World's first 'TV Dinners for U' restaurant opens in London to mark the launch of new free streaming service, U

• Average Brit spends four and a half years watching TV in their lifetime, with 208 dinners eaten in front of the television annually
• Half of all evening meals now eaten in front of the TV screen, the equivalent of over 208 million TV dinners a week
• World's first TV dinners restaurant set to open in response to study findings, using food science to enhance viewing experience
• UKTV's free streaming platform U, with 8,500 hours of content, has created the pop-up eatery which promises to elevate the 'TV dining' experience by pairing food with curated TV shows available on U

Tuesday 2 July 2024

The world's first 'TV Dinners for U' restaurant is opening in London in a fortnight, providing guests with the ultimate TV dinner experience - scientifically pairing food with a curated list of TV shows available on new free streaming service, U, to suit every taste.

The experience was created off the back of research, which revealed that Britain is officially a nation of TV addicts - with three and a half weeks a year spent in front of the telly, the equivalent of four and a half years across an average adult's lifetime.

What's more, over half (57%) of all evening meals are eaten whilst watching our favourite shows.

A quarter (27%) of respondents who took part in a study of 2,000 adults admitted they eat a meal in front of the TV every single day, with the average person watching an hour and 40 minutes of television daily.

U, the new free streaming service from UKTV, which launches on 16th July, has teamed up with food scientist Dr Stuart Farrimond to curate a menu of dishes to enhance the viewing experience of new and well-loved shows that are available on the service.

Guests can choose a number of shows to watch including brand new entertainment show, Battle in the Box, based on a hit Korean format, which sees pairs of comics and celebrities battle it out for pride, prizes and most importantly, floorspace.

Food science expert Dr Stuart Farrimond began by identifying five genres available on U and spent multiple hours and tested dozens of recipes and possible flavour combinations to perfect the menu.

Dr Stuart Farrimond's findings include:

• Factual & Real Life - with calming foods that aid clear thinking

• Entertainment & Comedy - a mood-boosting menu for sharing

• Action-adventure Shows - intense flavours for added excitement

• Comforting Classics - comforting foods that feel familiar

• Crime Drama - food to evoke intrigue and concentration

The restaurant will provide guests with a specially curated menu, informed by science, to enhance and elevate the TV viewing and dining experience. Once diners have selected their U show of choice, they'll be invited to pop in their headphones and settle in to enjoy their 'TV dinner'.

Dr Stuart Farrimond, Food Science Expert, said:

The fact that TV dinners were invented in the 1950s is testament to how, for as long as televisions have been in our homes, we have eaten in front of them. The combination of good food and a great TV show offers an immersive escape and a multisensory experience that Brits love to enjoy. By applying the latest flavour science research to the selection of TV shows available on the free streaming platform U, I have devised meals that, whether you're watching a comforting classic or edge-of-your-seat crime drama, are designed to intensify and enhance the TV viewing experience.

Penny Brough, Chief Marketing Officer, UKTV said:

We're a self-confessed nation of TV addicts, who love nothing more than watching our favourite shows during dinner. With our 'TV Dinners For U' restaurant, we're taking this moment of enjoyment to the next level, combining U's extraordinary range of free quality content with a science enhanced food menu to create a truly unique, and first of its kind, immersive dining-viewing experience. After all, great quality television that people truly love deserves great food.

The research also showed that when it comes to TV dining habits, a whopping 95% of Brits admit to having eaten dinner in front of the telly. Even the beloved Sunday roast is susceptible to being eaten in front of the box, with more than a third (36%) of Brits admitting to having done so at least once in the past year whilst one in five (19%) admit to watching TV during their Christmas dinner!

Changing viewing habits mean that the TV dinner isn't always on the sofa, almost half (49%) will try and catch TV on their phone or tablet wherever they're eating, if they cannot get in front of the TV. More than half (51%) of those polled believe watching TV pairs well with eating dinner, and with three in ten (30%) Brits inspired to adapt their dinner to what they're watching on TV, the TV Dinners restaurant will offer a menu of dishes curated to pair perfectly with the programmes available on U.

