I have to admit I had no idea what this show was when I first started watching it. I know for a fact that it’s a very popular show on ABC in America, but how would the jolly old English version play out instead?

Well it’s basically the same. It’s the same three judges, and the contestants basically speak in English accents, and there isn’t an annoying ABC logo in the bottom right corner of the screen.

But actually, in all seriousness, it’s really rather good. I’ve read it described as “Masterchef meets The Voice“, and they are right in The Guardian, like they usually are (I’m not just saying that cause I’ve written for them a few times, promise, ha, hahahah, ha ha ha).

The format of the show follows blind tasting of just huge spoonfuls of food. There’s also hilarity to be had in how unbelievably French Ludo Lefebvre is.

It remains to be seen how successful and watchable the rest of the series is, but because it’s not a daily onslaught like Masterchef always is (hours and hours of competition on BBC One per week), it makes it much more tolerable.

Plus it’s got Nigella Lawson in, and I can’t spend any time with her on screen without thinking of this Not Safe For Work YouTube clip featuring rather dodgy Nigella moments exquisitely edited together (seriously the video really is quite explicit, don’t watch if you’re easily offended by sexual phrases).

Overall, it’s all on 4oD so far (and probably will be available forever due to Channel 4’s fantastic catch up policy), watch an episode when you can, it’s really rather enjoyable.