Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars is back on BBC1 for season 2. Gordon is again ready to give away a whopping £150,000 to the most exciting up-and-coming food entrepreneur in the UK.
The second series of Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars follows 12 new contestants, all hand-picked by Gordon, as they take on tough cooking challenges in order to impress him and his special guests, including boxer Nicola Adams, and convince him to invest in their business. To do so they will travel across the UK and cook in some of the most stunning locations, including Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland.
“My expectations are high,” stresses Gordon. “These guys should have seen the first Future Food Stars series so they should be more prepared for how to impress me. Yes, they need to have a really good idea, but they also need to have strategized about their future ambitions for their products and the growth opportunities for their brand. Viewers can expect more beautiful locations from across the UK, really interesting special guests who appear on the show to test my contenders, as well as more really tough challenges where the contenders have to push extremely hard to impress me with their skills and ideas.”
Here’s everything we know about Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars season 2…
Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars release date
Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars series 2 starts on BBC1 on Thursday March 30 at 9pm. This 2023 series is an eight-parter and episodes will becomes available on BBCiPlayer. We can’t wait to see how long it’ll take for quick-tempered Gordon to lose his cool.
Is there a trailer for Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars season 2?
Yes the BBC has now released its trailer for Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars series 2 so you can get a taster of what's going to happen below...
What happens, tasks and guest stars in Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars series 2
Each week 12 candidates, all with up-and-coming food or drink ventures, must take on a food-based challenge in order to impress Gordon. At the end of each task one candidate will be eliminated from the competition.
This season the contenders travel all over the country, from the Cotswolds and Wales to Gateshead and Scotland. The tasks will include building brands from scratch, running a pizza business, hosting a drag brunch, concocting recipes for industry magazines and even running Gordon’s own restaurant. Technical tasks include de-shelling lobster, harvesting and identifying seaweed and collecting pine needles and cones from 40-foot trees to infuse into Mille Feuille. Guests will include boxer Nicola Adams and TikTok sensation Uncle Roger.
Gordon Ramsey on this second series of Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars
How do the challenges differ this year on season 2, what are you putting the contenders through?
"I don’t want to give anything away, but when you push strong characters out of their comfort zones you can quickly see those who are programmed for success and those who will never make it further than where they currently are!"
You feature some great guests and experts in this series, can tell us about them?
"It is important that I draw in feedback from experts in their respective fields when it comes to judging the challenges. Of course, I have my opinions but for example if I’m going to invest in a business, I need the business to have a social and viral opportunity and Uncle Roger in Episode 7 is a TikTok legend. In Episode 3 we had the contenders creating healthy grab and go meals for the fitness market and getting expert feedback from Olympic Boxer Nicola Adams, was invaluable."
In the first episode you had to stop some dishes being served to VIP guests in Scotland, which made for great television, are there any other great moments you can tease?
"The first banquet was terrible! Messy tables, packing boxes every where, raw food! It was a pretty bad start, and I was bloody disappointed, things really could only get better after that!"
You go all across the UK in this series, was that important to you, and why?
"We start and end the series in my homeland, Scotland and travel all over the UK via Wales, Manchester, Gateshead, Henley, and Oxford. The aim really is to showcase and shine a light on some of the amazing places, people and their businesses making the UK food and drink industry so exciting right now."
Is there anyone you would hate to be grilled by, and why?
"Honestly Oscar Ramsay (4 years old) can be pretty determined with his questioning these days, ‘why’ is an overly used word in our house at the moment especially when he is being told he cannot do something so, yeah, I’m going to say Oscar."
Are there any top tips, or a piece of advice you can give entrepreneurs wanting to make a success of their food and drink business?
"If you’ve got a great idea, give it a go! don’t be the person who 20 years later regrets not giving something a chance. Research your market, properly plan your costs, think big, start small and believe in yourself!"
How is the food and restaurant industry faring now? Do you feel like it has bounced back since the pandemic?
"I can’t lie, it’s tough out there. With increases in costs all around, everyone is feeling the pinch, but people will always want to go out and break bread together. There will always be birthdays to celebrate, dates to go on and friends out sharing a drink on a Friday night, but we as restaurateurs have to be smart and make sure our guests continue to return for the very best time every time they come to our restaurants."
How has Victoria Omobuwajo’s winning year been?
"Victoria was such a worthy winner and continues to be really pushing forward with her Sumno brand. As well as investing in her business she has focussed on her marketing messaging ‘eat good, feel good, do good’! She’s growing her UK distribution and now growing her footprint internationally and developing new lines that continue to help people eat nutritious food without having to compromise on taste."
What do you think this years Future Food Stars could learn from her?
"She’s so focussed, driven, saw a moment, saw a market, and went for it. Most of the contenders for series 2 are already doing this with their own businesses, I’m always so impressed by people overcoming the fear of doing something and then going for it anyway!"
Finally, why should people watch this series?
"It really does showcase the UK beautifully, the places we visit, the people we meet and of course the good the bad and the downright ugly (sometimes) of the challenges each week, really make it a good watch. The contenders are great you will really pick favourites and will them on to win."
Meet the contestants in Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars series 2
Here are the 2023 contestants in Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars series 2...
Florence from Tolouse and London
French chef Florence runs a children’s cooking school in London for children aged 3 to 15. "Kids En Cuisine is a cooking school specialized for children from 3 to 15 years old and based in London. Taking part of FFS was the opportunity to get a national exposure with an unique and niche concept. It was also a good way to show that a "service business" without being a restaurant or a product could have the chance to get an investment from Gordon Ramsay."
