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.
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?
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
GUEST JUDGE
Margaret Aspinall
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
Guest judge
Tracy Daszkiewicz
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
Guest judge
Ben Thompson
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
Guest judge
Greg Jenner
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
Guest judge
Cerys Matthews
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