Kitchen Impossible cast celebrate C4's Year of Disability

27 April 2016

Last night (Tuesday 26th April) Channel 4 hosted an event at the Houses of Parliament to celebrate the broadcasters’ Year of Disability. Over 60 MPs, Peers and Ministers attended the event, including the Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson MP.

The cast of Kitchen Impossible and Michelin star chef Michel Roux Jr helped to prepare and serve the dinner in collaboration with the Houses of Commons Catering Services Team. The evening ended with a speech from Michel congratulating his former trainees and stressing the importance of ensuring disabled people have the opportunity to work.

In January Channel 4 announced that in the build up to the Rio Paralympic Games, 2016 will be the broadcaster’s Year of Disability. This involves major new commitments to increase representation of disabled people both on and off-screen, and investing £300,000 in new talent initiatives.  

Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham said: “With less than half of all disabled people in work compared to 80% of non-disabled people it is clear more needs to be done to raise awareness around this issue.

“Highlighting issues such as this is a priority for Channel 4 and I am immensely proud of programmes like Kitchen Impossible as well as the work we are doing in this Paralympic year to make sure disabled people are represented both on and off-screen.”

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson MP said: “We’re doing all we can to support people into work and unlock the potential of disabled people. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see Channel 4 embracing this ethos and helping to change perceptions of those with a disability.”

Executive Chef at the House of Commons Mark Hill said: “It was a pleasure for the House of Commons Catering Service to work alongside the young trainees of Channel 4’s Kitchen impossible.

“With no formal introductions, the trainees worked tirelessly to deliver an impeccable three-course meal during a busy evening at the House of Commons. A job well done I would have said!”

Kitchen Impossible with Michel Roux Jr launched in October 2015 and saw eight out-of-work people with disabilities train with Michel for an intensive four week introduction to the catering industry.

As a result of the programme, six out of the eight cast members – all of whom had previously been unable to find work in the restaurant industry – were offered a paid job in catering or hospitality. Five of them continue to work there six months later, while the sixth decided go back to college for further catering training.

74% of viewers felt that they were shown a view of disability that they had never seen before on TV whilst 68% agreed that the programme positively changed their perceptions of those with a disability. Kitchen Impossible also inspired change among disabled viewers that are currently not working, with eight in ten stating that the programme had given them the confidence to apply for jobs or had inspired them to consider a new path of employment.

Finally, 70% of viewers in a position to employ someone stated that the programme positively changed their perceptions of those with a disability, while 83% said it made them think about the challenges facing those with a disability in a different way.