When Is Great British Menu 2026 On TV?
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The ultimate cooking competition is back for series 21
The BBC’s Great British Menu has been running for 20 years, yet it remains one of the most popular cooking shows on TV. And we have some good news for fans: it’s returning to our screens in 2026 – complete with a fresh new line-up of 32 chefs from across Britain and Northern Ireland. The format will be the same as usual (albeit with a new theme, more on that below): each week, four culinary figures from a specific region of the UK are tasked with cooking a dish to a brief, which is then judged by a panel of experts. All this culminates in a high-stakes finale, where the eight regional winners battle it out in the hopes of being crowned champion of champions. Read on for everything we know about series 21.
Great British Menu 2026: Theme, Chefs, Judges
What Is The Theme?
Each series of Great British Menu has a theme, all focused on celebrating different aspects of British culture through food. Last year, for instance, it was Great Britons to tie in with the show’s 20th anniversary, spotlighting key figures from British history, while the 2024 series celebrated the Olympics and Paralympics.
For 2026, the theme is movies, and we’re told to expect dishes inspired by the likes of James Bond, Wallace and Gromit, Harry Potter and Notting Hill. The finale, meanwhile, will see the chefs cooking up a banquet for a panel of titans from Britain’s movie industry, held this year at St George’s Hall in Liverpool – which film buffs will know as Gotham City Hall in Batman. Liverpool is a fitting location, too, being the UK’s most filmed city (aside from London) as well as home to the oldest film office in Europe.
Who Are The 2026 Judges?
Long-standing judges Tom Kerridge and Lorna McNee – both of whom previously won the competition – will be returning as judges, but this series Phil Wang will be taking over from podcaster Ed Gamble. Wang is a comedian, actor and writer, and a regular face on British TV, starring in the likes of Would I Lie To You? and Taskmaster. However, he’s also an avid foodie. ‘I’m thrilled about this opportunity to taste food from the most creative and skilled chefs in the country,’ he said. ‘Can’t wait to put decades of practice to work and put my mouth where my mouth is.’ He’s no stranger to the Great British Menu family either, having been a guest judge on the show for series 16.
BBC / Optomen Television / Kate Hollingsworth
‘I can think of no better person to pass the golden spoon to than my dear friend and frequent dining companion Phil Wang,’ said Gamble. ‘He is hilarious, great company and crucially, matches my appetite more than anyone else I’ve met. I’ll miss everyone on the team but I know they’ll forget about me as soon as they start chomping with the Wang.’
The trio of judges will be joined by Andi Oliver, who will return to present the show for the sixth year running.
Who Are The Previous Winners?
Scooping up the prestigious Champion of Champions title for 2025 was Amber Francis, who earned her stripes at top kitchens like The Ritz London and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons before taking up the position of head chef at North London school Christ’s College. ‘I really hope that appearing as a school chef will promote more open conversation about the importance of school food for children as well as the depth of talent within the public catering sector,’ she told C&TH. ‘Food plays a central role in our lives and it should be treated with as much emphasis on education as many other subjects. Young people deserve to have access to good food, regardless of their background, as well as education to understand where food comes from, how to feed yourself, how to cook food and how to budget for meals to set them up for a positive future.’
BBC / Optomen Television Limited / Kate Hollingsworth
The 2024 winner, meanwhile, was Kirk Haworth, founder of the UK’s first vegan Michelin-starred restaurant, Plates.
Other winners have included:
- 2023 – Adam Handling
- 2022 – Spencer Metzger
- 2021 – Dan McGeorge
- 2020 – Niall Keating
Release Date
We haven’t yet got a release date for Great British Menu series 21, but the BBC has confirmed it will return to our screens at some point in 2026 – and if previous years are anything to go by, it will be in the first couple of months of the year. The 2025 series began on 25 January 2025, with three episodes streaming each week for eight weeks, followed by five episodes in the ninth and final weeks.
In the meantime, you can watch season 20 on BBC iPlayer now.
