Big Cook, Little Cook is Back with More Culinary Fun for Kids

After nearly two decades off the air, the preschool cookery series Big Cook, Little Cook returned to TV screens on CBeebies in the U.K. The show sees human-sized Big Cook Jen, played by Ibinabo Jack, and pepper shaker-sized Little Cook Small, played by Courtney Bowman, team up for exciting recipes for young viewers to follow along with and try out themselves at home. Jo Killingley, the creator and executive producer of Big Cook, Little Cook, talks to TV Kids Weeklyabout coming back to the series after almost 20 years, empowering young viewers and the opportunity to be found in kids’ love of screens.

Killingley is responsible for coming up with the original concept for Big Cook, Little Cook, which first aired in 2004. “An idea pinged in my head one morning, that kids might like to see a little chef running around the countertop, helping out and getting mistakenly splattered with various ingredients,” says Killingley. “The pairing of Big Cook and Little Cook allows them to ask questions and help each other deliver delicious dishes to the various characters who visit the ‘Best Café in the World!’”

Big Cook, Little Cook is returning amid a dearth of cooking shows aimed at the youngest audiences, making it a good time for its relaunch. “Bringing the series back seemed like a really good idea to help our young audience explore new foods and give their caregivers fresh ideas for fun activities to share with them,” says Killingley, who notes that episodes of the original series remain popular online. “I loved making the show; there was always a real fondness for it. Relaunching it with a whole new cast felt like a genuinely exciting opportunity.”

“Ibinabo Jack and Courtney Bowman are the perfect Jen and Small,”  Killingley adds. “They have a natural chemistry and are both very funny, which was crucial in capturing the original spirit of the show.”

Killingley also notes that the focus on healthy eating that has long permeated food culture has more recently been joined by growing attention to the topics of sustainability and mental health, which are folded into the new iteration of Big Cook, Little Cook. “The show is all about where food comes from, how it is made and all the positives of cooking together at home,” says Killingley.

According to Killingley, what most sets Big Cook, Little Cook apart from other kids’ programs out there is that it’s a “comedy cooking magazine show with a narrative.” Not only does it have an overarching story to draw viewers in, but it also features catchy songs, animation, slapstick comedy and trips outside the kitchen to locales around the U.K. “Most importantly,” says Killingley, “it has a recipe you can cook at home, which takes the show into your own kitchen. The series empowers our young viewers—adults are referred to as ‘grown-up helpers’—and encourages everyone to have a go at making something exciting.”

With Big Cook, Little Cook, viewers are treated to a magical setting with fantastical characters, but it’s the humor, says Killingley, “that pulls the audience in and brings them back for more—slapstick and joyous silliness. The storytelling of Big and Little Cook’s dilemmas in each episode also gives us a structure where anyone watching will want to see them triumph. Our catchphrases, songs, colorful graphics, unique recipes and animations give us regular moments throughout the show to look forward to.”

Killingley, a parent and former primary school teacher, is not unfamiliar with how attached kids can be to their screens. Though much is said about limiting screen time, the time that is spent on devices can be used to impart important lessons and provide a source of inspiration. “Who knows, maybe Big Cook, Little Cook will inspire a whole new generation of chefs—or at least some little ones who want to try new foods,” says Killingley. “We also aim for the storytelling in our series to promote emotional development, with tales of creativity, resilience and working together to achieve positive, shared outcomes.

“We hope Big Cook, Little Cook enables children and caregivers to learn new things about the food they eat, be confident in the kitchen, make a mess,” adds Killingley. “And most of all, get creative.”

Big Cook, Little Cook is produced by Dot To Dot Productions for CBeebies, which hosts recipes from the show on its website. Killingley is the founder and managing director at Dot To Dot.