Great British Menu 2021 release date: BBC Two series airs its grand final

It was a very formidable line-up this year, with all the contestants putting on a great show, but only one can be the winner and we will have found who that is in no time at all.

Great British menu 2021 final

As mentioned, the final takes place tonight, May 21st at 8pm on BBC Two.

As for who the contestants are that are left in the competition to try and be the overall winner, we have Alex Bond (starter), Roberta Hall-McCarron (fish course), Oli Marlow (main course) and Daniel McGeorge (dessert).

Which one will be the king or queen of the kitchen?

Great British Menu 2021 start date

Series 16(!) of Great British Menu began on Wednesday 24th March at 8pm on BBC2 and is also available on BBC iPlayer. Episodes air on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8pm, and Fridays at 8:30pm. The final airs tonight at 8pm on BBC Two.

Great British Menu chefs

To start with, here are the four contestants who have made it to the final.

Great British Menu finalists

• Alex Bond - Chef Patron at Alchemilla, Nottingham
• Roberta Hall-McCarron - Chef Patron at The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
• Oli Marlow - Executive Chef at Aulis and Roganic
• Dan McGeorge - Head Chef at Rothay Manor, Lake District

These four will be duking it out in the grand final, but only one can be named the overall winner.

Here is everyone that has competed in the show for 2021:

Liam Dillon

After falling in love with cooking after spending evenings with his nan, Liam Dillon has gone on to work at some of the best restaurants in the UK including Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley and Story by Tom Sellers London, and even a few outside including Quay in Sydney, Noma in Copenhagen, and at Eleven Madison Park in New York.

In 2017 he returned to his hometown of Lichfield as the owner of The Boat Inn, now Michelin recommended but also the only restaurant in Staffordshire to hold 3 AA rosettes. His menu pays homage to local Lichfield legends - including Samuel Johnson, who wrote the early Dictionary of the English language.

Sabrina Gidda

After finishing runner-up in the 2018 series, Wolverhampton-born Sabrina Gidda is surely looking to do one better this time. After offering to cook at her part-time cafe job, Gidda has since worked in the Dorchester and was a Roux Scholarship finalist twice in 2014 and 2015. Gidda is also Executive Chef at all women’s member’s club the AllBright, which has outposts in Mayfair, Fitzrovia, and even Los Angeles.

Gidda's menu combines her Punjabi heritage, British upbringing, and French and Italian influences for a truly international menu that celebrates scientists and inventions dear to her.

Shannon Johnson

Lincolnshire-born Shannon worked for three years at Murano under previous Great British Menu contestant Angela Hartnett, before becoming Head Chef at Hicce in London for Pip Lacey, who was starter course Banquet winner in 2017.

She certainly has the Great British Menu connections - and her own menu will be a modern British menu with a focus on woodfired cooking that will celebrate important women in science such as Rosalind Franklin.

Stuart Collins

Stuart Collins has worked for some of the biggest names in cooking, including Gary Rhodes, Michael Caines, and Gordon Ramsay. After several years working on restaurants in the US and Qatar, Stuart returned to Shropshire to open his own restaurant Docket No. 33, which has since become Michelin recommended and received a Michelin plate.

His menu will be of modern British style using regional produce and will pay tribute to a broad range of scientists from Stephen Hawking to Edgar Hooley, creator of tarmac.

The full line-up of chefs after the central region has also been announced, along with their restaurants:

London & South East

Kim Ratcharoen - Senior Sous Chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London

Oli Marlow - Executive Chef at Aulis and Roganic

Tony Parkin - Head Chef at Tony Parkin at the Tudor Room, Surrey

Ben Murphy - Head Chef at Launceston Place, London

South West

Jude Kereama - Chef Patron at Kota, and Kota Kai, Cornwall

Elly Wentworth - Head Chef at The Angel, Dartmouth

Nick Beardshaw - Head Chef at Kerridge's Bar & Grill

Nat Tallents - Executive Chef at The Box Kitchen & Bar, Plymouth

North West

Kirk Haworth - Chef Patron at Plates, London

Dan McGeorge - Head Chef at Rothay Manor, Lake District

Dave Critchley - Executive Chef at Lu Ban, Liverpool

Ashwani Rangta - Executive Chef at GupShup, Altrincham

North East

Alex Bond - Chef Patron at Alchemilla, Nottingham

Ruth Hansom - Head Chef at The Princess of Shoreditch, London

Tom Spencely - Head Chef at Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs, London

Gareth Bartram - Head Chef at Winteringham Fields, North Lincolnshire

Scotland

Roberta Hall-McCarron - Chef Patron at The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh

Amy Elles - Chef Patron at The Harbour Café, Fife

Stuart Ralston - Chef Patron at Aizle and Noto

Scott Smith - Chef Patron at Fhior, Edinburgh

Wales

Hywel Griffith - Chef Patron at Beach House Restaurant, The Gower

Nathan Davies - Chef Patron at SY23, Aberystwyth

Ali Borer - Head Chef at Nutbourne, London

Chris Cleghorn - Head Chef at The Olive Tree, Bath

Northern Ireland

Paul Cunningham - Head Chef and Director at Brunel's, Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Gemma Austin - Co-owner and Executive Chef at Alexander's, Holywood

Phelim O'Hagan - Head Chef at Browns Bonds Hill, Londonderry

Andy Scollick - Head Chef at The Boat House, Bangor, Northern Ireland

• For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.

Great British Menu judges

Oliver Peyton

Oliver Peyton is a renowned restauranteur and founder of cafe and restaurant service Peyton and Byrne, and was awarded an honourary OBE in 2012. He has been a judge on Great British Menu since it began all the way back in 2006, and has released two cookbooks: The National Cookbook: Recipes from the National Dining Rooms at the National Gallery and British Baking.

Matthew Fort

Food writer and critic Matthew Fort was the Food and Drink Editor of The Guardian for over ten years, and has also written for Esquire, The Observer, Country Living, Decanter, and Waitrose Food Illustrated. He has also written several books on gastronomy, and been awarded Glenfiddich Food Writer of the Year, Glenfiddich Restaurant Writer of the Year, and The Restaurateurs Association Food Writer of the Year.

Fort has also presented TV shows such as UKTV Food's Market Kitchen, and has been a judge on Great British Menu since the show's beginning.

Rachel Khoo

Rachel Khoo's breakthrough came through the BBC series The Little Paris Kitchen, which along with the cookbook of the same name brought critical and commercial acclaim. She has since released six bestselling cookbooks and toured the world making cookery shows for the BBC, Food Network UK, and other international broadcasters.

This will be her first year as a judge on Great British Menu, taking over from Andi Oliver who is now host.

Where is the Great British Menu filmed?

The show is filmed in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, in a specially built studio kitchen. The final banquet, however, will take place at a secret prestigious location - past banquets have been held at the Royal Albert Hall and Abbey Road Studios.

Bake Off: The Professionals starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, 25^th May at 8pm If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide. Visit our hub for more Entertainment news.