Great British Menu 2025: Which chefs are competing, when it's on, who the judges are and more

Great British Menu 2025 is the 20th series of the BBC cooking show.

This year, the theme is ‘Great Britons’ and begins on Tuesday, January 28 at 8pm on BBC Two.

Andi Oliver, award-winning TV chef and broadcaster, is back for her fifth year as host. There is one change to the judging panel.

Comedian and food podcaster Ed Gamble returns, alongside multi-Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge. New for 2025 is Lorna McNee, chef director at Michelin-starred Glasgow restaurant Cail Brunch. She replaces Nisha Katona, who is moving on after three years on the show. Lorna was a Great British Menu winner in 2019.

All episodes of 2024’s series 19 of the programme are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

We spoke with presenter Andi Oliver and former Great British Menu course winners Tom Aikens and Kate Austen ahead of this series.

We will update this page with everything you need to know about the 2025 series.

WHEN DOES GREAT BRITISH MENU 2025 START?

Series 20 of Great British Menu starts on January 28, 2025 and is set to 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 2025 THEME?

This season’s theme of ‘Great Britons’ will see the chefs draw inspiration from their choice of important people, from ancient to modern history, who have come from their area.

Each episode will also feature a guest judge, with strong connections to the region or nation being judged, who will help decide the winning chef.

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WHO ARE THE JUDGES ON THE GREAT BRITISH MENU?

Andi Oliver is back for her fifth year as host, while Tom Kerridge and Ed Gamble are joined as judges by former GBM winner Lorna McNee.

Each region will also include a special guest judge, with links to that area.

WHO ARE THE VETERAN JUDGES?

The veteran judges are revealed each week, normally including the likes of Paul Ainsworth, Aktar Islam, Angela Hartnett and Michael Caines.

HOW MANY HEATS/REGIONS ARE THERE?

The show pits chefs from eight regions against each other, with four competing chefs from each location: Scotland, South West, North West, Wales, Central, London South/East, North East and Northern Ireland.

WHO ARE THE GREAT BRITISH MENU CHEFS COMPETING IN 2025?

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NORTH WEST CHEFS: JANUARY 28, 29 + 30

Jack Bond, head chef/owner, The Cottage in the Wood

Eddie Shepherd, chef/owner, The Walled Gardens

Livia Alarcon, head chef/owner, La Bistroteca

James Hill, head chef/owner, The Oak at Curthwaite

VETERAN JUDGE

Paul Ainsworth

GUEST JUDGE

Margaret Aspinall

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SOUTH WEST: FEBRUARY 4, 5 + 6

Amber Francis, food educator and private chef

Nicholas Balfe, chef director, Holm

Ashleigh Farrand, head chef, The Kingham Plough

Joe Fallowfield, head chef, Fallowfields at Housel Bay Hotel

Veteran Judges

Michael Caines

Simon Rogan

Guest judge

Tracy Daszkiewicz

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SCOTLAND: FEBRUARY 11, 12 + 13

Mark McCabe, head chef, Henrock

David Millar, executive chef, Carlowrie Castle

Calum Munro, chef patron, Scorrybreac

Hannah Rose, head chef on superyachts

Veteran judge

Aktar Islam

Guest judge

Ben Thompson

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North East: FEBRUARY 18,19 +20

Scott John-Hodgson, head chef, Michelin-starred Solstice, Newcastle

Minal Patel, head chef, Prashad, London

Callum Leslie, executive chef, The Black Swan, Oldstead

Ahmed Abdalla, head chef, The Legacy at The Grand, York

Veteran judge

Michael O’Hare

Guest judge 

Greg Jenner

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Wales - February 25, 26 + 27

Ayesha Kalaji, chef patron/owner, Queen of Cups

Daniel Ap Geraint, head chef, The Gunroom Restaurant

Lewis Dwyer, head chef/joint patron, Hiraeth Kitchen

Seb Smith, head chef, Allt Yr Afon

Veteran judge 

Spencer Metzger

Guest judge 

Cerys Matthews

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Central and Eastern England - March 4,5,6

David Taylor, chef director, Grace and Savour

Harry Kirkpatrick, head chef, Trinity 

Sally Abe, executive chef, The Pem

Thomas Bateman, owner, The Fintlock

Guest judge

Dame Denise Lewis

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Northern Ireland - March 11,12,13

Stevie McCarry, chef owner, Lir

Marty McAdam, chef owner, The Street Kitchen

Lawrence Barrow, Hearth and Tine 

Jonny Taylor, chef director, Saga

Guest judge

Pamela Ballantine

Veteran judge

Angela Hartnett

 

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London and South East England - March 18,19,20

Jean Delport, executive chef, Restaurant Interlude

Jason Howard, culinary director, The Future Plate/chef owner, Flava Pepper

Eran Tibi, executive chef, Kapara & Bala Baya

Eve Seeman, head chef, Apricity

Guest judge

Mina Smallman

Veteran judge 

Tom Aikens