EXCLUSIVE: “Somebody as soon as mentioned the quickest approach to perceive the Brits is by watching episodes of Come Dine With Me,” says the collection editor behind the beloved UK format, which turned 20 final month.
Henry Hainault, who has labored on greater than 1000 episodes of Channel 4’s food-cum-relationships-cum-lifestyle present, says Come Dine With Me celebrates British variety in all its types. “I believe as a result of we go to so many areas across the nation it offers you a very good perception,” he provides. “We don’t get into politics as a result of that may be fairly divisive so it’s extra a case of overlaying as a lot of the nation as doable. It’s a snapshot.”
Ramping issues up a bit, Dave Lamb, who has narrated virtually each single one of many circa-2,500 Come Dine With Me UK episodes, compares the present to Danny Boyle’s memorable London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. “Nobody was left behind,” he provides. “That is Britain. Take a look at all of its facets.”
Lamb and Hainault converse with Deadline because the ITV Studios property, which has offered to 49 territories up to now, turns 20. Produced by MultiStory Media, the collection sees 5 strangers go to one another’s properties over 5 consecutive nights for a slap-up meal, as they price one another on meals and leisure, with the winner taking house a money prize on the finish of the week.
Throughout practically 2,500 eps, the British model has filmed in 10,604 cities and cities. Hottest dishes embrace cheesecake, potato dauphinoise and rooster wrapped in parma ham/bacon. Gammon cooked in Fanta, bacon roly poly with cheese custard, squirrel pâté and Irn Bru soup are simply among the strangest. Lamb counts a person who served sushi on the naked chest of one other particular person as his weirdest second, together with a contestant’s pet snake defecating on a desk, whereas Hainault remembers a number who watered down everybody’s wine glass when he realized he had run out of crimson.
The present has grown over time to achieve near cult standing and has landed many a global remake alongside the best way. Daytime eps are beloved by college students throughout the nation (as this writer can attest) however Hainault says the thought has all the time been to attraction to one and all.
“We’re not focusing on any demographic particularly,” he says. “I don’t assume there are lots of exhibits left that may be considered household viewing, however [Come Dine With Me] is one thing for everybody. I do know college students adore it however that’s extra unintentional scheduling than anything.”
“There’s nothing to be gained by being horrible”
‘Come Dine With Me’
As narrator, Lamb, who has appeared in Goodness, Gracious, Me and Horrible Histories but hardly ever does press, has acquired plaudits down the years for on-point commentary, witty quips and pleasant tone, and he’s considered one of few narrators left voicing British codecs.
“Channel 4 had made a pilot and mentioned they wished to attempt one thing a bit extra experimental,” he says, reminiscent of first touchdown the gig in 2004. “I believed I’d do three or 4 eps and perhaps that will be that however it become one thing a bit longer. The primary audition we performed it straight and it has grown organically over time.”
Lamb says the small manufacturing staff have honed his function and are a well-oiled machine, including within the narration in direction of the tip of filming and giving him lots area to ad-lib and crack jokes.
Bar a quick interval the place he was treating the voiceover like a “mad loopy shout fest,” Lamb says he’s ceaselessly cognisant of the necessity to make the viewers snort whereas not insulting or patronizing contestants.
“I get involved typically that it’s poking enjoyable,” he provides. “But it surely’s mild teasing. The folks on this present are such a various vary of characters and mad patchwork of personalities who come collectively. I take into account myself virtually sitting subsequent to them whereas on the identical time sitting on the couch with the viewer. There’s nothing to be gained by being horrible or pillorying folks.”
The format is reasonable to make and has barely been altered over time however it has moved with the occasions. The 20-year interval has seen the appearance of social media and with that the introduction of the viral second, and Come Dine With Me has landed a good few. Nobody will neglect the notorious “reversing dump truck” sore loser in a rush, the person who put a whisk in his mouth or the girl who used oven gloves to stir her ‘stir loin steak’ and chips.
These moments are natural, Hainault stress, though he factors to a TikTok influencer from a latest episode who “may need been barely extra acutely aware by way of viral moments.” “In the end we nonetheless try to search out 5 those that wouldn’t usually have dinner collectively,” provides Hainault. “And a few have develop into extremely good associates. We all know of people that met on Come Dine With Me and 10, 15 years later they’re assembly each different month.”
Worldwide resurgence
With a low worth level and easy-to-sell idea, it’s no surprise Come Dine With Me stays considered one of ITV Studios’ hottest properties.
Tom Clark, ITVS’ EVP International Gross sales & Industrial Technique, tells Deadline the present “faucets into our pure human need to peek behind closed doorways into the lives of others, however with the extra issue of the stress of internet hosting a profitable ceremonial dinner for full strangers.”
He says totally different territories retain the “core DNA” of the hit however tailor it for native audiences. For instance, whereas the unique UK model “displays a snapshot of society,” some newer markets dive straight in for the celeb model, which has carried out nicely in territories like Latin America the place it airs on streamer Max.
Come Dine With Me has seen one thing of a global resurgence of late, promoting to the Netherlands and Belgium together with spin-offs in Mexico, though touchdown a success within the U.S. nonetheless evades ITV Studios. Variations have aired on each TLC and Lifetime however neither actually took off within the vein of English-language success tales like Australia or Canada. “Come Dine With Me is a good human curiosity present with common attraction so we’re persevering with to search for methods to develop the format for the U.S. market as a part of our on-going improvement slate,” says ITV America boss David George.
The present can be on sale at this week’s London TV Screenings. In its house nation, the present’s narrator sees no motive why it may possibly’t hold going and going.
“Twenty extra years of shouting at meals will do me very properly,” concludes Lamb, with all of the grace of a reversing dump truck with none tyres on.
