Jamie Oliver Launches New Culinary Competition

Jamie Oliver will search for the next big cookbook star in a new TV format for Channel 4 from his Jamie Oliver Productions banner and Plum Pictures.

The competition is open to food enthusiasts from a variety of backgrounds, including home cooks, unknown chefs, Instagram food-influencers and street food vendors. A book deal with Penguin Random House is up for grabs for the participant that has the recipe for success and a winning cookbook concept.

Oliver presents the series and will mentor the contestants, sharing his knowledge and experience to help develop their skills and passion for food. The aspiring cookbook authors from across the U.K. will pitch their cookbook ideas and signature dishes. A panel of experts will pick their favorites to return for the next part of the process, where the competitors will cook more dishes, hone their book concepts and see how well their recipes measure up to testers at home.

Oliver said: “I have been crafting cookbooks for over 20 years, and I know the dedication, skill and intuition it takes to create recipes people want to buy and try at home. Breaking into publishing is incredibly difficult—an impossible dream for so many amazing cooks out there—so I am just so excited to get out there and discover incredible new talent, new perspectives and new approaches to cooking and food. We know the talent is out there, and I’m thrilled to be able to help them fufill their potential.”

Clemency Green, commissioning editor for Channel 4, said: “We are a nation of cookbook enthusiasts and now we’re going to find a new star to enter the market. With such a massive prize on offer and so many different styles of cooking in the competition, this is going to be very exciting.”

Tim Hancock, commissioning editor for Channel 4, added: “Who better than to lead the search for the next cookbook star than Jamie Oliver, Britain’s best-selling non-fiction author? This series is going to introduce us to a range of amazing new food talent and is guaranteed to make you extremely hungry.”

Samantha Beddoes, executive producer at Jamie Oliver Productions, said: “This series will champion the talents of cooks from all over the country with a vast array of different experiences and dishes. Jamie’s passion and knowledge in coming up with new recipes, and for championing and nurturing people’s skills in the kitchen, means he’s the perfect person to help them through the process. It will be a delicious series to watch!”

Will Daws, executive producer for Plum Pictures, said: “With Michael Joseph publishing the winner’s book and Jamie Oliver supporting and guiding them, we’re anticipating an exciting and passionate series as our cooks compete for what is surely the ultimate culinary prize.”