The Taste (British TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Taste |
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| Genre | Cooking |
| Judges | |
| Voices of | George Irving |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production company(s) | CPL Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | Channel 4 |
| Picture format | 16:9 (HDTV) |
| Original release | 7 January – 11 March 2014 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Taste (U.S.) |
The Taste was a British cooking game show that aired on Channel 4. It ran from January 7 to March 11, 2014. The show featured famous chefs who judged contestants' food. These judges were Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, and Ludo Lefebvre. They also acted as mentors, guiding their teams of cooks.
Contents
How the Show Works
The UK version of The Taste was similar to the one in the US. It started with 12 contestants. These contestants were split into three teams, with four people on each team. Each team was led by one of the famous chef judges.
Auditions: Picking the Teams
The first episode was all about auditions. It was a bit like the "blind auditions" you might see on shows like The Voice. Hopeful cooks prepared small spoonfuls of food. The judges tasted these spoons without knowing who cooked them. This helped them judge fairly.
After tasting, the judges met the cooks. They decided if they wanted the cook on their team. If more than one judge wanted a contestant, that person got to choose their mentor. This continued until each judge had four cooks for their team.
Weekly Challenges and Eliminations
Each week after the auditions, there were two main challenges.
The Guest Judge Challenge
In the first challenge, contestants worked with their mentors. They had to prepare a special spoonful of food. This food had to fit a certain rule or theme. A guest judge would then taste the best spoon from each team. The contestant whose spoon was picked as the best won "immunity." This meant they were safe from being sent home that week.
The Elimination Challenge
The second challenge was the elimination round. Contestants again made a spoonful of food based on the week's theme. The mentors tasted all the spoons without knowing who made them. They chose the best dish and the three dishes that weren't as good.
The three contestants with the bottom dishes talked with their mentors. The mentors then decided which cook would be sent home from the competition.
Meet the Judges
The show had three main judges and mentors. They were all well-known chefs.
- Nigella Lawson: She was the main judge and mentor. Nigella is a famous English chef and TV personality.
- Anthony Bourdain: An American chef and food writer. He was also a judge on the US version of The Taste.
- Ludo Lefebvre: A French chef who also appeared on the US version of the show.
These three chefs worked together to find the best new cook. The show had ten episodes, each lasting about 60 minutes.
Contestants of The Taste UK
The series started on January 7, 2014. This is when the three mentors chose their teams of four contestants. Here's a look at the people who competed:
| Name | Occupation | Age | Mentor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Johnston | Charity worker | 27 | Bourdain | Eliminated 1st on 14 January 2014 |
| Claire Coutinho | Supper club host | 28 | Lawson | Eliminated 2nd on 21 January 2014 |
| James Sherwin | Nurse | 34 | Lefebvre | Eliminated 3rd on 28 January 2014 |
| Justin Akpa | Junior sous chef | 28 | Bourdain | Eliminated 4th on 4 February 2014 |
| Raj Bahra | Tax accountant | 29 | Lawson | Eliminated 5th on 11 February 2014 |
| Kirsty MacKinnon | Private chef | 28 | Lefebvre | Eliminated 6th on 18 February 2014 |
| Guan Chua | Food blogger | 26 | Bourdain | Eliminated 7th on 25 February 2014 |
| Kalpna Mistry | Science teacher | 47 | Lawson | Eliminated 8th on 4 March 2014 |
| Chloe Campbell | Nanny | 24 | Lefebvre | Third place on 11 March 2014 |
| Dixie Innes | Café chef | 26 | Bourdain | Runner-up on 11 March 2014 |
| Kelly Sealey | Cookery tutor | 32 | Lawson | Runner-up on 11 March 2014 |
| Debbie Halls-Evans | Delicatessen owner | 43 | Lefebvre | Winner on 11 March 2014 |
Making the Show
The Taste was originally an American show on ABC. Channel 4 decided to make a British version in July 2013. This was exciting because it marked Nigella Lawson's return to Channel 4 after ten years. The company that sells TV show ideas, Red Arrow International, sold the format to the UK. The show was filmed in September and October 2013 at the famous Pinewood Studios.
