The Roux Scholarship on Watch

Watch
  • Successful Good Food format is supercharged to premiere on Watch

  • Good Food to broadcast new and exclusive 7 x 30' companion episodes

  • Brand new series stars unrivalled line up of chefs including Rick Stein, Raymond Blanc, James Martin and Angela Hartnett, plus Michel Roux, Albert, Michel Roux Jr, and Alain Roux

  • The winner takes a three-month apprenticeship at any 3 Michelin star restaurant in the world

The Roux Scholarship, described as ?the most credible food competition on television? will have a format boost as it travels up the EPG to Watch for its third programme with the network. UKTV ? owned by BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive ? has commissioned a 10 x 60' new and exclusive series from Cactus TV documenting every stage of the most entertaining, demanding and credible cooking competition in the world. Good Food will also broadcast new and exclusive 7 x 30' companion episodes.

The programme will provide an unmissable opportunity to join the legendary family and an incredible line-up of judges as they complete their annual search for a new culinary scholar, who they will develop into one of the UK's top chefs. The Roux Scholarship (working title) has been commissioned by UKTV's Director of Commissioning, Jane Rogerson and ordered by Controller, Emma Tennant and Steve Hornsey, General Manager for Watch.

With a renowned 30-year heritage, The Roux Scholarship has unparalleled credentials, history and integrity, with past winners achieving Michelin star status including Sat Bains (two stars), Andrew Fairlie (two stars), Steve Drake, Andre Garrett, Simon Hulstone, and Matthew Tomkinson. Viewers to Watch will be given a behind-the-scenes access all areas pass as the four main Roux family members - Michel Roux, Albert, Michel Roux Jr and Alain - are helped in their task by some of the most famous names in cooking; Raymond Blanc, Andrew Fairlie, Angela Hartnett, James Martin, David Nicholls, Rick Stein and Brian Turner.

With epic scale, the two week must-watch contest will be packed with real drama, tears and surprises as well as some of the most mouth-watering food to be dished up on British television. The shortlisted 18 contenders will be followed throughout, as they try their best to win the life-changing prize of a three month apprenticeship at any three star Michelin restaurant in the world.

UKTV's Jane Rogerson says: ?The Roux Scholarship is much more than a cooking show ? it is an opportunity to join the legendary Roux family and a stellar line-up of judges as they search for the UK's next culinary star, in the most challenging and high octane culinary competition on television.?

General Manager for Watch, Steve Hornsey adds: ?We're delighted to be teaming up with Cactus TV and the Roux family members for this truly extraordinary 10-part series. Not only will it showcase the phenomenal talent of the judging panel but Watch viewers will also have a ringside seat throughout this competition, which is unlike any other.?

Executive Producer, Amanda Ross from Cactus TV said: ?It is a privilege to be able to work with the whole Roux family again. We?ll be using the latest HD cameras, cranes, and great music to make this feel first-and-foremost like a must-watch entertainment event. This year's competition is momentous for the Roux family as this will be their 30th Roux scholar. The Roux?s will ensure the winner will go on to become one of the foremost talents in British cooking. We're delighted to be able to bring this combination of entertainment and high-end cuisine to Watch.?

Good Food will also be broadcasting 7 x 30' new companion episodes from the series and each recipe featured in the series will also be available on goodfoodchannel.co.uk to complement the growing database of more than 16,000 recipes already available.

The Roux Scholarship will be Produced by Chris Worthington and Dunk Barnes and Executive Produced by Amanda Ross from Cactus TV and overseen by UKTV's Senior Commissioning Editor, Catherine Catton.

For more information and interview opportunities with the judges or the finalists please contact:

Nicola Rowley, UKTV's Lifestyle Publicity Manager
020 7299 6271
Nicola.Rowley@uktv.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About Watch

Watch is an entertainment channel that promises to surprise with out of the ordinary programming. Premiering hit fantasy and science-fiction dramas such as Grimm, Alcatraz, Primeval New World and Sanctuary, it also showcases a selection of distinctive series like Dr Who, Torchwood and Paranormal Witness. Watch is the exclusive home of Dynamo Magician Impossible, an original commission from UKTV.

About UKTV

UKTV is a major industry player and one of the most important and successful multichannel providers in the UK. Formed in 1997, it is an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE: SNI).

Attracting over 41 million viewers each month, the network consists of 10 distinctive channel brands ? Watch, Gold, Dave, alibi, Yesterday, Blighty, Eden, Home, Really and Good Food ? offering a broad range of quality programming across entertainment, lifestyle and factual. UKTV currently operates 25 broadcast streams when its eight multiplexes and five HD channels are taken into account, and 11 highly successful websites. The network also runs video on demand (VOD) services on Sky and BT Vision and is part of TalkTalk on YouView. In addition, UKTV recently launched its own ?On Demand? services with Dave On Demand and Yesterday On Demand.

UKTV's successful programming strategy combines high profile original commissions and key acquisitions with quality content from the BBC.

All UKTV channels are distributed on Sky and Virgin Media. Dave, Really and Yesterday are also available on Freeview.