of the M6 and W9 schedules with shows including Top Chef, Objectif Top Chef and Cauchemar en cuisine (Kitchen nightmares).
He's something of a local hero in his native Bordeaux and also pops up on TV from time to time to wax lyrical about his beloved Bordeaux Bègles — a club he played age-grade rugby at until the age of 15.
Now, he has a new, slightly unexpected, job. The American developer behind first-person shooter military video game series Call of Duty has decided that a man more famous in France for his ravioli will be the face in France of its new release Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
The game is due to be released on November 14th, so now is prime time for a one-minute preview trailer - which features Etchebest doing his best James Bond impression with a fast car . . . before having to wake up the sleeping attendant to get out of the car park and forgetting to take his ticket.
Judging by some online comments, it’s fair to say that his appearance was a surprise.
“What’s next? [Pop star] Zazie in Warzone? This is the end of Call of Duty,” one incredulous fan wrote.
But we’re now sort of hoping that fellow Top Chef judge Paul Pairet will be the face of Football Manager 26, or Hélène Darroze will promote Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Il est temps de remplacer le Replacer.
— Call of Duty France (@CallofDutyFR) October 25, 2025
Avec Chef Philippe Etchebest, la relève est assurée ?? pic.twitter.com/t0QhXAjgkU
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