Who are the Great British Christmas Menu 2020 judges?
COOKING fans have been loving the Christmas edition of Great British Menu, featuring familiar faces from the show’s history.
There was a shake-up among the judging table this time round.
Who are the Great British Menu 2020 judges?
In a big change for the series, restaurateur Andi Oliver swapped 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.
Andi Oliver
Andi, 56, is a London-based chef who is regularly seen hosting TV and radio shows, usually around food.
The star is said to have a lifelong obsession with tasty cuisine and would throw her own dinner parties from the young age of 12.
She travelled extensively in her youth, thanks to her dad's career in the RAF, and this gave her a varied palate with influences from all over the world.
When she is not broadcasting, she co-runs Andi's Restaurant in London with Kelly Miles.
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).
Andi Oliver
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 the Great British Christmas Menu on tonight?
The Great British Christmas Menu continues TONIGHT (December 16, 2020).
You can catch it at 8pm on BBC Two.
The seven-part special Great British Christmas Menu will watch food industry heavyweights create a festive feast to serve up to some UK key workers 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 and will air tonight at 9.15pm on BBC Two.