‘It offers hope & Possibility'

Jamie Oliver tells TV Times about his search to find Britain’s next big thing in cookbooks

- REBECCA FLETCHER

THE GREAT COOKBOOK CHALLENGE

NEW MONDAY / C4 / 8PM / EP 1 of 7 / COOKERY

Jamie Oliver has a confession to make. ‘I’ll be honest with you, I have a massive dislike for cookery competition shows,’ he says, as he joins TV Times to tell us about his new, um, cookery competition show.

What doesn’t he like about them?

‘They’re designed to create drama and trauma, and I’ve never liked that,’ he says. ‘When it comes near me, it frightens me because it’s not real.

‘My new series, The Great Cookbook Challenge, is the opposite of that. It’s a heartfelt, soulful show about a dream – have you got a book in you?’

In the seven-part C4 contest, Jamie’s on a mission to find the next big name in cookery. A book deal with Penguin Michael Joseph is up for grabs, with foodies from all walks of life pitching their cookbook idea and showcasing their recipes in the hope of securing the ultimate culinary prize.

Louise Moore, Jamie’s publisher and MD of Penguin Michael Joseph, food critic Jimi Famurewa and cookbook author Georgina Hayden will decide who has what it takes to create a bestseller.

Meanwhile, Jamie will take on the role of mentor – which he should be pretty good at given that he’s produced 25 cookbooks over the course of his career.

Here, Jamie, 46, reveals why he thinks his latest project is a recipe for success…

Did you really just say you dislike TV cookery contests?!