THE Great British Menu 2020 Christmas special is near and familiar faces from the show’s history are set to return to serve up a festive feast for key workers.
There’s been a shake-up to the judging table ahead of the special – here’s a look at who will judge the seven-part festive series of the classic cooking programme.
Who are the Great British Menu 2020 judges?
In a big change for the series, restaurateur Andi Oliver will be swapping her place at the judges’ table to present the show.
About her new role, Andi said: “I am so completely thrilled and honoured to have been asked to expand my role at Great British Menu!
“It’s an amazing opportunity to understand the journey that the chefs go through and to watch the evolution of the dishes before they come to judges chamber is a mind blowing revelation.”
Andi Oliver originally replaced Prue Leith as a judge after she left to host The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 in 2017.
Irish restaurateur Oliver Peyton and food critic Matthew Fort will return to the line-up of judges for the Christmas special series.
Both Matthew and Oliver were part of the original line-up when the show was first started back in 2006.
Joining them for the festive special in Andi’s absence will be comedian Kerry Godliman who will be judging for the seven-part special Great British Christmas Menu.
The judges will be joined by a different guest judge each episode, but their names have not yet been revealed
Kerry Godliman
Comedian Kerry is best known for appearances on Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, Jack Dee’s Referendum HelpDesk, Celebrity Pointless and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.
She has also featured in Ricky Gervais’ Netflix series After Life, playing Gervais’ character’s dead wife Lisa.
She has previously worked with Ricky Gervais on his Channel 4 sitcom Derek in which she played care home manager Hannah.
Oliver Peyton
59-year-old Oliver is a restauranteur and cookbook author who has opened a number of successful establishments such as Atlantic Bar & Grill near London’s Piccadilly and Coast in Mayfair.
He was born in 1961 in County Mayo, Ireland, and later studied textiles at Leicester Polytechnic before opening two nightclubs, The Can in Brighton and Raw in London.
Oliver started launching restaurants in the 1990s, creating the Atlantic Bar & Grill in 1994 and Coast in 1995, followed by Mash and Air in Manchester.
He also launched Peyton and Byrne bakeries in a number of locations, which later went into administration in 2016.
Oliver is married to Charlotte Polizzi, and they have three children together, Finn, Molly and Connor.
Matthew Fort
Acclaimed food journalist Matthew, is the son of Tory MP Richard Fort, who died when he was 12 years old.
The 73-year-old was privately educated at Eton College, before going on to study at Lancaster University.
He is now an acclaimed food critic and journalist who was crowned the Glenfiddich Food Writer of the Year in 1992 and 1993. Matthew also won the title of The Restaurateurs’ Association Food Writer of the Year in 1993.
Matthew was the Food and Drink editor of The Guardian for 15 years – until 2012 and writes for the likes of Esquire, Country Living, Decanter and Waitrose Food Illustrated magazines and The Observer.
He has written a variety of books including Rhubarb and Black Pudding (1998), Eating up Italy: Voyages on a Vespa (2004) and Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons (2008).
Who are the Great British Christmas Menu contestants?
A mixture of past champions and veteran chefs will be competing in the festive series.
Here is the full list of chefs taking part:
- Jason Atherton, founder, the Social Company
- Pip Lacey, co-founder, Hicce, London
- Tom Barnes, group executive chef, Rogan & Co
- Niall Keating, executive chef, Whatley Manor, Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Tommy Banks, chef-director, the Black Swan at Oldstead and Roots, York
- Alex Greene, head chef, Deanes Eipic, Belfast
- Richard Bainbridge, chef-owner, Benedicts, Norwich
- Simon Rogan, owner, Umbel Restaurant Group
- Matt Gillan, chef-owner, Heritage, Sussex
- James Cochran, head chef and owner, 1251, London
- Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef, Northcote, Langho, Lancashire
- Tom Aikens, chef-patron, Muse, London.
What time is it on?
The Great British Christmas Menu starts on BBC Two on Tuesday, December 1.
The seven-part special Great British Christmas Menu will watch food industry heavyweights create a festive feast to serve up to some UK keyworkers who have dedicated all their energy to the fight against Covid.
The top chefs will prepare a six-course feast for them – and there will be an episode dedicated to each course.
The final episode will document the whole banquet.
