Nisha Katona joins all new judging panel of Great British Menu 2022

We are delighted that Great British Menu (GBM) is returning to our screens on 1st February 2022 for series 17. The BBC Two show puts the nation’s most talented chefs to the test. It will air weekly, Tuesdays to Thursdays, 8pm on BBC Two for eight weeks.  Finals week will start on 28th March, with the banquet on 1st April.  This year GBM has had its most significant re-vamp with a brand new panel of judges.

Joining the new judging panel in 2022 is one of the UK’s most successful food entrepreneurs, Nisha Katona, founder of the Mowgli Street Food group of restaurants and founder of the Mowgli Trust charity.

Nisha said “What’s fantastic about the Great British Menu is it’s not just a competition about food. It is about the very best chefs in the country, creating not just extraordinary dishes, but these real flights of fantasy. I know that having watched it in the past, these people pour their hearts into what they do and it’s just a complete privilege to taste that.”

This year’s theme celebrates 100 Years of Great British Broadcasting. In 1922 the BBC took to the airwaves with a radio broadcast, which was the beginning of a remarkable change in British cultural life.

Andi Oliver will be returning as presenter. She said “I feel really proud to be able to support our chefs and help guide them through the competition. Being able to be there to help them cope with how challenging the competition can be, and watch them develop their dishes – and their mental and culinary agility – is a sight to behold. It’s something extraordinary to see.”

The competing chefs are all trying to win the honour of representing their nation or region during the finals episodes and then competing for the ultimate accolade, that of cooking a dish at a once in a lifetime banquet at Alexandra Palace, in North London.  Ally Pally has historical ties to many of the landmark events in British Broadcasting and is a fitting location for the final episode which will be attended by famous faces from all genres of television and radio.

Last year we were delighted to interview all of the women chefs taking part in Great British Menu 2021 and this year we are doing the same.  Keep an eye on this page and our social media for updates each week.

We look forward to talking to all of the female contestants on the show. We’ll discover what inspired their dishes and what it’s like working under the pressure of an unfamiliar kitchen with a TV crew filming their every move.

In the meantime you  can  catch up with our  interviews with the following amazing women who appeared on Great British Menu in 2021 –  Roberta Hall of The Little Chartroom who reached the banquet,  Ruth Hansom  of The Princess of Shoreditch, Amy Elles of the Harbour Cafe,  Sabrina Gidda formerly of Allbright, Shannon Johnson of Hicce, Kim Ratcharoen of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Nat Tallents of Food by Nat Tallents, Gemma Austin of Alexanders and co, and  Elly Wentworth of the Angel, Dartmouth. They all performed amazingly and did their regions proud.

UPDATE – we’ll be uploading our interviews with the women who are appearing on Great British Menu 2022 here.

Sally Abe representing the Central Region on Great British Menu 2022

Caroline Martins representing the North West on Great British Menu 2022

Liz Cottam representing the North East on Great British Menu 2022

Olivia Barry representing the South West on Great British Menu 2022

Nat Tallents representing the South West on Great British Menu 2022

Charlotte Vincent representing the South West on Great British Menu 2022

Elly Wentworth representing the South West on Great British Menu 2022

Gemma Austin representing Northern Ireland on Great British Menu 2022