Ready Steady Cook
Encyclopedia
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC
daytime TV cooking
programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton
from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef
Ainsley Harriott
became the new host. The duration of the programme was 45 minutes.
The programme was originally recorded in the small (and now closed) Fountain TV studios in New Malden
they then moved to the Capital Studios in Wandsworth
. After Capital Studios closed down in mid-2008, recording was moved to Studio TC2 in the BBC Television Centre
, London.
On 5 November 2010, it was announced that the show would not return for a new series. No new episodes will be produced, but repeats of the show will continue to be broadcast.
s with a bag of ingredients they have bought, usually to a set budget of £5. The two teams are designated "red tomato" and "green pepper" (referred to as "red kitchen" and "green kitchen" after the August 2007 revamp, though the tomato and pepper motifs still feature on the guests' aprons, and in the show's logo). Occasionally, the permitted budget is increased: a so-called Bistro Bag allows for ingredients of up to £7.50, while, the Gourmet Bag may have a value of up to £10. On some occasions, they have used a £3.50 Budget Bag. Also on a few shows, a Lucky Dip Bag was used. It contained ten food items. The chef with closed eyes picked out half of the items at the beginning. At the halfway mark, the chef randomly picked a sixth item. The sixth item could help or hinder the chef. The chefs have no prior knowledge of the ingredients they will have to prepare. Another format used was used on occasion where both kitchens were given the same ingredients, and who had first pick was chosen by a red and green dice.
In more recent times, there have been more celebrity guests than members of the general public.
. Naming of the dishes continues to take place.
The creations are voted on by the studio audience, who hold up a card showing either a red tomato or green pepper to represent each of the teams. The winner received a cash prize of £100, which celebrity guests donate to charity (an example the regular guests will sometimes follow) but this was changed to a plate towards the end of the series. The runner-up used to receive a hamper which included a variety of items, such as a set of knives, pasta and sauces, olive oil
and balsamic vinegar
but now receives a Ready Steady Cook mug due to budget restraints.
became presenter, extending the programme from 30 to 45 minutes. The contents of the quickie bag used to be decided on by the series producer and a home economist
. Their decision was based on produce that is currently in season or unusual ingredients that haven't featured on the show recently.
In late August 2007, the quickie bag changed format with the bag being brought in by an organisation, company or public member who challenge the chefs to prepare the dish.
The two chefs each get a chance to describe what they would cook using the bag of ingredients. The audience members vote for which chef they would most like to see cook. The winner then has 10 minutes to prepare the described dishes, with the help of the other chef and the host. The hectic preparation of the chosen chef's suggested dishes often includes a slight element of chaos and ad-libbing along the way. A viewer's question relating to a cooking problem is usually put to the chefs, further adding to the pressure upon them to complete their dishes in the time allowed.
Budget Bag - Similar to the Classic Bag but the ingredients may only cost up to £3.50.
Bistro Bag - Ingredients worth £7.50.
Gourmet Bag - Worth £10.
Doubling Up Bag - Both contestants bring in the same ingredients. The host uses a coin or dice with a Green Pepper and Red Tomato on to decide which chef will decide what to do with the ingredients first. The other chef must do something different.
Forfeit Bag - The chefs must have a card at random with a forfeit on which prohibits their use of a certain storecupboard ingredient such as No Fresh Herbs, No Spices, No Citrus or No Wine.
Gamble Bag - The chefs are presented with three mystery ingredients and are given the opportunity to swap one of their ingredients with one of these mystery ingredients. They do not have to swap but if they do, they cannot change their minds once the new ingredient is revealed.
Lucky Dip - The Chefs are presented with a bag of ten items from which they must pick five at random. After 10 minutes have passed, they then choose a sixth ingredient, which depending on what the chef has started cooking, can help or hinder them.
