Great British Menu

100 Years of British Children’s Literature

Top British chefs compete against each other and are scored by a panel of acclaimed judges for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet.

Where to Watch Great British Menu • 100 Years of British Children’s Literature

29 Episodes

Central – Starter & Fish Courses
E1
Central – Starter & Fish CoursesChefs from Derby, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Nottingham compete as the heats begin for the central region. This year's theme is British Children's Literature and the chefs are asked to make dishes honouring children's fantasy fiction.
Central - Main & Dessert Courses
E2
Central - Main & Dessert CoursesThe 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.
Central - Judging
E3
Central - JudgingThe 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.
London & South East - Starter & Fish Courses
E4
London & South East - Starter & Fish CoursesVeteran 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.
London & South East - Main & Dessert Courses
E5
London & South East - Main & Dessert CoursesThe 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.
London & South East - Judging
E6
London & South East - JudgingThe 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.
Scotland - Starter & Fish Courses
E7
Scotland - Starter & Fish CoursesFour 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.
Scotland - Main & Dessert Courses
E8
Scotland - Main & Dessert CoursesThe 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.
Scotland - Judging
E9
Scotland - JudgingTwo 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.
Northern Ireland - Starter & Fish Courses
E10
Northern Ireland - Starter & Fish CoursesFour 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.
Northern Ireland - Main & Dessert Courses
E11
Northern Ireland - Main & Dessert CoursesThe remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including a Hogwarts feast inspired by Harry Potter and an Each Peach Pear Plum dessert.
Northern Ireland - Judging
E12
Northern Ireland - JudgingTwo 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.
North West - Starter & Fish Courses
E13
North West - Starter & Fish CoursesFour 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.
North West - Main & Dessert Courses
E14
North West - Main & Dessert CoursesThe 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.
North West - Judging
E15
North West - JudgingTwo 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.
South West - Starter & Fish
E16
South West - Starter & FishFour 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.
South West - Main & Dessert Courses
E17
South West - Main & Dessert CoursesThe 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.
South West - Judging
E18
South West - JudgingTwo 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.
Wales - Starter & Fish
E19
Wales - Starter & FishThe nation's top chefs compete.
Wales Main and Dessert Courses
E20
Wales Main and Dessert CoursesThe remaining chefs compete over dishes inspired by science and innovation but when two chefs go head to head with lamb dishes – who will win and who must go home?
Wales - Judging
E21
Wales - JudgingTwo 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.
North East - Starter & Fish Courses
E22
North East - Starter & Fish CoursesFour 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.
North East - Main & Dessert
E23
North East - Main & DessertThe remaining chefs cook mains and desserts including two Skellig-inspired dishes and a Horrible Histories feast.
North East - Judging
E24
North East - JudgingBestselling children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson helps decide which chef should make it through to the next round.
Finals - Starter
E25
Finals - StarterEight 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.
Finals - Fish
E26
Finals - FishBestselling 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.
Finals - Main
E27
Finals - MainBestselling 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.
Finals - Dessert
E28
Finals - DessertThe 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.
Banquet
E29
BanquetAfter 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.