Cooking Shows on the BBC
Apparently it’s been 10 years since the ‘fun’ cooking show Ready Steady Cook left British TV screens. Now amazingly, someone has decided that we need it to return – for what reason I really don’t know. Actually I do know, because the pair plotting this pointless relaunch are Ainsley Harriot and James Martin – the ones who made their names on the original.
What is Ready, Steady, Cook?
Ready, Steady, Cook is a British cooking show that first aired in 1994. It features two teams of cooks competing against each other to create a meal in just 20 minutes. Each team is given the same ingredients and a budget of £10. The teams are given a mystery basket of ingredients and must create a dish using only those ingredients. The show has a fun and lighthearted atmosphere and is hosted by Ainsley Harriott.
The show is focused on the competitive element and the teams often have to think on their feet to create the best dish possible. At the end of each episode features a taste-off, where the dishes are judged by a panel of celebrity guests. The winning team earns a point and the team with the most points at the end of the series is declared the winner. Ready, Steady, Cook has been a popular show for nearly 25 years and has been featured on the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.
Who is Ainsley Harriot?
Ainsley Harriot is a British celebrity chef and television presenter best known for his work on the BBC cooking show “Ready Steady Cook”. He is also a regular panelist on the show “Sunday Brunch”. Ainsley Harriot is well known for his infectious enthusiasm and jovial personality, which has made him a popular figure on British television. His signature catchphrase is “Aah, just look at that!”
Ainsley Harriot has also written several cookbooks, including “Ainsley Harriot’s Barbecue Bible”, “Ainsley Harriot’s Low-Fat Meals in Minutes” and “Ainsley Harriot’s Gourmet Express”. He has also been involved in a range of other projects, from advertising campaigns to charitable work. In 2018, he received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to broadcasting and the culinary arts. He regularly appears on the list of the UK’s most influential black people.
More Cooking Shows !
I’m not sure why it fizzled out in the first place, I presume it was because Ainsley moved on to other things. If you’ve never watched it, there’s loads of the old programmes on YouTube that are available to watch. Here’s one of the original shows –
Why we need yet another cooking show is completely confusing – there’s so many of them. Ready Steady Cook was sort of a cross between a game show and a serious cooking programme. However I personally found Ainsley so overbearing and annoying it was almost unwatchable. Then again it was pretty popular, and when the news stories broke last week it trended high on lots of social networks.
Anyway if you’re a fan then you’re likely to be looking forward to it relaunching. For everyone else, remember you’ve been warned that Ainsley Harriot could be returning to main stream TV again!
What are the Best Cooking Shows on the BBC?
For competitive and professional cooking shows on the BBC, **MasterChef UK** is highly regarded, featuring talented chefs undergoing rigorous challenges to prove their culinary skills. **MasterChef: The Professionals** is another variation, focusing on professional chefs competing in a similar format.
The Great British Menu is a show where top British chefs compete to create dishes for an annual banquet, showcasing a high level of culinary creativity. For a more laid-back and less competitive experience, The Great British Bake Off is a beloved show known for its friendly atmosphere and talented home bakers, although it is more focused on baking than general cooking. This show is no longer on the BBC and has moved to Channel 4 though.
Other notable shows include Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, where Nadiya Hussein explores British cuisine by visiting various producers and creating her own recipes, and Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club, where Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty recreate celebrated guests’ favorite meals while discussing food industry issues.
Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico and his Secret France show are also popular, with Rick Stein embarking on culinary road trips to discover unique dishes and gastronomic secrets.
These shows offer a mix of competition, culinary exploration, and entertaining cooking content, catering to different preferences.