Great British Menu 2025: Which chefs are competing, when it's on, who the judges are and more

The Staff Canteen

Great British Menu 2025 is the 20th series of the BBC cooking show.

This year, the theme is ‘Great Britons’ and begins on Tuesday, January 28 at 8pm on BBC Two.

Andi Oliver, award-winning TV chef and broadcaster, is back for her fifth year as host. There is one change to the judging panel.

Comedian and food podcaster Ed Gamble returns, alongside multi-Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge. New for 2025 is Lorna McNee, chef director at Michelin-starred Glasgow restaurant Cail Brunch. She replaces Nisha Katona, who is moving on after three years on the show. Lorna was a Great British Menu winner in 2019.

All episodes of 2024’s series 19 of the programme are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

We spoke with presenter Andi Oliver and former Great British Menu course winners Tom Aikens and Kate Austen ahead of this series.

We will update this page with everything you need to know about the 2025 series.

WHEN DOES GREAT BRITISH MENU 2025 START?

Series 20 of Great British Menu starts on January 28, 2025 and is set to run for eight weeks, culminating in a banquet meal celebrating the theme, with a regional chef cooking each course and a champion of champions.

WHAT CHANNEL WILL GREAT BRITISH MENU BE ON?

Great British Menu will be broadcast on BBC Two.

WHAT IS THE GREAT BRITISH MENU 2025 THEME?

This season’s theme of ‘Great Britons’ will see the chefs draw inspiration from their choice of important people, from ancient to modern history, who have come from their area.

Each episode will also feature a guest judge, with strong connections to the region or nation being judged, who will help decide the winning chef.

Tom Kerridge, Lorna McNee, Ed Gamble, Great British Menu

WHO ARE THE JUDGES ON THE GREAT BRITISH MENU?

Andi Oliver is back for her fifth year as host, while Tom Kerridge and Ed Gamble are joined as judges by former GBM winner Lorna McNee.

Each region will also include a special guest judge, with links to that area.

WHO ARE THE VETERAN JUDGES?

The veteran judges are revealed each week, normally including the likes of Paul AinsworthAktar Islam, Angela Hartnett and Michael Caines.

HOW MANY HEATS/REGIONS ARE THERE?

The show pits chefs from eight regions against each other, with four competing chefs from each location: Scotland, South West, North West, Wales, Central, London South/East, North East and Northern Ireland.

WHO ARE THE GREAT BRITISH MENU CHEFS COMPETING IN 2025?

Great British Menu 2025, Paul Ainsworth, BBC

NORTH WEST CHEFS: JANUARY 28, 29 + 30

Jack Bond, head chef/owner, The Cottage in the Wood

Eddie Shepherd, chef/owner, The Walled Gardens

Livia Alarcon, head chef/owner, La Bistroteca

James Hill, head chef/owner, The Oak at Curthwaite

VETERAN JUDGE

Paul Ainsworth

GUEST JUDGE

Margaret Aspinall

great british menu, michael caines

SOUTH WEST: FEBRUARY 4, 5 + 6

Amber Francis, food educator and private chef

Nicholas Balfe, chef director, Holm

Ashleigh Farrand, head chef, The Kingham Plough

Joe Fallowfield, head chef, Fallowfields at Housel Bay Hotel

Veteran Judge

Michael Caines

Guest judge

Tracy Daszkiewicz

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall  – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.

The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 31st January 2025

Great British Menu 2025: Which chefs are competing, when it's on, who the judges are and more