According to the study, the top dilemmas when making telly choices include; the mood we're in when watching (52%), the length of the programme (47%) and the genre of the show (47%). Over three-quarters (77%) of Brits admit to re-watching a favourite show, some of us as many as five times.

From fact-hounds and car enthusiasts to armchair sleuths and reality TV junkies, U will be home to almost 8,500 hours of free content, comprising of new programming, exclusive shows, award-winning originals, and iconic programmes from the BBC.

U's TV Dinners restaurant will be open to the public on Wednesday 17th July 2024 in London's Holborn and is available to book for free here

Location: 300 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7JH Dates: Wednesday 17th July 2024 Times: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Tickets: Free, limited tickets available on Eventbrite

Alongside viewer favourites and popular back-catalogue hits such as The Bill and Classic EastEnders, audiences will be able to enjoy new programming around launch, including; brand new original comedy reality gameshow Battle in the Box, hosted by Jimmy Carr, the second series of crime drama Whitstable Pearl, series one to seven of Sons of Anarchy starring Charlie Hunnam and Orlando Bloom: To the Edge which follows actor and adventure enthusiast, Orlando Bloom on a physical, mental and spiritual journey of self-discovery as he undertakes three extreme sports.

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For more information, please contact: Charlotte Scott, Ben Duncan

Notes to Editors:

The survey of 2,000 Brits was conducted by Onepoll in June 2024 on behalf of UKTV Statistics worked out as follows:

Lifetime of watching TV

99.57 mins of TV a day

99.57 mins x 7 = 696.99 mins of TV a week

11.6 hours of TV a week

696.99 mins x 52 weeks = 36,243 mins of TV a year

604.05 hours of TV a year

25.17 days of TV a year

25.17 days / 7 = 3.6 weeks of TV a year

Average lifespan = 81 years* (-18 to ensure adults only = 63 years)

25.17 days x 63 years = 1,585.7 days watching TV in their lifetime

1,585.7 days / 30.41 days in a month = 52.14 months watching TV in their lifetime

52.14 months / 12 months in a year = 4.34 years watching TV in their lifetime

*ONS life expectancy UK

On average 208.6 million TV dinners eaten weekly

52,172,991 - UK adult population (ONS)

UK adult population x 4 TV dinners = 208.6 million TV dinners eaten a week
TV Dinners eaten in a lifetime

According to research - an average of 208 dinners eaten in front of TV a year - 208 x 63 (adult life expectancy) = 13,104

About U

U is UKTV's free streaming service, providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels - U&Dave, U&DRAMA U&W and U&YESTERDAY. Viewers can browse 8,500 hours of programming - including exclusive content, award-winning originals, premiere acquisitions and iconic BBC programmes across drama, (Whitstable Pearl, Marlow Murder Club, Annika, Sister Boniface Mysteries, Sons of Anarchy, Mike, Madam Secretary, A Million Little Things, The Shield, The Bill, Classic EastEnders, Holby City plus upcoming series in 2025 such as Bergerac and Outrageous), comedy (Meet the Richardsons, Red Dwarf, Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, We Are Not Alone, Rosie Jones's Comedy Disability Extravaganza), entertainment (Battle in the Box, Big Zuu's Big Eats, David Mitchell's Outsiders, QI, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, World's Most Dangerous Roads), and factual entertainment (Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, MasterChef Australia, Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Secrets of the London Underground, Bangers & Cash, Orlanda Bloom: To The Edge). U is available through the U app via computer, tablet or smart phone, or on television with Freeview Play, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, NOW and Roku. u.co.uk

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, Gold, Alibi and Eden - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama,?and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and?to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW.? Channel & content availability varies by platform. ?UKTV's content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on?Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.