It's back - and this time it is all about the music!
Great British Menu is back on BBC Two this spring putting the nation’s most talented chefs to the test. With a brand new format and slot on peak television, the series will see 24 chefs from across Britain’s regions compete to serve their dish at the final banquet. Here, at the famous Abbey Road Studios, just one exceptional chef will once again be crowned champion of champions.
Produced and filmed in The Midlands, the series recognises the best of British with renowned chefs from every corner of the country, each looking to impress our judges with a unique take on the theme. With a new format, two mid-week hour-long episodes will see chefs present their dishes to the formidable veteran judges who represent the biggest names in the UK restaurant scene, including Tom Aikens, Angela Hartnett, Paul Ainsworth, and Daniel Clifford.
The week will conclude with a 30 minute regional final each Friday where just two chefs will need to convince the judges that their dishes deserve a spot in the national finals and - if they’re impressive enough - to be served up at Abbey Road Studios.
It’s not just up to the three judges, however, as each week a guest judge will be joining to help select the best dishes from each region in the Friday regional final. Representing Britain’s rich music heritage across the generations, guest judges include Mani from the Stone Roses, Andrew Ridgley from Wham!, and hip-hop musician Loyle Carner.
Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort says:
“If music be the food of love, eat up. Series 14 of the Great British Menu celebrates the brilliance of British restaurant cooking and flair of British music. Both just keep getting better and better.”
Chefs, guest judges and veterans:
London and South East
Competing chefs:
Ben Marks, Perilla, London
Luke Selby, Hide, London
Paul Walsh, City Social, London
Friday guest judge: Mani (Gary Mounfield) former bass player, Stone Roses and Primal Scream
North East
Competing chefs:
Michael Carr, formerly Restaurant 92, Harrogate
Samira Effa, formerly Alimentum, Cambridge, now The Box Tree, Ilkley
Tom Anglesea, The Laughing Heart, London
Friday guest judge: Pete Waterman, Record Producer
Central
Competing chefs:
Kray Treadwell, Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds
Sabrina Gidda, AllBright, London
Ryan Simpson-Trotman, Orwells, Oxfordshire
Friday guest judge: Ali Campbell, UB40
North West
Competing chefs:
Adam Reid, Adam Reid at The French, Manchester
Hrishikesh Desai, The Gilpin Hotel, Lake District
Liam Simpson-Trotman, Orwells, Oxfordshire
Friday guest judge: Amy MacDonald, singer-song writer
Scotland
Competing chefs:
Ben Reade, Edinburgh Food Studio, Edinburgh
Gordon Jones, Menu Gordon Jones, Bath
Lorna McNee, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles
Friday guest judge: Keisha Buchanan, former member of Sugababes
South West
Competing chefs:
Emily Scott, St Tudy Inn, Cornwall
Joe Baker, Number 10, Jersey
Lee Smith, Samphire, Jersey
Friday guest judge: Rev. Richard Coles, former member of The Communards
Wales
Competing chefs:
Andrew Sheridan, formerly Sosban, Camarthenshire
Tom Westerland, The Brasserie at Lucknam Park Hotel, Wiltshire
Cindy Challoner, formerly The Classroom, Cardiff
Friday guest judge: JB Gill, former member of JLS
Northern Ireland
Competing chefs:
Alex Greene, Deanes EIPIC, Belfast
Chris McClurg, Paul Ainsworth at No. 6, Cornwall
Glen Wheeler, 28 Darling St, Enniskillen
Friday guest judge: Loyle Carner, hip hop musician
Finals judges
Starter: Martin Kemp, former member of Spandau Ballet Fish: Kanya King, founder Mobo Awards Main: Andrew Ridgeley, former member of Wham! Dessert: Peter Hook, former member Joy Division and New Order
Veteran judges across the series
Tom Aikens / Daniel Clifford / Michael O’Hare/ Paul Ainsworth / Phil Howard / Richard Corrigan / Tommy Banks