New Restaurant recruits join Blanc for second series

Nine couples will battle it out for their chance to open a restaurant with Raymond Blanc with the start of the second series of The Restaurant tonight.

Each week Blanc, together with his advisors Sarah Wallingham and restaurateur David Moore, will eliminate one couple, until just the winners remain.

The show was created to highlight the reality of running a restaurant and makes each couple prove they have the vision and talent to create their perfect restaurant and also turn it into a financial success.

"In The Restaurant, Raymond offers hope to those who aspire to enter this world, yet he is also all too aware of the dark side: the sheer hard graft required, the long hours, the problems that can arise at any time – staff not turning up, wrong deliveries, an oven breaking down, the list of pitfalls is seemingly endless.

"But for those with the right passion, skills and determination, the rewards can be great," said Co-executive Producer, Patrick Uden.

Last year`s winners Jane and Jeremy Hooper, were helped to set up Eight at the Thatch in Thame, Oxfordshire, last November, but stepped down in May to return to their home county of Cornwall to go it alone in the business.

This year`s contestants include those already working in the hospitality industry, including Alasdair, a waiter at Pizza Express and his friend James, a former chef de partie at The Square and Gordon Ramsay at Claridges and Russell and Michele - a couple from Essex who already run a buffet business but who aspire to open their own restaurant.

The Restaurant​ starts on BBC Two tonight at 8pm.

The Couples:​

Annette & Kashelle - a mother and daughter team from South Yorkshire. Annette is a care worker and Kashelle is a freelance actress. They want to run a Caribbean restaurant.

Chris & Caroline - a married couple from South Yorkshire. Chris has been a chef at a pub for the past nine years and Caroline is an extended schools worker. Their restaurant aims to celebrate the best of British food.

Helen & Stephen - a married couple from Cambridgeshire. Helen used to work in marketing but has some experience working in professional kitchens. Stephen is an ex-naval officer. They think they could be the new "Fanny and Johnny"

Alisdair & James - friends from Devon. Alasdair works for Pizza Express as a waiter and James is a former chef de partie at The Square and Gordon Ramsay at Claridges. They both aim to open a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Peter & Laura - a couple from South Wales. Peter is a team manager with a blue chip company and Laura is a service manager who has always wanted to work in the hospitality industry.

Tim & Lindsie - a married couple from Kent. Tim is aTGI Friday`s operations manager and line cook who rose through the ranks to manage nine restaurants while Lindsie is an HR manager. They want to run an ethically sourced restaurant.

Russell & Michele - a couple from Essex who already run a buffet business but who aspire to open their own restaurant.

Harriet & Mike - a father and daughter pairing from Surrey. Mike is owner and director of two recruitment businesses currently working temporarily as a Crown Court Clerk and Harriet is an event planner.

Scott & Richard - a couple from Sussex. Scott trained as a chef 18 years ago, but is currently a manager in first and business class for an airline. Richard used to be an airline steward and is now the director of a soft drinks company.

Restaurant winners quit the Thatch