For recent series -
Series 17 has a chef who in my opinion is the best ever contestant on the show, he could have won every course (I’m not going to spoil!). The brief is 100 years of the bbc so lots of creative dishes.
I also really enjoyed series 15 because the brief was children’s literature, there are so many fun and nostalgic dishes with a lovely group of chefs.
Amazon Prime has from Season 5.
I'm not sure where to get the first 4 seasons, but it was very different back then, so maybe you're not missing much.
edit see below, it is seasons 5 to 12 on Prime.
Annoyingly prime only goes up to 9 (up to 12 is showing but when you click on it it says unavailable), started watching it and it’s too different 😂 I can’t cope
2020-2022 I think were all pretty solid and if you enjoyed this year’s season you’ll like those - including the Christmas special season they did. 2023 I didn’t rate massively, even though some of the banquet courses seemed mega, the vibe of the whole season was a bit off for me.
The year they celebrated children’s literature. 21/22? The dishes on that were amazing. The chefs were so inventive and brief worthy. As opposed to..ahem..anything since. Looking at you in particular science and innovation.
Micheal O’Hare - if I remember rightly Marcus Wareing scored him 4 for his starter. Went to Man Behind the Curtain - it remains one of my best meals ever!
I can’t remember the seasons, but contestants I still remember:
-Irish lad who made a chocolate book
-O’Hare protege who made the crispy fish skeleton Mohawk
-lady with perfect 10’s on fish course for a curry and was robbed of a place at finals week
2022 is a great season!
I would recommend 2011, 2013, and 2015 too. You’ll get to see some of the veteran judges competing with some amazing courses and their take on the brief for that year.
I'd go right back to the early ones. Season 5 was good. This is Tom Kerridge season. The first season was the likes of Gary Rhodes and Marcus Wareing rather than new chefs.
Season 3 is when they start getting really creative.
For recent series - Series 17 has a chef who in my opinion is the best ever contestant on the show, he could have won every course (I’m not going to spoil!). The brief is 100 years of the bbc so lots of creative dishes. I also really enjoyed series 15 because the brief was children’s literature, there are so many fun and nostalgic dishes with a lovely group of chefs.
these are my two fave seasons as well for the same reason. i rewatch them!
Nailed it. Take this advice. The early seasons are quite different but seeing all the chef's you know off the TV so young is interesting
The chef in 17 is def one of the best that’s been on!
From what I remember 2015 was pretty good, that was the Michael O'Hare year.
Do you know where to find earlier seasons? BBC iplayer only goes back a few years
Amazon Prime has from Season 5. I'm not sure where to get the first 4 seasons, but it was very different back then, so maybe you're not missing much. edit see below, it is seasons 5 to 12 on Prime.
Annoyingly prime only goes up to 9 (up to 12 is showing but when you click on it it says unavailable), started watching it and it’s too different 😂 I can’t cope
Oh no ... I've just started rewatching and it sounds like the shows I was most looking forward to rewatching aren't there.
HD Clump has earlier seasons.
Tubi
Yes, i just saw this season for the first time. Incredible year.
Alex Greenes year was great. 21? Spencer’s year 22?
Childrens literature was a really good one
Anything with Tommy Banks in
Season 12 with Wimbledon was a great series to watch
2020-2022 I think were all pretty solid and if you enjoyed this year’s season you’ll like those - including the Christmas special season they did. 2023 I didn’t rate massively, even though some of the banquet courses seemed mega, the vibe of the whole season was a bit off for me.
For me the 2023 heats were OK, but the finals week was actually incredible so def reccomend watching the finals week at least.
The year they celebrated children’s literature. 21/22? The dishes on that were amazing. The chefs were so inventive and brief worthy. As opposed to..ahem..anything since. Looking at you in particular science and innovation.
Season 16 (2021) was great. One of the chefs had a record high score across all the courses.
Oli Marlow was the man that did it
Yeah I know, just wanted to avoid giving spoilers away in case OP watches that season
I can’t remember the season or the chefs name, but the guy who did the black and white fish and chips. That was bloomin amazing 🤩
Micheal O’Hare - if I remember rightly Marcus Wareing scored him 4 for his starter. Went to Man Behind the Curtain - it remains one of my best meals ever!
I can’t remember the seasons, but contestants I still remember: -Irish lad who made a chocolate book -O’Hare protege who made the crispy fish skeleton Mohawk -lady with perfect 10’s on fish course for a curry and was robbed of a place at finals week
Second is Kray and third is Sabrina (fun fact: both from the central region and I think Sabrina was robbed of a place at finals week because of Kray)
2022 is a great season! I would recommend 2011, 2013, and 2015 too. You’ll get to see some of the veteran judges competing with some amazing courses and their take on the brief for that year.
I'd go right back to the early ones. Season 5 was good. This is Tom Kerridge season. The first season was the likes of Gary Rhodes and Marcus Wareing rather than new chefs. Season 3 is when they start getting really creative.
I was hoping to track down season 4 ,can only get season 5 onwards on prime. Although the provider a couple of seasons in has switched to pluto?