Great British Menu 2023: Everything you need to know, which chefs are competing, who are the national finalists, when is the banquet and more
Great British Menu 2023 theme is celebrating animation and illustration for 65 years of paddington. The panel of judges remains the same for series 18 of the competition and we start with the north east region.
- For the third year running, former judge, chef, restaurateur and TV presenter Andi Oliver will host the show, which starts on Tuesday 31st January at 8pm on BBC, pitting 32 of the country's best chefs against each other for a chance to cook for some of the most celebrated names in British television.
All episodes of 2022's series 17 of the programme are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. We'll update this page with everything you need to know so scroll down to see more.
When does Great British Menu 2023 start?
Series 18 of Great British Meni starts on January 31st 2023 and will run for eight weeks, culminating in a banquet meal celebrating the theme, with a regional chef cooking each course and a champion of champions.
What channel will Great British Menu be on?
Great British Menu will be broadcast on BBC Two.
What is the Great British Menu 2023 theme?
Great British Menu contestants will create dishes for Paddington Bear's 65th birthday, the chefs will be taking inspiration from the best of British animation and illustration when creating their dishes, from cartoons to video games. Expect props a plenty and recognisable characters making appearances left, right and centre, as the chefs try to capture the imagination of the judges.
Who are the veteran judges?
While the veteran judges are revealed on a week-by-week basis, they usually include Angela Hartnett, Michael O'Hare, Paul Ainsworth and Richard Corrigan.
Who are the judges on the Great British Menu?
Returning for 2023 are judges Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, chef and restaurateur Nisha Katona, and comedian and host of food podcast Off Menu, Ed Gamble.
How many heats / regions are there?
The show pits chefs from eight regions against each other, with four competing chefs from each location: Scotland, the South West, the North West, Wales, Central, the London South/East area, the North East and Northern Ireland.
One chef will be eliminated at the end of the first day of cooking each week, meaning they only have their canapés, starters and fish courses to prove themselves. Another chef will then leave the competition after their final score from the veteran judge, in the second episode of the week.
The final two chefs in each region to cook for the judges, who each week will be joined by a guest.
During finals week the eight regional finalists compete against each other, four of whom will cook a dish at the banquet, and an additional runner-up serving their canapés and pre-desserts at the banquet.
Who are the Great British Menu Chefs 2023?
North East Chefs: January 31st, 1st and 2nd
Cal Byerley, chef owner of Restaurant Pine
Will Lockwood, head chef, Roots
Gareth Bartram, chef director, Winteringham Fields
Rory Welch, chef owner, Träkol
Veteran judge
South west Chefs: February 7th, 8th, 9th
Andrew Tuck, Head Chef, St Kew Inn
Nick Beardshaw, Head Chef, Kerridge's Bar & Grill
Amber Francis, Head Chef, The Zebra Riding Club
Charlotte Vincent, Head Chef, Hotel Meudon
Veteran judge
Wales Chefs: February 14th, 15th, 16th
Simmie Vedi, Head Chef at Bully's
Georgia Sommerin, Senior Sous Chef at Home by James Sommerin
Tom Westerland, Head Chef of Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House
Mark Threadgill, Head Chef at Hotel Portmeirion
Veteran judge
North West Chefs: February 21th, 22nd, 23rd
László Nagy, Head Chef, Nags Head in Tarporley
Sam Grainger, Chef Owner, Belzan and Madre
Danielle Heron, Chef Owner, Osma
Caroline Martins, Chef Owner, The Sao Paulo Project
Veteran judge
Scotland Chefs: February 28th, March 1st, 2nd
Adam Handling, Chef Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group
Mark McCabe, Co-Owner of The Ethicurean
Tunde ‘Abi’ Abifarin, Chef-Founder of Farin Road
Kevin Dalgleish, Chef Owner of Amuse by Kevin Dalgleish
Veteran judge
London and South East Chefs: March 7th, 8th, 9th
Avinash Shashidhara, Head Chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai
Robbie Lorraine, Chef Owner, Only Food and Courses
Ferdinand Montoya, Chef Owner, Sarap Restaurant
Brian Danclair, Chef Owner, Danclair’s Kitchen
Veteran judge
Northern Ireland Chefs: March 14th, 15th, 16th
Gemma Austin, Chef Patron of A Peculiar Tea
Matt Jordan, Head Chef of Shu Restaurant Belfast
Kerry Roper, Head Chef at Stix and Stones
John Hollywood, Freelance Development Chef
Veteran judge
Central Chefs: March 21st, 22nd, 23rd
Tom Shepherd, Chef Patron of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
Marianne Lumb, Freelance Executive Chef
Kareem Roberts, Head Chef at Trinity
Thom Bateman, Chef Owner of The Flintlock at Cheddleton
Veteran judge
When is finals week? When is the GBM banquet?
Finals week will start on 27th March, with the banquet on 31st March.
Which chefs made it to the National Finals on Great British Menu 2023? Who are the final 8 chefs?
Will Lockwood, head chef, Roots
Nick Beardshaw, Head Chef, Kerridge's Bar & Grill
Mark Threadgill, Head Chef at Hotel Portmeirion
Danielle Heron, Chef Owner, Osma
Adam Handling, Chef Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group
Avinash Shashidhara, Head Chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai
Gemma Austin, Chef Patron of A Peculiar Tea
Tom Shepherd, Chef Patron of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
Who won the central heat?
Tom Shepherd, Chef Patron of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
Who won the North West heat?
Danielle Heron, Chef Owner, Osma
Who won the Wales heat?
Mark Threadgill, Head Chef at Hotel Portmeirion
Who won the London and South East heat?
Avinash Shashidhara, Head Chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai
Who won the Scotland heat?
Adam Handling, Chef Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group
Who won the Yorkshire and North East heat?
Will Lockwood, head chef, Roots
Who won the South West heat?
Nick Beardshaw, Head Chef, Kerridge's Bar & Grill
Who won the Northern Ireland heat?
Gemma Austin, Chef Patron of A Peculiar Tea
Who are the Great British Menu 2023 winners cooking at the banquet?
Starter
Avinash Shashidhara, Head Chef, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai
Fish course
Nick Beardshaw, Head Chef, Kerridge's Bar & Grill
Main COurse
Tom Shepherd, Chef Patron of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
Dessert Course
Adam Handling, Chef Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group
Who won Great British Menu 2023?
Adam Handling, Chef Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group, has been crowned the champion of champions and the winner of Great British Menu 2023.
Adam's dessert was inspired by Dundee publishers, DC Thomson, and marked the 80th anniversary of the Beano and Dandy, including throwable custard, smashable cake and jelly.
Who was crowned Champion Great British Menu 2022?
Spencer Metzger, head chef of The Ritz Hotel's one Michelin-starred restaurant, took home the title of champion with Tom Kerridge commenting: “It was a perfect banquet dish, and the room clearly loved it. Spencer, a fully deserved winner.”
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