FILM director Gary Love has told the High Court how a legal battle launched by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has "made a mess" of his plans to start up new film businesses in America.

Ramsay is accusing his father-in-law, Christopher Hutcheson, of using a ghost writer machine to "forge" his signature and make him personally liable for the £640,000-a-year annual rental on the historic York & Albany pub in London.

The chef is asking a judge to grant a declaration that the rental guarantee is not binding because his signature was used without his knowledge when the 25-year lease was signed in 2007.

Mr Love, who owns the York & Albany, has described Ramsay's allegation as an "absurd" attempt to wriggle out of his commitments.

The director, who has produced episodes of TV series including Casualty, Waking the Dead, Prime Suspect and The Bill, entered the witness box at London's High Court to be cross-examined after saying in a written statement that Ramsay was not being candid and must have known his signature was being used.

Mr Love said his family had moved to Los Angeles but his plans were in trouble owing to the York & Albany currently being unsaleable because the authenticity of the signatures on the lease was disputed by Ramsay.

Mr Hutcheson acted as business manager for the Ramsay group of companies until the chef sacked him and his wife Tana's brother, Adam, on the grounds of "gross misconduct" in 2010.