A new cooking show is set to launch on the BBC next year.

Mary Berry

Mary Berry

The broadcasting channel only lost the rights to their hit series 'Great British Bake Off' to rival Channel 4 five weeks ago, but it seems bosses are wasting no time finding a replacement as they've decided to commission a new culinary programme with the working title 'The Big Family Cooking Challenge' for the beginning of 2017.

BBC's Acting Head of Formats and Features, Donna Clark, said: "I'm thrilled to be taking food competitions in a different direction. A passion for food starts in the family kitchen and this format will take us into homes up and down the country, where we'll meet Britain's most passionate and exciting families of cooks."

The upcoming series will follow a number of families from different generations as they go head-to-head to be crowned the nation's best home chefs.

Across the series, a group of judges will visit the homes of the contestants to sample their mouth-watering menus and whittle down the participants in a bid to find the best dish.

Following the backlash of the 'GBBO's move, it's hoped the new 12 60-minute episodes will bring the "feel good" factor and "warmth" back to our screens.

Although the finer details about the show are being kept tightly under wraps for the time being, there are hopes Mary Berry will judge on the series as she recently announced she was quitting the 'GBBO' following six years out of "loyalty" to the BBC.

The 81-year-old culinary queen's decision came just days after the show's hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc also revealed they were turning their backs on the series.

A source said recently: "We've got three of the fab four staying with us. We're thrilled. The chances of us reuniting Mary, Mel and Sue are very high."

However, not everyone is staying with the BBC as Mary's co-judge Paul Hollywood has decided to follow the show over to Channel 4 when it makes its switch later this year.


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