Great British Menu 16

Central Starter and Fish Courses (2021)

Great British Menu returns for another series, starting with the central region heats. Featuring a mix of exciting new talent and one popular returner, the theme for this year's competition is a celebration of British invention and innovation. The chefs are welcomed to the kitchen, where they prepare canapes, starters and fish courses for the eyes of the week's veteran judge, a former winner who remains a surprise to the chefs until the moment they walk into the kitchen. With one of the four being sent home, the pressure is on to produce something delicious and ingenious.

Central Main and Dessert Courses (2021)

The three chefs are halfway through their heat, and the pressure is mounting. Once again, they each serve a unique take on the brief celebrating British invention and innovation. Among the mains are a venison dish in honour of the only British woman to win a Nobel prize in science, a homage to West Midlands manufacturing, and two layered chocolate dishes – one using edible paper as a tribute to Samuel Johnson, the other featuring an ingenious chocolate cross-section of a road inspired by the invention of smooth tarmac. But whose inventions in the kitchen will veteran judge Lisa Goodwin-Allen prefer? Only two contestants will proceed to Friday’s judging and have a chance to represent the central region at the regional finals.

Central Judging (2021)

Today, the two highest-scoring chefs from the central region must go head to head and cook their six-course menus again. But will they take on board their veteran’s advice as they serve both the panel of judges and Britain’s first astronaut? The chefs need to impress the formidable judges - food writer Matthew Fort, restauranteur Oliver Peyton and broadcaster and food creative Rachel Khoo - as well as guest judge Helen Sharman OBE, who made history 30 years ago by winning a competition to become the first Briton in space. How will she judge dishes celebrating British science and innovation, including two dishes paying homage to Professor Stephen Hawking’s theory of black holes?

Scotland Starter and Fish Courses (2021)

Great British Menu moves on to the Scotland heats. Competing for the top spot are four chefs, three of them all known to each other as they all have their own restaurants in Edinburgh. There is a reigning champion from last year for Scotland, Roberta Hall, and she is joined by fellow capital chefs Stuart Ralson and Scott Smith. The fourth competitor is returner Amy Elles, who has a seafood restaurant by the coast in Fife. She lost out to Roberta in last year’s Scotland final. Presenter Andi Oliver welcomes them to the kitchen, where the theme for this year’s competition is a celebration of British invention and innovation. Given Scotland’s historic success with scientific discovery, the chefs have plenty of inspiration to draw upon, from the invention of television and toasters to penicillin. One of the four must leave the competition at the end of the episode.

Scotland Main and Dessert Courses (2021)