*Specials
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
daytime TV cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton
Fern Britton
Fern Britton is an English television presenter, known as the former main co-presenter on the ITV magazine programme This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield. She left the show on 17 July 2009, her 52nd birthday.- Early life :...
from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
Ainsley Harriott
Ainsley Harriott
Ainsley Harriott is a British celebrity chef and television presenter.-Early career:Trained at Westminster College of Catering, Ainsley obtained an apprenticeship at Verrey's restaurant in the West End and later worked as a commis chef...
became the new host. The duration of the programme was 45 minutes.
The programme was originally recorded in the small (and now closed) Fountain TV studios in New Malden
New Malden
New Malden is a town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated from Charing Cross...
they then moved to the Capital Studios in Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
. After Capital Studios closed down in mid-2008, recording was moved to Studio TC2 in the BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
, London.
On 5 November 2010, it was announced that the show would not return for a new series. No new episodes will be produced, but repeats of the show will continue to be broadcast.
Ingredients
There used to be two members of the public, but now it is always celebrities, provide two celebrity chefCelebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
s with a bag of ingredients they have bought, usually to a set budget of £5. The two teams are designated "red tomato" and "green pepper" (referred to as "red kitchen" and "green kitchen" after the August 2007 revamp, though the tomato and pepper motifs still feature on the guests' aprons, and in the show's logo). Occasionally, the permitted budget is increased: a so-called Bistro Bag allows for ingredients of up to £7.50, while, the Gourmet Bag may have a value of up to £10. On some occasions, they have used a £3.50 Budget Bag. Also on a few shows, a Lucky Dip Bag was used. It contained ten food items. The chef with closed eyes picked out half of the items at the beginning. At the halfway mark, the chef randomly picked a sixth item. The sixth item could help or hinder the chef. The chefs have no prior knowledge of the ingredients they will have to prepare. Another format used was used on occasion where both kitchens were given the same ingredients, and who had first pick was chosen by a red and green dice.
In more recent times, there have been more celebrity guests than members of the general public.
The Main Course
The chefs proceed to make several dishes out of the said ingredients (and a generously stocked kitchen containing basic ingredients and spices), in 20 minutes, with the help of the contestants and the programme host. As the contestants taste the prepared dishes, the host asks the chef some questions about the food. Prior to the September 2006 programme season it was customary for the chefs to name their dishes, which usually included a punPun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
. Naming of the dishes continues to take place.
The creations are voted on by the studio audience, who hold up a card showing either a red tomato or green pepper to represent each of the teams. The winner received a cash prize of £100, which celebrity guests donate to charity (an example the regular guests will sometimes follow) but this was changed to a plate towards the end of the series. The runner-up used to receive a hamper which included a variety of items, such as a set of knives, pasta and sauces, olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
and balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a condiment originating from Italy.The original traditional product , made from a reduction of cooked white Trebbiano grape juice and not a vinegar in the usual sense, has been made in Modena and Reggio Emilia since the Middle Ages: the production of the balsamic vinegar is...
but now receives a Ready Steady Cook mug due to budget restraints.
Quickie bag
The quickie bag section of the show then follows. This was introduced in 2000, the same year Ainsley HarriottAinsley Harriott
Ainsley Harriott is a British celebrity chef and television presenter.-Early career:Trained at Westminster College of Catering, Ainsley obtained an apprenticeship at Verrey's restaurant in the West End and later worked as a commis chef...
became presenter, extending the programme from 30 to 45 minutes. The contents of the quickie bag used to be decided on by the series producer and a home economist
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
. Their decision was based on produce that is currently in season or unusual ingredients that haven't featured on the show recently.
In late August 2007, the quickie bag changed format with the bag being brought in by an organisation, company or public member who challenge the chefs to prepare the dish.
The two chefs each get a chance to describe what they would cook using the bag of ingredients. The audience members vote for which chef they would most like to see cook. The winner then has 10 minutes to prepare the described dishes, with the help of the other chef and the host. The hectic preparation of the chosen chef's suggested dishes often includes a slight element of chaos and ad-libbing along the way. A viewer's question relating to a cooking problem is usually put to the chefs, further adding to the pressure upon them to complete their dishes in the time allowed.
