The Rise of the Rockstar Chef, which will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year, charts how the three chefs helped redefine fine dining during the ‘Cool Britannia’ era, transforming both the perception of chefs and the UK’s restaurant scene.
Made by Studio Ramsay Global, the series will feature candid interviews with White, Ramsay and Blumenthal alongside contributions from food critics, maîtres d’ and former commis chefs who witnessed the rivalries and feuds.
The series will culminate in an on-screen reunion, bringing the three chefs together for the first time in decades to reflect on the defining moments of their careers and the ‘legacy of an era that transformed British dining.’
“Decades ago, Marco, Gordon and Heston ripped up the rule-book of British fine dining and changed the world of restaurants forever,” says Catherine Catton, head of commissioning for factual entertainment and events at the BBC.
“I’m delighted they’re reuniting to bring BBC audiences the truly extraordinary story behind their fierce rivalry, uncompromising ambition and, at times, truly outrageous antics.”
The trio have been among the most influential chefs in the UK over the past three decades and have each brought something unique to the UK’s dining scene. All three chefs have won three Michelin stars at one of their restaurants and all have gone on to build restaurant empires as well as create and endorse consumer products.
“Nineties and noughties nostalgia is at an all-time high for both those of us who were there and those that weren’t - the heady mix of an uprising in fashion, politics and music makes it a decade like no other,” says Lisa Edwards, chief creative officer and executive producer at Studio Ramsay Global.
“But there was another rock and roll revolution happening in the UK.
“It was the decade that really put British food on the map, led by the original Rock Star Chefs, Marco, Gordon and Heston.
“It’s the story of rivalry and the pursuit of perfection where the real heat was not just in the kitchen!”