BBC Two's popular cooking competition is back. Season 18 kicks off on Tuesday, January 31 with a fresh batch of new and returning chefs all with top industry accolades to their name and all hoping to wow judges Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble.
For the 2023 series, the theme is inspired by animation and illustration to celebrate Paddington's 65th birthday. The first episode will kick off with four chefs from the north east of England.
As always. one of the four must leave the competition at the end of the episode, which will be decided by the veteran judge of this week's competition, Michelin-starred Angela Hartnett OBE MBE, and a previous winner.
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Last year saw Welsh chef Nathan Davies get to the Great British Menu banquet. The head chef at SY23 in Aberystwyth rose to foodie fame with his Merlin-inspired lamb starter and after wowing judges with his fish dish. You can read more about him here.
However, it was Spencer Metzger who won the Great British Menu 2022 and was named Champion of Champions in the final episode. But what time does Great British Menu 2023 start and how many episodes are there? Here's everything you need to know.
When does the Great British Menu 2023 start?
Season 18 kicks off on Tuesday, January 31 at 8pm on BBC Two. The instalment is one hour long ending at 9pm.
It is the first of 24 episodes and this week is all about the North East heats. Week one will welcome the following chefs:
- Gareth Bartram from Grimsby, who is head chef at one Michelin-starred Winteringham Fields in Scunthorpe
- Yorkshireman Will Lockwood, head chef at one Michelin-starred Roots in York
- Northumberland's Cal Byerley, the chef behind Pine with two stars to his name - a Michelin star and a green star
- Newcastle's Rory Welch, head chef at Tra¨kol in the city, with a Michelin plate
Great British Menu will be airing the North East heats all week across three different episodes. The first episode is all about the North East starter and fish dish, while on Wednesday, February 1 the North East mains and dessert will air, and on Thursday, February 2 the North East judging will take place.
Who are the Great British Menu 2023 judges and host?
Award-winning TV chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver is back to present the new series. Andi is a regular face on screen, having previously hosted her own cookery show on BBC Two, Neneh and Andi Dish It Up, and has appeared on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen.
She will be joined by judges Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble. Tom is an award-winning and celebrated chef known for his restaurants, cookbooks and television appearances, while Nisha is the CEO, executive chef and development chef of Mowgli Street Food restaurants.
Ed is an award-winning comedian and co-creator and co-host of the food podcast, Off Menu with James Acaster.
What is the Great British Menu 2023 theme?
This year's competition is inspired by Paddington's 65th birthday and a celebration of British animation and illustration, from cartoons to comics and computer games. Last year the theme marked 100 years of British broadcasting, with the chefs taking inspiration from a variety of TV shows, from Saturday evening family favourites and once-in-a-lifetime events to children's classics and comedy greats. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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