Our client, chef Dan Doherty has been announced as a member of the judging panel for the new BBC One show, Britain’s Best Cook, which is to air later in 2018.
As a TV chef, Dan has appeared as a presenter and guest on a number of popular programmes. Dan will be joining fellow judges, baking legend Mary Berry and presenter and greengrocer Chris Bavin, along with presenter Claudia Winkleman, over an eight-week event to find the best of ten home cooks from around the country. Dan is perfectly placed to judge the cooks on their knowledge of modern British cooking, thanks to his own experience in the field. He has also appeared on Saturday Kitchen on BBC One and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch in the past.
Dan has been working with us for a number of years. Together, Dan and Project Taste have launched Dan’s Sprout concept with a four-night event at Harvey Nichols in London. As his first standalone concept, the pop-up restaurant gave Dan the opportunity to create a menu of small and sharing plates to exhibit his creative takes of modern British cuisine and we were delighted to support him along the way. The project began in June 2017, and Dan has continued to host Sprout brunch and supper clubs in partnership with Harvey Nichols across the country, including in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. Dan hopes to turn Sprout into a standalone restaurant in the future.
Dan Doherty is also Chef Director at Duck & Waffle, which he opened as Executive Chef in 2012, followed by the opening of Duck & Waffle Local in 2017. He is an author and food writer, as well as a supporter of a number of charities. Dan is a patron of Learning for Life, who work with marginalised people in South Asia to help them access education, employment and healthcare. He is also an ambassador for Action Against Hunger, who are working to end child hunger worldwide.
Joining the other judges on Britain’s Best Cook is an exciting new step for Dan, in both his culinary and media career. Dan will be keeping an eye out for the kitchen talents contestants might be hiding, as well as looking out for creativity and innovation. Each of the judges has their strengths to offer to the programme. Dan’s knowledge and innovative outlook is sure to pair well with Mary Berry’s extensive experience with home cookery and Chris Bavin’s understanding of good family food. As a restaurant chef, he brings his own angle to the judging panel.
Speaking to the BBC, Dan enthused about the excitement and diversity currently available in modern British cuisine and particularly the range of influences that people utilise in their home cooking. He said: “It’s a pleasure to be judging alongside Mary and Chris, and I can’t wait to taste what our cooks come up with.”
Watch out for Dan Doherty, with Mary Berry, Chris Bavin, and Claudia Winkleman, on Britain’s Best Cook later in 2018, when it will be broadcast on BBC One. We’re excited to support Dan on this next step in his career as a TV chef.
