Gary Rhodes’ honey, lemon and thyme roast chicken

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Rub the chicken all over with butter and season liberally. Place the chicken in a roasting tray and roast for 40 minutes. Remove the bird from the oven and pour any juices into a bowl.
2. Mix together the lemon zest, thyme and honey and pour over the chicken before returning to the oven. Baste every 5 minutes or so. After 20 minutes, baste once more then turn off the oven, leaving the chicken to rest there for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the chicken from the roasting tray and heat the honey and juices in the tray with a little water and reserved juices to loosen, if necessary.
4. Meanwhile, remove the legs from the chicken, separating the thigh and drumstick, and thickly slice the breast. Divide the chicken between 4 plates, spooning over the juices, and serve with the carrots and colcannon.