Series 15 (2020)
The nation's top chefs compete for the chance to cook at an incredible banquet.
Episodes: 29
Star Cast: Susan Calman ,
Episodes List
Ep.1 Central – Starter & Fish Courses
Air Date: 2020-03-18
Chefs from Derby, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Nottingham compete for the central region with a mushroom starter inspired by Lord of the Rings and a Roald Dahl Revolting Recipe.
Ep.2 Central - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-03-19
The remaining chefs cook giant goose eggs based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and a Harry Potter dessert, but two face potential disasters when their recipes go wrong.
Ep.3 Central - Judging
Air Date: 2020-03-20
The two remaining central chefs go head to head and cook their six-course menus. Guest judge Charlie Higson, comedian and author of the Young Bond series, helps decide the winner.
Ep.4 London & South East - Starter & Fish Courses
Air Date: 2020-03-25
Veteran Tommy Banks decides which of the four London chefs to send home after a hazelnut starter inspired by The Gruffalo and a Commotion in the Ocean lobster dish.
Ep.5 London & South East - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-03-26
The remaining chefs cook a dairy beef steak dish inspired by Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse and a Faraway Tree chocolate dessert. But two must improvise when their recipes go wrong.
Ep.6 London & South East - Judging
Air Date: 2020-03-27
The two remaining chefs from the region go head to head and cook their six-course menus for the judges, including guest judge Konnie Huq, children’s author and former Blue Peter presenter.
Ep.7 Scotland - Starter & Fish Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-01
Four chefs from Edinburgh, Irvine, Fife and Buckie compete for Scotland with a venison starter inspired by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and a Treasure Island fish course.
Ep.8 Scotland - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-02
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including a cow pie inspired by Desperate Dan and a golden snitch choux dessert. An unusual situation ramps up the competition.
Ep.9 Scotland - Judging
Air Date: 2020-04-03
Two top chefs from Scotland go head to head and cook their six-course menus. Bestselling children’s author and comedian David Baddiel is the guest judge and helps decide the winner.
Ep.10 Northern Ireland - Starter & Fish Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-08
Four chefs compete for Northern Ireland with a starter inspired by CS Lewis and an Enid Blyton fish course. Veteran Tom Aikens sends one chef home at the end of the day.
Ep.11 Northern Ireland - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-09
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including a Hogwarts feast inspired by Harry Potter and an Each Peach Pear Plum dessert.
Ep.12 Northern Ireland - Judging
Air Date: 2020-04-10
Two top chefs from Northern Ireland go head to head and cook their six-course menus. Children’s TV presenter turned author Cerrie Burnell is the guest judge and helps decide the winner.
Ep.13 North West - Starter & Fish Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-15
Four chefs, two from Manchester and two from Cumbria, compete for the north west of England. Angela Hartnett, the surprise veteran judge, decides which chef goes home today.
Ep.14 North West - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-16
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including a Beatrix Potter extravaganza and a Not So Giant Peach. A surprise veteran judge helps with scoring the main dishes.
Ep.15 North West - Judging
Air Date: 2020-04-17
Two top chefs from the north west of England go head to head and cook their six-course menus. Julia Donaldson, best-selling author of The Gruffalo, is guest judge and helps decide the winner.
Ep.16 South West - Starter & Fish
Air Date: 2020-04-22
Four chefs from the south west of England compete, with dishes inspired by The Wind in the Willows, Enid Blyton and Jeremy Fisher. Veteran Richard Corrigan sends one chef home.
Ep.17 South West - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-23
The three chefs are halfway through their heat and the pressure is mounting. One of the chefs unexpectedly leaves the competition and Richard and Susan invite the eliminated chef back.
Ep.18 South West - Judging
Air Date: 2020-04-24
Two top chefs from the south west of England go head to head and cook their six-course menus. Actress, comedian and children’s book author Nina Wadia is the guest judge and helps decide the winner.
Ep.19 Wales - Starter & Fish
Air Date: 2020-04-29
The nation's top chefs compete.
Ep.20 Wales - Main & Dessert Courses
Air Date: 2020-04-30
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including Y Draig Goch, inspired by the legend of the Welsh red dragon, and a Willy Wonka golden egg dessert.
Ep.21 Wales - Judging
Air Date: 2020-05-01
Two top chefs from Wales go head to head and cook their menus. Filch from the Harry Potter films - actor David Bradley - is the guest judge and helps decide the winner.
Ep.22 North East - Starter & Fish Courses
Air Date: 2020-05-06
Four chefs from Yorkshire and County Durham compete for the north east region, with a homage to The Railway Children and a fish dish inspired by Flat Stanley.
Ep.23 North East - Main & Dessert
Air Date: 2020-05-07
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts including two Skellig-inspired dishes and a Horrible Histories feast.
Ep.24 North East - Judging
Air Date: 2020-05-08
Bestselling children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson helps decide which chef should make it through to the next round.
Ep.25 Finals - Starter
Air Date: 2020-05-11
Eight finalists from across the UK compete to have their starter chosen for the banquet celebrating children’s literature. Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell helps decide the winner.
Ep.26 Finals - Fish
Air Date: 2020-05-12
Bestselling author Malorie Blackman helps choose the winning fish dish for a banquet celebrating children’s literature. In a tight contest, just one point makes the difference.
Ep.27 Finals - Main
Air Date: 2020-05-13
Bestselling writer Anthony Horowitz helps choose the winner for the main course final, while a Harry Potter actor pops into the kitchen to taste a real life Hogwarts’s feast.
Ep.28 Finals - Dessert
Air Date: 2020-05-14
The dessert course is the last chance for the finalists to win a place at tomorrow night’s banquet celebrating children’s literature. Radio1 DJ and author Greg James is a guest judge.
Ep.29 Banquet
Air Date: 2020-05-15
After months of hard-fought competition, it is time for the Great British Menu banquet. The winning chefs cook their courses in celebration of nearly 200 years of British children’s literature.
