NOW his staff recognise him... now they don’t.

David Clarke, chief executive of Best Western Hotel brand based at Clifton Moor, York, swapped his day job for that of a housekeeper for a new programme to be shown on Channel 4 called Undercover Boss.

Tomorrow night at 9pm the nation will see exactly what the boss of Britain’s largest group of 270 independently owned and managed hotels got up to when he left the comfort of his office to find the “hidden gems” working inside Best Western hotels.

Joined by a small camera crew, Mr Clarke posed for ten days as “Andy Green” an unemployed man looking for work in three different Best Western hotels.

At each hotel he rolled up his sleeves in a variety of jobs including housekeeper, maintenance man, chef, waiter and green keeper to experience what life is really like working in their hotels.

Mr Clarke worked in the Best Western Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, Best Western Ullesthorpe Hotel in Lutterworth and the Best Western White House in Watford. Only the owners of the three properties knew the real reason he was there.

Then he chose four “hidden gems”. They were invited to the York office, where Mr Clarke not only revealed his true identity, but also rewarded them for their hard work and dedication.

He said: “I was nervous about going into the hotels in disguise as I did not know what to expect or whether someone would recognise me.

“I had no idea where the camera crew was taking me and what I would be doing while there.

“As a boss I am used to being in charge, so to let someone else take the reins was tough, but I soon got used to it.

“While filming I spent time with some amazing people whose hard work and dedication filled me with pride and admiration.

“These people are the real stars of not only the programme, but the whole Best Western success story. One thing is for sure, I certainly do not miss the 5am starts or the beard I had to grow for the programme so as to disguise my true identity.”