Who won Britain’s Best Home Cook in 2018 and what was the prize?
BRITAIN’S Best Home Cook is returning for a second series tonight after the success it enjoyed in 2018.
But can you remember who claimed victory in the first season? Here’s everything you need to know about the first winner.
Who won Britain’s Best Home Cook?
While it was a close call, Pippa Middlehurst was crowned the winner on June 14, 2018.
The contestants took part in three challenges – a technical and tricky summer picnic favourite, a dish made from chicken and mushrooms, and their best main course and pudding.
The dishes cooked included a Thai curry and beef Wellington.
Pippa whipped up an ox cheek massaman curry with grilled prawn and a Thai herb salad, opting for a mango and raspberry cake for dessert.
She took on the risk of closely replicating one of Mary Berry’s own recipes and it certainly seemed to work in her favour.
Who were the Britain’s Best Home Cook finalists?
Dipa Jakhu
Dipa is a mother and civil servant from Wolverhampton.
She was 44 when she took part in the show and revealed she became interested in cooking from an early age and was already whipping up curries by the age of 11.
She lives with her husband and three children, aged 18, 13, and three, who all love her homemade dishes.
Dipa sailed through the quarter-finals thanks to her spectacular Indian celebration sharing feast, when she was also rewarded with the title of that week’s best cook.
Philip Friend
Philip Friend, 48, is from Guildford, Surrey.
He’s been a maths teacher for almost 30 years and lives with his partner Simon and their cat Pippin.
Apart from cooking, his hobbies include crime fiction, musical theatre and the series Golden Girls.
His ideal three course meal would be prawn cocktail, a roast with all the trimmings and a black forest gateau.
Pippa Middlehurst
Pippa Middlehurst, 28, is from Salford.
She is an oncology research biobank assistant by day and “obsessed Asian food enthusiast” by night.
During her time on the show she really impressed the judges, especially with her spicy pan-fried red gurnard which Mary Berry described as a “delightful dish”.
What does the winner of Britain’s Best Home Cook get?
Nothing – apart from the glory and basking in the praise of Mary Berry of course.
The show’s terms and conditions state “No prize or reward (cash or otherwise) will be awarded to the competition winner for participation in the programme.”
Britain’s Best Home Cook ran for eight weeks and although it received mixed reviews, viewers have given it positive feedback.
The show marked Mary Berry’s return to TV after she quit The Great British Bake Off in 2016 when it moved to Channel 4.
When does the new series of Britain’s Best Home Cook start?
Season two of Britain’s Best Home Cook will launch on BBC One tonight (January 2, 2020) at 8pm.
The show will then air at the same time every week.
If you miss an episode, you can catch up via BBC iPlayer.
Angela Hartnett is joining the judging panel alongside Mary Berry and Chris Bavin.
The show will be once again hosted by Claudia Winkleman.