TV Shows in the U.K.

[Tempest63]

I am unfamiliar with the situation in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world, but here in the U.K. the “stand & stir” TV shows are dying out on mainstream TV, such as the BBC, who have commissioned zero cooking shows this year.

Commissions for such shows are down by 44% across the board in a year and whilst some of the chefs/cooks/hosts are taking it graciously (Nigella Lawson for instance) others are not (I won’t name the biggest whinger).

 

Some cooking shows are booming but these are not being produced by the traditional production companies. Instead, they are appearing on the likes of Instagram and Tic Toc.

 

Cooking shows which once filled our screens, morning, noon and night, are now persona non grata.

 

[Shel_B]

@Tempest63  What is a "stand and stir" cooking show? Can you provide any examples?

[Tempest63]

It is the name given to the host standing up and stirring the pot as they speak, I.e. cooking on tv. Nigella Lawson is a prime example, Jamie Oliver etc.

[liuzhou]

This is very misleading. One type of cooking show is out of favour. Reality television food shows are still as popular.

 

The Great British Bake off a BBC show is very popular and heading into its 17th series  in 2026. 

 

The UK Masterchef (the original) is still going strong on its 18th season, again on BBC, despite recent scandals when two presenters were fired for inappropriate behaviour.

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by liuzhou (log)

[KennethT]

Here in the US, instructional cooking shows on the Food Network have gone the way of music videos on MTV.  It's all competition shows now.  There may be some "dump and stir" shows still on during daytime on weekdays, but definitely not primetime for a longtime.

 

I think PBS still shows some instructional shows - or at least they used to the last time I watched broadcast TV - but who knows long PBS will last for nowadays...

[rotuts]

PBS cooking shows 

 

ATK , Cook's Country , Lidia's kitchen , Pati's Mexican

 

are $$$  streams for the company that makes them .

 

quite some time ago , I noted that PBS cooking shows had less time cooking //30 min

 

than FoodNetwork.   Ads for PBS , ads for the cooking shows products , etc.

 

I have no idea if PBS paid anything for them , as it was a win // win  financially for each party.

 

One particular show on PBS some time ago , was clearly given to PBS for free.

 

it featured a long time prominent ' style ' personage , and PBS was glad to get something for free

 

in spite of the personalities felony conviction .

 

they did place the show early in the cooking show ' day ' , saving the Meat and Potatoes 

 

for a more Prime cooking time :  Saturday afternoons , USA

Edited 19 minutes ago by rotuts (log)

[weinoo]

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

  It's all competition shows now. 

 

Right - that's exactly what "reality" cooking shows are as well - they don't teach anyone how to cook, which is what the OP is referring to.

 

As for "shows" on TikTok or Instagram, they're for a  totally different audience with a much shorter attention span. And fewer brain cells.

[rotuts]

A favorite of mine , Jamie Oliver , seems to still be going strong.

 

' Eat yourself Health '  is current .  Ive learned a great deal from him , over many years.

 

Tom Kerridge also has ( fairly ) current show , ' Pub ' and a travel show to Spain.

 

he points out clearly and early , the Spain show is sponsored by M&S. but there is 50 % cooking along w travel.

 

in terms of competition shows 

 

Great British Menu , an exceptional show early on for several seasons ,

 

now seems to be pretty much about props , not food so much.  Ive given up on them several years ago