CHEF AHOY

Posted on 12/04/2015

A new television series described as an energetic travel and cooking programme will be starting in 2016. . But ‘Battlechef’, which will be set on the cruise ship Britannia promises more than cooking skills on the high waters. One can expect a healthy dose of completion among five contestants. And we know what happens when there are too many chefs in the kitchen.

There are two episodes in the works taking place on two Mediterranean cruises on the P&O vessel. Each competition will feature five celebrity chefs who take turns being the head chef, preparing meals for the captain and his VIP guests on board and in port. What’s more, they get to instruct the other contestants in the kitchen. The competitors are from various industries and are said to have some culinary credentials.

Among the contestants are Alex James, bassist from Blur who has a background in cheese making. Susannah Constantine is a fashion journalist known to enjoy a robust duck shoot. And Keith Duffy, an Irish entertainer (singer-songwriter with Boyzone, cast of Coronation Street) whose foodie background was as yet undetermined. The competitions will be judged by P&O Cruise chef Marco Pierre White. Both episodes will feature the ports of call and information about their local dishes and food production.

Christopher Edgington, the cruise lines’ marketing director said "All these celebrities were chosen for their foodie credentials and we hope they will be back to run cooking classes in the Cookery Club. This is a really good way to showcase dining and travel."