Market Kitchen

Lore & Background

Market Kitchen was created by Optomen and first aired on the Good Food channel in 2007. Its initial series was filmed in a customized kitchen located in Borough Market, with presenters including Rachel Allen, Amanda Lamb, Matt Tebbutt, Tom Parker Bowles, Matthew Fort, and Tana Ramsay. The programme emphasizes seasonal cooking and incorporates trips to local markets to source ingredients. In 2009, it absorbed the Local Food Hero competition, which had previously aired as its own series on UKTV Food. The show also planned to feature the winner of a competition to find Britain's best pudding, launched by Christopher Biggins in April 2010. A spin-off, Market Kitchen's: Big Adventure, aired in 2010 on Good Food, co-presented by Penny Smith and Matt Tebbutt for its fourth season, which began on 18 October 2010 and consisted of 125 episodes.

Reader's Guide

Market Kitchen occupies a contested place in British food television history. The programme replaced the critically acclaimed Great Food Live on UKTV Food, a decision that drew sharp criticism. The Evening Standard described the show as 'disastrously misguided,' citing hasty production, over-exposed location cameras, poor editing, a London-centric approach, and negative viewer feedback. The Western Daily Press echoed this, calling it a 'crass successor' to Great Food Live. However, the show also received praise: Graeme Blundell of The Australian called it 'entertaining, informative, interactive and presented by highly literate foodies,' while Keith Austin of The Sydney Morning Herald found it 'approachable' and 'least up itself,' noting its comforting mix of recipes, tastings, and celebrity chefs. Its legacy is thus one of polarizing reception, reflecting broader debates about the direction of food programming on UKTV.

Did You Know?

• The first series was presented from a customized kitchen in Borough Market.
• In 2009, the programme incorporated the Local Food Hero competition, which had previously had its own series on UKTV Food.
• The fourth season, Market Kitchen: Big Adventure, co-presented by Penny Smith and Matt Tebbutt, began airing on 18 October 2010 and had 125 episodes.
• A competition to find Britain's best pudding, launched by Christopher Biggins in April 2010, was to feature its winner on the programme.