Jersey-born Joe Baker, who owns the restaurant No 10 Jersey in town, and Lee Smith, executive head chef of the Michelin-starred Samphire, will appear on television screens later this month in BBC Two’s Great British Menu.
The eight-week show pits top British chefs against each other and the 14th series, which began airing last month, has attracted an audience of 1.66 million people. Filming took place last autumn in Jersey and at the TV studio in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Although Mr Baker has refused to be drawn on how he got on, he admitted it was ‘a rollercoaster ride’.
Mr Baker (28) said he and his fellow contestants had to sign confidentiality agreements.
‘We’ve been sworn to secrecy by the BBC,’ he explained. ‘I’m sure I will be shown to have been bold with my dishes – I didn’t play it safe.
‘I am nervous because you don’t know what will go into the final edit. I hope I come across as genuine and passionate – who I really am.’
The University of Durham graduate, whose father, Jolyon, starred as Bergerac’s sidekick Detective Barry Goddard in the 1980s television programme, added: ‘I’m well educated and privileged, and that may come through in the show, but I’ve still had to work extremely hard.’
Each week, three chefs from one of Britain’s regions battle it out across two mid-week, hour-long episodes. Chefs present their dishes to veteran judges who represent some of the biggest names on the British restaurant
scene.
Then on Fridays, the two remaining chefs cook their dishes head-to-head in a 30-minute showdown – when a celebrity joins the judging panel – and the winner goes through to the national final.
Reverend Richard Coles, a former member of the 1980s band The Communards, was the guest judge for the South West region.
Mr Baker said he had ‘no idea’ until the first day of filming that Samphire’s executive head chef, Mr Smith, was also appearing alongside him. They were joined in the competition by Emily Scott, a chef from St Tudy Inn in Cornwall. Mr Smith said appearing on the show had been ‘a great experience’.
He added: ‘It was great to work alongside Joe, and also Emily. I’ve eaten at Joe’s restaurant a few times and I really enjoy what he’s doing there. The biggest high was getting chosen for a programme which I have watched throughout my career.’
The Great British Menu’s South West region competition will be screened on BBC Two, with one-hour episodes on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 April. The 30-minute South West regional final will be shown on Friday 26 April.
