Series 15
29 episodes · 2020
The nation's top chefs compete for the chance to cook at an incredible banquet.
1Central – Starter & Fish Courses
Chefs from Derby, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Nottingham compete for the central region with a mushroom starter inspired by Lord of the Rings and a Roald Dahl Revolting Recipe.
2Central - Main & Dessert Courses
The 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.
3Central - Judging
The 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.
4London & South East - Starter & Fish Courses
Veteran 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.
5London & South East - Main & Dessert Courses
The 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.
6London & South East - Judging
The 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.
7Scotland - Starter & Fish Courses
Four 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.
8Scotland - Main & Dessert Courses
The 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.
9Scotland - Judging
Two 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.
10Northern Ireland - Starter & Fish Courses
Four 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.
11Northern Ireland - Main & Dessert Courses
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including a Hogwarts feast inspired by Harry Potter and an Each Peach Pear Plum dessert.
12Northern Ireland - Judging
Two 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.
13North West - Starter & Fish Courses
Four 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.
14North West - Main & Dessert Courses
The 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.
15North West - Judging
Two 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.
16South West - Starter & Fish
Four 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.
17South West - Main & Dessert Courses
The 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.
18South West - Judging
Two 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.
19Wales - Starter & Fish
The nation's top chefs compete.
20Wales - Main & Dessert Courses
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts, including Y Draig Goch, inspired by the legend of the Welsh red dragon, and a Willy Wonka golden egg dessert.
21Wales - Judging
Two 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.
22North East - Starter & Fish Courses
Four 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.
23North East - Main & Dessert
The remaining chefs cook mains and desserts including two Skellig-inspired dishes and a Horrible Histories feast.
24North East - Judging
Bestselling children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson helps decide which chef should make it through to the next round.
25Finals - Starter
Eight 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.
26Finals - Fish
Bestselling 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.
27Finals - Main
Bestselling 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.
28Finals - Dessert
The 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.
29Banquet
After 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.