Great British Menu is set to return to our screens for series 21, beginning in February 2026.
The exact start date is Tuesday, February 24, at 7pm on BBC Two. The series will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
The theme this year is movies.
Viewers have been told to expect dishes inspired by James Bond, Wallace and Gromit, Harry Potter, The Full Monty and Notting Hill.
Who are the judges on the Great British Menu?
The judging panel again sees a change for 2026.
Award-winning TV chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver will begin her fourth year as host.
Lorna McNee, chef director at Glasgow’s Michelin-starred restaurant Cail Bruich, took over from Nisha Katona in 2025 and continues in her role. Nisha moved on from the show after serving as a judge for three years.
Two-Michelin-starred celebrity chef Tom Kerridge is also back, with the final slot changing from comedian and Off Menu podcast host, Ed Gamble, to fellow comedian Phil Wang.
Stay tuned for the latest Great British Menu 2026 news.
Who are the great british menu 2026 chefs competing? Who are the veteran chefs? Who are the guest judges?
The full line-up of 32 competing chefs for 2026 has been confirmed. It includes former finalist Jack Bond, fellow Michelin-starred chefs Paul Leonard, Cal Byerley and John Chantarasak, National Chef of the Year winner Orry Shand and former MasterChef: The Professionals champion Nikita Pathakji.
Veteran chef judges in 2025 included Tom Aikens, Aktar Islam and Paul Ainsworth.
How many heats or regions are there?
The show pits chefs from eight regions against each other, with four competing chefs from each location: Scotland, the South West, the North West, Wales, Central, the London South/East area, the North East and Northern Ireland.
When does Great British Menu 2026 start? Where can I watch Great British Menu series 21? When is finals week? When is the banquet?
Series 21 of Great British Menu begins on February 24, 2026.
Last series it ran for eight weeks, culminating in a banquet meal at Blenheim Palace, celebrating the Great Britons theme, with a regional chef cooking each course and a champion of champions.
This year's winning chefs will cook a banquet for Britain’s movie industry in the finale episode which this year is being held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool – which doubles as Gotham City Hall in Batman.
Liverpool has the oldest film office in Europe and is the most filmed city in the UK outside of London.
Episodes are shown on the BBC and iPlayer, with all of series 20 still available to view.
Who won Great British Menu in 2025?
Representing the South West, Amber Francis was crowned champion of champions at the banquet, for her dessert ‘Books, the mind’s food’.
Jean Delport cooked two courses at the banquet, while Sally Abé created the starter and Mark McCabe was on canapés.
