Ready Steady Cook

Two teams, the Red Tomatoes and the Green Peppers, are pushed to the limits of their culinary abilities. Each comprises a member of the public and a famous chef facing a daunting challenge - can they produce a meal containing several irresistible dishes from a bag of random groceries amounting to just seven euros? And they've got only 20 minutes to deliver.

From the moment the audience shouts ‘Ready, Steady, Cook' both teams are locked in a frantic race against the clock. There's still room, though, for a dash of humour and a sprinkling of caustic wit. Even a spoonful of friendly banter.

The chefs may be top of the range, but the kitchen utensils and ingredients are not. In no time at all, the meals are ready for the audience's inspection, and their verdict on the winning dish.

The contestants assisting the chefs come in pairs (parents and children, siblings, friends, couples) and are likely to be confined to the simpler tasks: chopping, whisking, frying. While the contestants choose the contents of the grocery bag and provide an additional dynamic in the kitchen, the main focus is on the chefs. The nature of the competition brings a certain level of ego and competitive spirit into the mix: every chef is keen to be judged the creator of the most appealing food, and they all want to be seen as inventive, accomplished and graceful under pressure. It all boils down to the audience who have to decide which team created the most irresistible dish.