Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Finals - Starter

Eight finalists from across the UK compete to have their starter chosen for a banquet celebrating children鈥檚 literature. Children鈥檚 Laureate Cressida Cowell helps decide the winner.

It is national finals week, where the winning chefs from the regional heats compete for the honour of cooking at a banquet celebrating 150 years of brilliant British children鈥檚 literature. Each episode sees the eight rivals cook a different course, and with this being the last chance they have to impress the expert judges and a raft of guests from the world of British children鈥檚 literature, the pressure is on.

In the first episode, the eight chefs battle to get their starter course to the banquet. They don鈥檛 disappoint with stunning dishes dedicated to a range of inspiring children鈥檚 books - everything from Peter Rabbit to Harry Potter. The rivals are cooking to impress food writer Matthew Fort, restaurateur Oliver Peyton, broadcaster and cook Andi Oliver and a guest judge - Children鈥檚 Laureate and author of the hugely successful How to Train Your Dragon series Cressida Cowell. Since the chefs last cooked their starters in the regional finals, they have had an opportunity to tweak the dishes with the judge鈥檚 feedback in mind but will they have done enough? With the stakes so high, and the finest chefs in the competition all vying for victory, which of the fierce rivals can secure the first place on the banquet menu?

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Johnny Douglas

    The Railway Children

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Susan Calman
Judge Andi Oliver
Judge Matthew Fort
Judge Oliver Peyton
Series Producer Avril Beaven
Executive Producer Sarah Eglin
Director Francois Gandolfi
Series Editor Antonia Lloyd
Judge Cressida Cowell

Broadcast

Series 19: Meet the Chefs

Series 19: Meet the Chefs

Find out more about the chefs competing to make it through to the 2024 banquet.