Great British Menu: Everything you need to know about the return of Great British Menu

This year's theme is the Wimbledon Championships and it's making for some inventive dishes...

Great British Menu is back on our screens with a new intake of talented chefs from all corners of the country, and a new judge to replace Bake Off's Prue Leith.

The show, now on its 12th series, challenges 24 of the nation's top chefs to create exceptional dishes that are fit to be served at a prestigious event according to the season's theme.

Last year, contestants competed for a chance to cook their dishes for a royal banquet held in the House of Commons' Members' Dining Room.

This year's series of Great British Menu is celebrating 140 years of the Wimbledon Championships, the prestigious grand slam tournament. The winning chefs will be serving their dishes at this year's banquet, held in the shadow of Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

The brief is 'A Taste Of Summer', and their creations should reflect the tastes, smells and colours of everyone's favourite season, as well as pay homage to the incredible history of the Wimbledon Championships.

Every episode, three chefs will compete to impress a guest judge and, if they make it through, move on to the Friday regional final.

Who are the Great British Menu judges?

Image:BBC

Andi Oliver, Oliver Peyton and Matthew Fort are this year's judge

This season of Great British Menu sees two of last year's judges returning, and a new addition to the team - Andi Oliver. Here's a little bit more about each of them...

Andi Oliver Andi has replaced Prue Leith, who's moved on to Channel 4 as the new judge of Great British Bake Off. She's a restaurateur and food broadcaster, who's previously hosted BBC Two, Neneh & Andi Dish It Up. She's also appeared as a judge on ITV's Food Glorious Food.

Oliver Peyton Founder of Peyton and Byrne, Oliver is a renowned restaurateur and has been awarded an OBE for his services to the hospitality industry. He's also published two cookbooks: The National Cookbook: Recipes from the National Dining Rooms at the National Gallery (2009) and British Baking (2012).

Matthew Fort Matthew, a highly regarded food writer and critic is also back for this season of the Great British Menu. Matthew is known for his firm but fair critiquing style and has featured as a judge on previous series of the show.

Who are the Great British Menu guest judges?

Judges and chefs will be joined by a host of guest judges every episode. This year's guest judges are all connected to the theme - Wimbledon - and include Gordon Reid MBE, current Men's Wheelchair Champion; Leon Smith, former coach of Andy Murray and Davis Cup Captain Annabel Croft; and previous British No.1 and Wimbledon royalty Sue Barker and Tim Henman.

Who are the chefs on Great British Menu?

Image:BBC

Three chefs will compete every week for a chance to win the show every episode, by region.

London and South East Selin Kiazim, Oklava, London Tom Kemble, Bonhams, London Mike Reid, M Restaurants, London

South West Tom Brown, Outlaw's at the Capital, London Dominic Chapman, The Beehive, Berkshire Andy Clatworthy, formerly at Brigstow Bar and Kitchen, Bristol (now at 108 Restaurant, Copenhagen)

North West Ellis Barrie, The Marram Grass, Isle of Anglesey Paul Askew, The Art School, Liverpool Tom Parker, The White Swan, Lancashire

North East Tommy Banks, The Black Swan at Oldstead, North Yorkshire Josh Overington, Le Cochon Aveugle, York Danny Parker, House Of Tides, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Scotland Michael Bremner, 64 Degrees, Brighton Ally McGrath, Osso, Peebles Angela Malik, caterer for private clients, London

Wales Phil Carmichael, Berners Tavern, London Nick Brodie, Llangoed Hall, Brecon Paul Croasdale, Alyn Williams at the Westbury, London

Central Pip Lacey, Murano, London Ryan Simpson, Orwells, Oxfordshire Nick Deverell-Smith, The Churchill Arms, Gloucestershire

Northern Ireland Tommy Heaney, The Great House, South Wales Eddie Attwell, St Kyrans, County Cavan Joery Castel, formerly at The Boat House, Bangor (now at Saphyre Restaurant, Belfast)

What recipes will the chefs be making?

Image:BBC

The Wimbledon-inspired recipes the chefs will be making on the show are likely to include plenty of strawberry desserts - Wimbledon (and British summer's) official fruit - like a dessert called Ladies Dressed in White, which includes marinated strawberries and strawberry sorbet, meringue and strawberry champagne and jelly.

The chefs will also be cooking summery savoury treats with a sophisticated touch - like the Queue-cumber, a dish made up of compressed cucumber and watermelon with spiced bacon dukkah and mint sauce, lemon puree and pickled cucumber & shallots.

When is Great British Menu on?

Great British Menu is on Monday to Friday at 7.30pm, on BBC2.

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