Great British Menu reveals 2019 chef line-up
The cooking show will mark 50 years since The Beatles last played live together, and pay tribute to Britain’s music scene, when it begins airing on BBC Two on 20 March.
Twenty-four of the nation’s top chefs will compete to serve one of four courses at the final banquet, held at Abbey Road Studios, with each dish based on the theme.
A new format will see regional competitors present their dishes to veteran chef judges, including Daniel Clifford and Angela Hartnett, in two mid-week hour-long episodes.
The week will conclude with a 30 minute regional final on the Friday, where two chefs will need to convince returning judges Andi Oliver, Oliver Peyton CBE and Matthew Fort – plus a special guest from the music industry – that they deserve a place in the national finals.
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.”
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 - restaurants include Tom’s Kitchen, various locations
- Daniel Clifford - Midsummer House, Cambridge
- Angela Hartnett - restaurants include Murano and Merchants Tavern, both London
- Michael O’Hare - The Man Behind the Curtain, Leeds
- Paul Ainsworth - restaurants include No 6 and Rojano’s, both Padstow
- Phil Howard - Elystan Street, London
- Richard Corrigan - restaurants include Corrigan’s Mayfair and Bentley’s, both London
- Tommy Banks - Roots, York and The Black Swan, Oldstead
