It seems like no time at all since the last series, but it's already time for a fresh edition of Great British Menu and we certainly aren't complaining.
An all-new series of the ultimate TV cookery show is set to hit screens at the end of January, providing a spark of light amidst a rather cold and gloomy winter. The good news is you can expect similar formats to last year, with familiar faces making a return, although there's been a few changes for 2025, including a new judge set to hit the screens in January. Whilst we don't currently know which chefs will be competing just yet, we'll be sure to bring you the latest news as soon it's announced.
Great British Menu has now been on our screens for 19 years (we know, we can't be that old either), with the first season having been screened in 2006, and over the years has been a springboard for some of the nation's now most successful chefs to go on to do some amazing things. Past contestants include Jason Atherton, Nathan Outlaw and Aktar Islam to name a few, and you can be sure that some of this year's competitors will go on to become equally as successful themselves. One of the things that we particularly love about Great British Menu is the fact that such a range of different chefs take part, so it's not unlikely that you'll have an experimental youngster competing against an established Michelin-starred head chef.
If you're as excited as we are about Great British Menu being back on our screens for a 20th series, you'll want to be in the know. So, we've answered all of your burning questions, from when it starts to who the contestants are. Watch this space - we'll be updating it regularly to keep you in the loop!
Everything you need to know about Great British Menu 2025
As another series gets ready to kick off, we can't wait to see what's in store for the hopeful chefs. We've tried to answer some of the biggest questions you might have below and will be regularly updating this page with the latest information.
When is Great British Menu on?
The start date for the first episode of Great British Menu hasn’t been announced yet. Last year, the show began on Tuesday 23 January at 8pm, so we can expect the series to begin in mid-to-late January.
We can also assume that the format will have remained roughly the same, with three one-hour episodes screened each week for the first eight weeks, and five episodes for the ninth week. Episodes of Great British Menu normally air on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with around 29 episodes in total.
What channel will Great British Menu be on?
Great British Menu will be broadcast on BBC Two.
Who are the Great British Menu chefs this year?
The contestants for this series of Great British Menu are yet to be announced, but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as they are announced.
Who won Great British Menu 2024?
The winner of Great British Menu 2024 was Kirk Haworth. Kirk is the chef and owner of planted based restaurant Plates, which opened earlier this year.
![The final of Great British Menu 2024]()
What is the theme of the new season in 2025?
The Great British Menu theme 2025 will celebrate 'Great Britons', with the chefs challenged to draw inspiration from important and influential people from their region.
Who are the new Great British Menu 2025 judges?
The judging panel is set to be a bit different this year. Whilst this new series will still feature Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, and comedian Ed Gamble (co-host of the Off-Menu podcast), restaurateur Nisha Katona will be leaving the series after a three year run.
Nisha is being replaced by Lorna McNee, the chef director at Cail Bruich and Scotland’s only female chef with a Michelin star. Lorna won Great British Menu back in 2018, stating that it ‘made a huge difference to my career as a chef and was partly behind me becoming Chef Director at Cail Bruich.’
The three will judge the regional finals and finals week, alongside a selection of guest judges who will have strong ties to each region.
Who is the Great British Menu presenter?
Andi Oliver will continue to host the Great British Menu for another year.
What is the format of Great British Menu 2025?
The format of Great British Menu is similar to previous series, with chefs from eight different regions of the UK taking part. Each week is dedicated to a different region with four chefs cooking innovative dishes, based on the brief, for a veteran judge who will score each course out of ten. The lowest scoring chef after the starters and main courses will leave the competition, and then another chef will leave after all four dishes have been cooked. The remaining two chefs will then cook all four of their dishes for the panel of judges, who will then decide which competitor has won the region.
In finals week the winners of all eight regions will then cook off one last time against each other in a last bid to win a place at the prestigious Great British Menu banquet, with the judges making the final decision.
Do Great British Menu chefs get paid?
GBM contestants aren't paid to take part in the show. In fact, the restaurants they represent have to supply a budget, although they more than make the money back in exposure we'd imagine.
Who are the Great British Menu 2025 veterans?
The BBC hasn't confirmed the full line-up of veteran judges for the 2025 series yet, but we imagine it'll be a combination of familiar faces such as Tom Aikens, Richard Corrigan, and Michael O'Hare, with some of last year's winners.
Fancy treating yourself to a top-notch meal cooked by the country's greatest chefs? Check out SquareMeal's Top 100 restaurants in the UK.