Last night saw the final of what has been a hugely disappointing third series of Raymond Blanc's 'The Restaurant'. They have shot their bolt, killed off what used to be one of BBC2's most popular programmes, for sure as eggs is eggs they have completely alienated the few viewers who managed to stick with this farce to the bitter end.
Who knows what sort of selection process the candidates went through but one thing is certain - it didn't necessitate any demonstration of cooking skills. Nor did it appear to require any evidence of business acumen, of budgeting or marketing ability, or in fact anything that might bear any resemblance to the premise of the previous two series.
No, it seems what they wanted this year was a concept and an aptitude for mixing cocktails. Yes that's right, cocktails. The winning couple, smarmy front-of-house man James and so-called chef JJ, whose 'picnic' concept must have been chosen because it allowed JJ to avoid the kitchen entirely, appear to have been pre-ordained, with a random selection of eight other couples added in as make-weights. Anyone who showed any signs of being able to cook or to run a restaurant must be got rid of early, leaving the way clear for the bar-stewards.
As a series 'The Restaurant' has gone from unmissable to unwatchable. Raymond Blanc, Sarah Willingham and David Moore should hang their heads in shame for having the gall to put their names to such a travesty. It remains to be seen whether their reputations can recover.
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