Tom Kerridge is criticised for his new 20 centimetre-high burger, which was inspired by a popular 70s cartoon

Tom Kerridge has sparked heated debate with the launch of his new 20cm burger, inspired by a 1970s cartoon.

The 51-year-old chef added the controversial dish to the menu of his hugely popular pub, The Coach, in Marlow earlier this month.

The massive Coach Burger – which costs £19.50 – consists of a thick beef patty topped with soy and sesame chicken, smoked cheese, dill pickle and a piece of coleslaw.

Topped with a sesame bun, the burger is 20 cm high and is held together by an oversized cocktail stick.

Earlier this week, The Coach’s official Instagram account uploaded a video showing a team member assembling one of the burgers.

Tom Kerridge, who owns nine restaurants in the UK and has three Michelin stars, explained the inspiration behind the new menu item, saying he wanted to recreate the size of the Scooby-Doo and Shaggy’s sandwiches in the 1970s TV series.

The chef said: “It’s all about Scooby Doo. The idea was to make it fun, exciting, silly, delicious and full of flavour, layer after layer after layer, as it goes higher and higher and higher.

“It’s just a childhood memory of me thinking of Scooby-Doo when he solved the crime: ‘Stop those pesky kids, they would have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for Scooby-Doo!'”

“It’s about fun and taste and it’s a real treat.”

However, the burger received mixed reactions from The Coach’s 46,000 Instagram followers.

One critic said: “Nope, that’s not a burger. There’s too much going on. Five Guys is number one!”

Another added: “I’m sure it’s delicious but how on earth do you put it in your mouth?”

“If you have to eat it with a knife and fork, is it really a burger?”

Pictured: The 20 cm long “Coach Burger” consists of a thick beef patty topped with soy and sesame chicken, smoked cheese, dill pickle and a slice of coleslaw

The 51-year-old chef added the controversial dish to the menu at his hugely popular pub The Coach (pictured) in Marlow earlier this month.

Tom Kerridge, who owns nine restaurants in the UK and has three Michelin stars, explained the inspiration behind the new menu item, saying he wanted to recreate the size of Scooby Doo and Shaggy’s sandwiches in the 1970s TV series.

However, the burger received mixed reactions from the coach’s 46,000 Instagram followers

A third person said: “I just wouldn’t know how to eat that???”

Nevertheless, others quickly rushed to Tom’s aid.

“The best burger I’ve ever eaten,” one replied.

“This burger is ALWAYS amazing,” raved another.

Earlier this year, Tom was roundly criticised by a food critic for serving a plate of fish and chips for £32.

The chef’s Harrods restaurant was subsequently branded a “tourist trap” by food content creator James Dimitri, who said when his fish was “leaking water everywhere” he came to try it.