Can't Cook, Won't Cook

*Can't Cook, Won't Cook*
Can't Cook, Won't Cook
Genre	Cooking show
Presented by	Ainsley Harriott; Kevin Woodford; Lesley Waters; Richard Cawley; Tony Tobin
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	685
Production
Running time	25 minutes
Production company	Bazal Midlands
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	20 November 1995 –; 7 July 2000

Can't Cook, Won't Cook is a British cooking show that was broadcast on BBC1 on weekday mornings usually after the Breakfast News from 20 November 1995 to 7 July 2000.

Format

Two people, one of whom can't cook and one of whom won't cook were nominated to appear on the show and under the instruction of a celebrity/world class chef prepare and cook a meal. When the dish was cooked, the nominator would be blindfolded and asked to taste the food. Following this, they would decide whose dish was best. In the event of a tie, the aforementioned chef would decide.

Then once the winner has been decided the walls of the studio open up to reveal a prize (usually a food blender or set of saucepans).

Chefs

Over the years the programme featured several different host chefs, most predominantly Ainsley Harriott on a Monday and Friday and Kevin Woodford on a Tuesday and Thursday. Other chefs such as Lesley Waters, Richard Cawley and Tony Tobin would present on the Wednesday.

Can't Smeg, Won't Smeg

File:Cantsmeg.jpg

One special episode aired under the name "Can't Smeg, Won't Smeg" as part of the 10th anniversary of the Red Dwarf series; this can be seen on the Series IV DVD. The Red Dwarf cast participated in the show entirely in character. Ainsley Harriott, the host chef for the episode, had previously performed a small role in the Red Dwarf episode Emohawk: Polymorph II. Lister and Kryten face off against Rimmer and Duane Dibbley as the host of Can't Cook, Won't Cook teaches the teams how to cook a curry with Kristine Kochanski as taste test judge. The show was won by Rimmer and Duane.

Production

The series was filmed at Pebble Mill Studios, Birmingham in Studio A and Studio C. The programme was produced by Bazal Midlands and distributed by Endemol UK. The producers hired facilities from then BBC Resources, and were commissioned by BBC 1 Daytime who at the time were controlled by BBC Birmingham in coordination with Network BBC1.

Merchandise

There have been several cookbooks based on the series written and a board game based on the series made.

External links

Can't Cook, Won't Cook at IMDb
Can't Cook, Won't Cook at BFI
Can't Cook, Won't Cook at UKGameshows.com