Amy from Stockton-on-Tees
Has her own home-based bakery producing topped artisan blondies. "I own Blondie Bakery which is a home based business producing a large range of Blondie based products for personal orders and wholesale. I wanted to take part in the show as the business was at a point where it was needing to grow and expand so having the opportunity to do that under the guidance of the world's most recognisable and successful chef seemed like something that couldn’t be passed up.
Kier from Kent
Founded his business selling hot sauces and condiments in 2019. "I have a business that makes weird condiments for people that are obsessed with sauces and seasonings. We're not here to produce more of the same stuff that you'll find in the supermarket, we want to excite people that like to get a little adventurous with their food. After founding in 2019 it's been a ride... we've picked up a bunch of awards and had some lovely things said about our stuff but If I'm honest I think I'm constantly after some kind of validation. So what better way to see if I'm actually any good at all this than to throw myself into a prime time BBC One TV show with the most famous chef in the world?"
Hebe from teh Bournemouth area
Sells hand-painted kombucha kits which include everything you need to make a month’s home-brew kombucha servings. "The focus of my business BooChaCha is home-brew Kombucha. I sell beautiful, hand-painted starter kits, which include everything you need to make the first month of daily kombucha servings, and leave customers with the knowledge and set-up to brew forever, in a simple and faff-free way. From my own experiences with a history of poor gut health, I am really passionate about how small changes to diet and lifestyle can have a huge impact on our total health and wellness. This has led me to start running a series of events, including brewing workshops, Kombucha mix-up parties and offering varied sessions at yoga retreats, cooking classes, and celebrations too! These events are completely tailored to each individual / event organisers preference, and are available all over the UK, and can include starter kit demo, simple, but realistic tips for improving gut-health, SCOBY show off session, mixed up Kombucha cocktails, mocktails, health shots, anything and everything!"
Sam from London
Owns a seafood boil chain with takeaways in London and an online store. "My business is called Hot N Juicy Shrimp LDN, it is a seafood boil chain, with takeaways in Bethnal Green and Woodgreen operating out of dark kitchens. We are an innovative industry leading brand providing the best seafood boil experience by holding residencies around London with an online store selling our addictive sauce and spice blend, which is available for nationwide steaming. Hot N Juicy Shrimp LDN is a brand that stays trending across social media.
Gary from Belfast
Has a business selling authentic Mexican-inspired street food. "My business Taquitos sells authentic Mexican food and I wanted to take part to showcase my skills as an entrepreneur."
Naomi from Aylesbury
Baker Naomi has a social enterprise bakery that reinvests profit back into the local community. "My business is a social enterprise bakery that reinvests profits back into the local community. I wanted to take part in the show to experience things I never would in my normal day-to-day life and to meet people I otherwise wouldn't."
Craig from Worthing
Owns two small independent craft beer ale houses. "I own two small craft beer independent ale houses called the Georgi Fins named after my two children. I’m one of the youngest founders in the country to open two of these types of venues. We focus on using small independent non-commercial companies to serve the best ales ciders and wines on the market. I entered the show to show how amazing this market is and to showcase amazing beer by people that are unable to provide their products on a commercial stage and to get Gordon on board to dominate my market."
Kris from West Yorkshire
His business sells matcha and coffee delivered in compostable coffee pods. "Rejuvenation Water is a matcha and coffee brand delivered in compostable coffee pods. I wanted to take part in the show to test myself whilst getting the message out about the health benefits of matcha and our functional coffees."
Rachel from Ayr
Runs a café in Ayr, not far from the location of the first task. "I have a day to night café in Ayr and we specialise in brunch, lunch and dinner. We do a lot of niche market products and we change the menu every week as the customers are always looking for something new and exciting. Apart from the financial benefit, I wanted to go on Future Food Stars to prove a point to myself that I was able to showcase all the things I am good at. I also wanted to show my daughter that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and set an example to her to follow your dreams, no matter how big or unobtainable they may seem"
Sophie from Essex
Sells ready-to-drink vegan iced coffees in Essex. "My business is called Sophies Iced Coffee Blend a range of ready to drink iced coffees in different flavours which are vegan and low calorie, tapping into the ever-growing vegan market and rapidly expanding iced coffee market. I wanted to take part in the show to have the opportunity to learn from Gordon Ramsay and develop my business."
Andy from London
His business combines CBD and olive oil in order to change how people take CBD. "Drops of Heal is a CBD food brand, infusing CBD and olive oil, we work to shape the way people take CBD daily. Everything we do is with mental health in mind because we believe everyone deserves to feel-good. As someone who found CBD through my own struggles, I created a CBD range that tastes delicious and fits into my lifestyle & hopefully others too!"
Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars season 2 episode guide
Here's our brief guide to Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars season 2...
Episode 1
The series opener sees the contestants head to Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire where they must prepare a five-star outdoor banquet for 30 guests in the castle’s stunning grounds. They must also invent a signature cocktail. But before long there are arguments about table decorations, burnt food and seriously embarrassing delays. But which competitor won’t survive the infamous Gordon Ramsay grilling?
Episodes 2 to 8
We will be updating as the series progresses so please do check back.
More about Gordon Ramsay
Three-time Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay has fronted shows such as Hell’s Kitchen, The F Word and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. He’s also presented Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait, Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live, Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Cookery Course and been a judge on Masterchef. Since 2018 he’s teamed up with Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix for the ITV1 show Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip.