Featured chefs
- Gino D'AcampoGino D'AcampoGennaro "Gino" D'Acampo is an Italian chef, television personality and winner of ITV's 2009 series of I'm a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here. D'Acampo lives in the United Kingdom.-Early life:...
- Patrick Anthony
- Ed BainesEd BainesEdward "Ed" Baines is an English chef best known for being a judge on Britain's Best Dish and for being an alternate chef on Sunday Feast with Paul Merrett...
- Michael BarryMichael BarryMichael Barry was a British television producer and executive, who was an important early influence on BBC television drama...
- Ross BurdenRoss BurdenRoss Burden is a celebrity chef from New Zealand.Ross Burden's early career was as a model but became a chef later in life. His inspiration for being a chef was his mother's extremely bad cooking skills, which meant that he spent a lot of time cooking with his grandmother.Ross was brought up in...
- Richard CawleyRichard CawleyRichard Cawley is an English food writer, chef and fashion designer.-Biography:Cawley was born in the Yorkshire market town of Doncaster...
- Garrey DawsonGarrey DawsonGarrey Dawson is a British chef who has appeared on television in the BBC programme Ready Steady Cook.-Career:Dawson started his career at . Since then he has worked at Cliveden Hotel & Spa and at Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck restaurant, where he helped Blumenthal make the restaurant a 3...
- Ben O'DonoghueBen O'DonoghueBen O'Donoghue is an Australian chef and television personality. Currently he is one of the hosts and contestants of The Best in Australia airing on LifeStyle Food.-Early years:...
- Maria Elia
- Mark Gregory
- Ainsley Harriot (Presenter from 2000-2010)
- Valentina Harris
- Alastair Little
- Alex Mackay
- James MartinJames Martin (chef)James Martin , is an English cook who first appeared on television in 1996.-Television career:...
- Nick NairnNick NairnNick Nairn is a Scottish celebrity chef.- Work :Nick Nairn is a chef, food consultant, television personality and spokesperson on diet, healthy eating and Scottish produce. Nick started his working life in the Merchant Navy, and having tasted food from all corners of the world, returned home to...
- Richard Phillips
- Thane Prince
- Paul RankinPaul RankinPaul Rankin is a Scottish born, Northern Irish celebrity chef from Ballywalter, County Down, Northern Ireland. Born in Glasgow, Scotland his parents moved back to Ballywater, where he grew up. This was stated when he was the subject of an episode of a short programme named Proud Parents on Channel...
- Silvena RoweSilvena RoweSilvena Rowe is a British chef, food writer, television personality and restaurateur.-Biography:Rowe was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria to a Bulgarian mother and a Turkish father. Rowe's father, who was a newspaper editor of the largest Bulgarian newspaper, Bulgarianised his name due to Bulgaria's...
- James TannerJames TannerJames Tanner is a British chef and television personality. He currently appears on the BBC cookery programme Ready Steady Cook.-Early life:...
- Tony TobinTony TobinTony Tobin is a celebrity chef who has been a regular on the BBC food show Ready Steady Cook since 1995. His other notable British TV appearances were as the presenter of the 13-part series Spice World and The Green Gourmet on the Carlton Food Channel...
- Brian TurnerBrian Turner (chef)Brian Turner CBE is a British chef, based in London. He has appeared as a cook on BBC2's Ready Steady Cook since 1994 as well as presenting other cookery programmes.-Career:...
- Phil VickeryPhil Vickery (chef)Philip Vickery is an English celebrity chef.-Biography:Vickery followed Gary Rhodes as Head Chef of the Castle Hotel, Taunton, which at the time held a Michelin Star. It lost its Michelin status under Vickery, but retained its 4 AA rosettes, while he gained the AA Chef of the Year...
- Lesley WatersLesley WatersLesley Waters is an English celebrity chef. She regularly appears on such cookery programmes as Ready Steady Cook, and is currently one of the featured chefs on This Morning....
- Philip Westwick
- Kevin WoodfordKevin WoodfordKevin Woodford, BA , MHCIMA, Cert ED is a Manx celebrity chef, actor, television presenter, businessman, hotelier and former restaurateur.-Career:...
