Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four-course banquet.
Format
Series one and two were presented by Jennie Bond, the former BBC Royal correspondent, whereby each week, two chefs from a region of the UK create a menu. In series three and four, both narrated by Bond but with no presenter, three chefs from a region of the UK create a menu; only the two with the best scores went through to the Friday judging. In series five and six, the fifth narrated by Bond while the sixth is narrated by Wendy Lloyd, three chefs from a region of the UK create a menu, with in kitchen judging undertaken by a past contestant chef; only the two with the best scores go through to the Friday judging.In each series, the Friday show is when chefs present all courses of their menu to a judging panel, tasted and judged by Matthew Fort, Prue Leith, and Oliver Peyton. One chef each week goes through to the final, where the judges taste the dishes again and award them marks out of ten.
In series one and two, the three dishes that have scored the highest for each course of the finals are then shortlisted for public vote via televoting. In series three and four, the shortlisting rule was dropped, so all dishes scored by the judges are then sent to the public vote. Judges' scores represent one half of the overall score, and public vote represents the other half. The Guardian critic Karina Mantavia in May 2007 criticised the public vote system as incompatible to food that viewers could see onscreen but not taste in-person.
Starting from series five, a fourth judge, usually either a veteran chef or a guest related to a brief, is introduced, replacing public vote. Since series eight, the fourth judge addition extends to regional heats.
Up until series six, the finalists can replace only one course dish of their own menus with a newer one. They can adjust or tweak other dishes but cannot completely change them.
On 28 October 2016, it was confirmed that Prue Leith was leaving the show and would be replaced by Andi Oliver for series 12 in 2017.
On 1 October 2019, Susan Calman was announced as the new presenter for series 15. Filming took place in Stratford-upon-Avon and was completed in November 2019. The show was broadcast in spring 2020. For Christmas 2020 special series and thereafter, Andi Oliver stepped down as a judge and has replaced Calman as the presenter.
On 7 February 2021, it was announced that Rachel Khoo would be joining as a new judge when the series returns in spring 2021.
On 6 September 2021, it was announced that the whole judging panel would be changed with Matthew Fort and Oliver Payton leaving after being on the show since the beginning and Rachel Khoo after one series. The new judging panel will consist of former GBM champion Tom Kerridge, chef and restaurateur Nisha Katona, and comedian and food podcaster Ed Gamble.
On 8 November 2024, Lorna McNee was announced as a new judge when the series returns in January 2025; replacing Nisha Katona who left after series 19 ended.
On 11 December 2025, it was announced comedian Phil Wang will be joining the judging panel taking over from Ed Gamble who decided to step down at the end of series 20.
Series 1 (2006)
The birthday meal for the Queen was on 16 June 2006 and for 300 people, so each dish created had to be suitable for a summer banquet. All recipes have been published in a book by Dorling Kindersley.Contestants
Final week
The three dishes that have scored the highest for each course in the finals are then put to the public vote. In the first series, it was decided that a chef could only win one course overall, therefore any chef who won the public vote for a particular course was then eliminated from any subsequent courses they had been shortlisted for. As the results for all four courses were announced on the same day, some chefs were eliminated under this rule.Final result
- Starter: Richard Corrigan – Smoked salmon with Irish soda bread, woodland sorrel and cress
- Fish: Bryn Williams – Pan-fried turbot with cockles and oxtail
- Main: Nick Nairn – Loin of roe venison with rosti, celeriac, cabbage, carrot and game gravy
- Dessert: Marcus Wareing – Custard tart with Garibaldi biscuits
Great British Christmas Menu (2006)
Unlike the original series, only one chef was able to be crowned the winner and there was no special prize at stake. The final result was decided by the judges and a viewers' vote; 30p from calls made in order to vote was donated to Children in Need.
Final result
- 1st – Richard Corrigan
- 2nd – Marcus Wareing, Nick Nairn
- 4th – Bryn Williams
Series 2 (2007)
Contestants
Final week
The rule to eliminate a winning chef of one course from any subsequent courses was dropped, as highlighted by Mark Hix winning both the main course and dessert.Final result
- Starter: Sat Bains – Ham, egg and peas
- Fish: Richard Corrigan – Whole poached wild salmon and duck egg dressing with wheaten bread and country butter
- Main: Mark Hix – Rabbit and crayfish stargazy pie
- Dessert: Mark Hix – Perry jelly and summer fruits with elderflower ice cream
Series 3 (2008)
The series began with seven special programmes in which Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort travelled around the UK, selecting the two chefs who would go through to represent their region in the competition.
Heats
Final week
Starting from this series, all dishes scored by the judges in the finals are sent to public vote.| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Jason Atherton | 2nd | |
| Chris Horridge | 1st | |
| Tom Kitchin | 2nd | |
| Danny Millar | 4th | |
| Glynn Purnell | 5th | |
| Nigel Haworth | 6th | |
| Stephen Terry | 7th |
| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Stephen Terry | 1st | |
| Nigel Haworth | 1st | |
| Tom Kitchin | 3rd | |
| Jason Atherton | 3rd | |
| Danny Millar | 5th | |
| Glynn Purnell | 6th | |
| Chris Horridge | 7th |
| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Jason Atherton | 1st | |
| Stephen Terry | 2nd | |
| Glynn Purnell | 4th | |
| Chris Horridge | 3rd | |
| Nigel Haworth | 5th | |
| Danny Millar | 5th | |
| Tom Kitchin | 7th |
| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Glynn Purnell | 1st | |
| Chris Horridge | 2nd | |
| Stephen Terry | 3rd | |
| Nigel Haworth | 4th | |
| Danny Millar | 5th | |
| Tom Kitchin | 6th | |
| Jason Atherton | 7th |
Final result
- Starter: Jason Atherton – Bacon, lettuce and tomato with croque monsieur
- Fish: Stephen Terry – Organic salmon and smoked salmon with crab fritters and cockle 'popcorn'
- Main: Jason Atherton – Dexter beef fillet, ox cheek, smoked potato puree and marrow bone
- Dessert: Glynn Purnell – Strawberries with tarragon and black pepper honeycomb with burnt English cream surprise
Series 4 (2009)
The North region was split this time into two groups: North-East and North-West.
Heats
Final week
Rankings were based on judges' scores and then public votes.| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Kenny Atkinson | 2nd | |
| James Sommerin | 1st | |
| Danny Millar | 5th | |
| Nigel Haworth | 3rd | |
| Tristan Welch | 4th | |
| Tom Kitchin | 6th | |
| Glynn Purnell | 7th | |
| Shaun Rankin | 8th |
| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Glynn Purnell | 1st | |
| Nigel Haworth | 2nd | |
| Kenny Atkinson | 3rd | |
| Danny Millar | 4th | |
| Tom Kitchin | 5th | |
| Shaun Rankin | 6th | |
| Tristan Welch | 7th | |
| James Sommerin | 8th |
| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Nigel Haworth | 1st | |
| Tom Kitchin | 2nd | |
| Danny Millar | 3rd | |
| Tristan Welch | 4th | |
| Kenny Atkinson | 5th | |
| Shaun Rankin | 6th | |
| Glynn Purnell | 7th | |
| James Sommerin | 8th |
| Chef | Pre-vote rank | Final rank |
| Shaun Rankin | 1st | |
| Tristan Welch | 2nd | |
| Tom Kitchin | 3rd | |
| Kenny Atkinson | 4th | |
| James Sommerin | 5th | |
| Glynn Purnell | 6th | |
| Danny Millar | 7th | |
| Nigel Haworth | 8th |