Channel 4 commissions The Taste

18 July 2013

The 10x60’ series, based on the US hit format, will see TV cook and bestselling author, Nigella Lawson and her fellow judges,  American chef Anthony Bourdain and French chef Ludo Lefebvre, battle it out to find the The Taste's first British winner.

Each week, Nigella and her fellow mentors will face a collision of fiery cookery challenges, blind-taste eliminations and simmering egos as the contestants battle it out to please the palates of the professionals with just one spoonful of food.  All tastings are blind so the pressure is on to make one small, but perfect, serving.

At the beginning of the series, twelve contestants will be selected and the mentors will form their teams of four. In each episode the teams will then face group and individual challenges before the final elimination, with the twist that as the taste test is blind a mentor could easily send home their own team member if their spoonful doesn’t deliver a taste sensation.

The Taste was commissioned by Channel 4 Head of Formats, Dominic Bird, and is set to air on Channel 4 in 2014. The series will be made by CPL Productions and executive produced by Murray Boland and Danielle Lux.

The Taste format was acquired from Red Arrow International. Originally commissioned by ABC, the popular U.S. version features famed foodies Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain and Ludo Lefebvre as the distinguished panel of judges on a quest to find America’s next super chef.
 
Dominic Bird said: “I’m thrilled that Nigella is returning to Channel 4 alongside Anthony and Ludo. The Taste promises to be a hugely exciting and compelling competition with stellar talent and exceptional cooking at its heart.”

Henrik Pabst, Senior Vice President Sales UK says: “Channel 4 is the home of top-notch cooking shows and ‘The Taste’ is the icing on the cake. It brings Nigella Lawson back to Channel 4, where audiences first fell in love with her.”

Channel 4 has also secured the rights to air the U.S. version of the show.

ENDS.

The Taste was originally commissioned by ABC in the U.S and Channel 4 have also secured the rights to air the U.S. version of the cooking competition show. Internationally The Taste has been commissioned for a second US series by ABC. Sales of “The Taste” include CTV in Canada, Australia’s Nine Network, Germany’s Sat.1 and M6 in France.

Created by Kinetic Content, Red Arrow's US production company, “The Taste” is executive-produced by Chris Coelen, Matilda Zoltowski, Emma Conway, Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson. Red Arrow’s CPL Productions will produce the UK version for Channel 4.

About “The Taste”:

The culinary show that goes back to basics: The Taste! Both home cooks and restaurateurs are given the opportunity of a lifetime, as they sharpen their skills and train with the best culinary experts in the business. The superstar mentors will each coach a team of cooks, who they hand pick based on their dishes alone. In each episode there are two challenges; a team challenge and an individual challenge. At the end of each show the mentors must decide together whom to eliminate.

About Channel 4

Channel 4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded, not-for-profit public service broadcaster and has a remit to be innovative, experimental and distinctive. Its public ownership and not-for-profit status ensure all profit generated by its commercial activity is directly reinvested back into the delivery of its public service remit. As a publisher-broadcaster, Channel 4 is also required to commission UK content from the independent production sector and currently works with over 400 creative companies across the UK every year. In addition to the main Channel 4 service, its portfolio includes: E4, More4, Film4, 4Music, 4seven, channel4.com, video-on-demand service 4oD and standalone digital projects.

About CPL Productions:

CPL Productions is an independent television and radio production company run by Danielle Lux (formerly Controller of Entertainment both at BBC and C4), Murray Boland (formerly Controller of E4 and MTV UK), Heather Hampson and Janet Oakes. Formerly Celador Productions, CPL produces a range of popular entertainment, comedy and factual entertainment formats from “A League Of Their Own” for Sky 1 HD and “All Star Mr & Mrs” and “Off Their Rockers” for ITV1 while also owning a rich back catalogue of formats. CPL also has a thriving radio division regularly creating and producing comedy, entertainment and drama, for Radio 2 and 4.

About Kinetic Content:

Santa Monica-based Kinetic Content focuses on creating and producing multiplatform, multigenre content for the global market.  Run by CEO Chris Coelen (“Secret Millionaire”, “Wife Swap”, “Don't Forget the Lyrics”), Kinetic is backed by Red Arrow Entertainment, a subsidiary of Europe's second-largest broadcasting group, ProSiebenSat.1 Media. Kinetic boasts exclusive programming ventures with UK broadcasters Channel 4 and STV, and is the American creative partner for companies from international format luminaries Charlie Parsons (creator of “Survivor”) and Dick de Rijk (creator of “Deal or No Deal”).

About Red Arrow International

Red Arrow International is a leading distributor with an extensive scripted, factual and format slate, guaranteeing a strong portfolio with programs by Red Arrow Entertainment Group and third party producers.

Red Arrow International has a unique expertise in packaging, co-financing and co-producing international drama, such as Netflix’ first original drama “Lilyhammer” and “Jo”, starring Jean Reno.

Red Arrow International boasts a strong track record in building format franchises like “Benidorm Bastards” with 25 local versions including NBC’s “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers”, and ABC’s “The Taste”.

Led by Jens Richter, Red Arrow International has a global reach with sales to over 150 territories and offices in Munich, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Red Arrow International is part of Red Arrow Entertainment Group, incorporating 17 TV production companies spanning 9 countries. Red Arrow Entertainment Group belongs to ProSiebenSat.1 Group, one of Europe’s leading media groups.