- Anthony Worrall Thompson
Variations on the Format
Classic Bag - The original format where the contestant brings in a bag of ingredients costing up to £5.Budget Bag - Similar to the Classic Bag but the ingredients may only cost up to £3.50.
Bistro Bag - Ingredients worth £7.50.
Gourmet Bag - Worth £10.
Doubling Up Bag - Both contestants bring in the same ingredients. The host uses a coin or dice with a Green Pepper and Red Tomato on to decide which chef will decide what to do with the ingredients first. The other chef must do something different.
Forfeit Bag - The chefs must have a card at random with a forfeit on which prohibits their use of a certain storecupboard ingredient such as No Fresh Herbs, No Spices, No Citrus or No Wine.
Gamble Bag - The chefs are presented with three mystery ingredients and are given the opportunity to swap one of their ingredients with one of these mystery ingredients. They do not have to swap but if they do, they cannot change their minds once the new ingredient is revealed.
Lucky Dip - The Chefs are presented with a bag of ten items from which they must pick five at random. After 10 minutes have passed, they then choose a sixth ingredient, which depending on what the chef has started cooking, can help or hinder them.
Transmissions
| Series No. | Total Episodes | Date Started | Date Finished |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | 24 October 1994 | 23 December 1994 |
| 2 | 69 | 9 January 1995 | 2 June 1995 |
| 3 | 115 | 16 October 1995 | 17 June 1997 |
| 4 | 142 | 2 September 1996 | 19 June 1997 |
| 5 | 136 | 20 August 1997 | 15 June 1998 |
| 6 | 109 | 7 September 1998 | 12 July 1999 |
| 7 | 108 | 6 September 1999 | 30 May 2000 |
| 8 | 65 | 14 August 2000 | 5 January 2001 |
| 9 | 65 | 22 January 2001 | 30 July 2001 |
| 10 | 55 | 3 September 2001 | 21 December 2001 |
| 11 | 47 | 21 January 2002 | 28 May 2002 |
| 12 | 65 | 12 August 2002 | 20 December 2002 |
| 13 | 43 | 13 January 2003 | 6 May 2003 |
| 14 | 65 | 18 August 2003 | 23 December 2003 |
| 15 | 59 | 2 January 2004 | 26 May 2004 |
| 16 | 123 | 31 August 2004 | 10 May 2005 |
| 17 | 120 | 5 September 2005 | 10 May 2006 |
| 18 | 123 | 18 September 2006 | 20 April 2007 |
| 19 | 120 | 27 August 2007 | 16 July 2008 |
| 20 | 48 | 6 October 2008 | 15 June 2009 |
| 21 | 35 | 24 November 2009 | 2 February 2010 |
*Specials
- Children in Need: 20 November 1998
- Happy Birthday: 2 editions: 12-13 February 2002
- Daytime Celebrity Christmas Specials: 7 editions: 27 December 2002 - 3 January 2003
- Daytime Celebrity Christmas Specials: 5 editions: 26 December 2003 - 31 December 2003
- 10th Birthday Specials: 5 editions: 25 October 2004 -29 October 2004
- Christmas Special: 23 December 2004
- Sports Relief Special: 12 July 2006
- Celebrity Series
See also
- Ready.. Set... Cook!Ready.. Set... Cook!Ready.. Set... Cook! was a cooking game show that debuted on the Food Network in the US on October 2, 1995. The show's format was based upon the UK series Ready Steady Cook, and originally hosted by television personality Robin Young.-Hosts:...
- US Television series - Ready Steady CookReady Steady Cook (Australian TV series)Ready Steady Cook is a twice Logie Award-nominated Australian cookery competition show that airs on the Ten Network. It is based on the original Ready Steady Cook series broadcast by the BBC. The format is owned by Endemol....
- Australian Television series - La Prova Del Cuoco - Italian version of these series
- Kochduell - German TV series
External links
- Ready Steady Cook at BFI
- Celebrity Ready Steady Cook at BFI