Cowell, Ramsay enter cook-off

Simon Cowell and the production company behind chef Gordon Ramsay’s cooking series have teamed up for a new daytime show to find the UK’s favourite recipe.

Food Glorious Food has been commissioned by UK commercial broadcaster ITV1, with Cowell’s Syco TV and Optomen Television onboard as coproduction partners.

The series will launch a nationwide search for Britain’s best-loved recipe and the story behind it. The winning cook will receive a £20,000 (US$31,000) prize, while their dish will also end up on the shelves of retail giant Marks & Spencer.

Entrants are being encouraged to send in a video of themselves and their recipe by way of an application for the chance to take part in regional heats. The winners will move into the semi-finals and then the final for the chance to win the grand prize. Further details about the series will be announced later this summer.

Optomen’s credits include Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, The F Word and the chef’s new US series Hotel Hell, while Syco has found international success with The X Factor and Got Talent formats.

Syco last month reshuffled its executive team, appointing a new global CEO and head of UK TV. All3Media-owned Optomen has also partnered with Ramsay to launch joint-venture production outfit One Potato Two Potato.