Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live Explained

Genre:Cooking show
Runtime:60 Mins
Opentheme:"Pump It" by The Black Eyed Peas
Location:Stage 15, 3 Mills Studios[1]
Starring:Gordon Ramsay
Network:Channel 4
Country:United Kingdom
Num Series:2
Num Episodes:8

Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live is a British cooking show starring Gordon Ramsay. Originally conceived as a one-off episode, Channel 4 later commissioned a full series for late 2008. A Christmas special aired on 25 December 2011 and a second on 25 December 2012.

Background

The original episode was part of The Big Food Fight, a January 2008 promotion featuring Channel 4 shows starring Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Gordon Ramsay.[2] On live television, Ramsay invited the entire nation to prepare a three course meal for four with him in just under 60 minutes[3] Ingredients and instructions were available on the official site to help viewers prepare for the event at home. Often, he would teach viewers basic cooking techniques, such as chopping an onion or boning a chicken.

The show was expanded to a seven-episode series for autumn 2008,[4] and began on 24 October 2008.[5] Each week Ramsay prepared a themed menu ranging from curry night to a 1970s theme, and even participated in a challenge with that episode's celebrity guest in cooking a dish chosen by the celebrity.

Episodes

Episode NumberAir DateGuest Sous ChefNotesRef
124 October 2008Patsy KensitWarm goat's cheese salad, Salmon en croute, Rhubarb and ginger crumble[6]
231 October 2008Theme: credit crunch-proof meal for under a tenner
37 November 2008Amanda HoldenAngel Hair Pasta with Crab, Duck Breast with a Port and Cherry Sauce, Quick Tiramisu
421 November 2008Kirstie AllsoppTheme: 70's Night: Prawn Cocktail, Steak Diane with Peas and Sauteed Potatoes, Mandarin Cheesecake
528 November 2008James CordenTheme: Chinese - sour prawn soup, stir-fried beef with peppers and egg noodles, hot bananas
65 December 2008Theme: Curry Night
712 December 2008Gok WanTheme: Christmas Dinner; Torchwood's Naoko Mori makes an appearance as one of the guests Gok is cooking for.

Christmas Specials

A Christmas special aired live on 25 December 2011. It saw Ramsay making a Christmas lunch at his own home in Battersea. Guests included David Hasselhoff, Russell Grant, Jermain Defoe and Dynamo.[7] Another special was aired the following Christmas.[8]

2011 Menu:

Starter

Smoked salmon parcels with fennel and apple salad

Main course

Roast turkey with herb butter

Chestnut, pistachio, sage, sausage and apricot stuffing

Apple and sherry gravy

Spiced and honey glazed carrots and parsnips

Brussels sprouts with bacon and chilli

Perfect goose fat roast potatoes

Bacon wrapped cocktail sausages

Dessert

Christmas trifle

International versions

An American version of the same name, also hosted by Ramsay, aired as a one-hour special on the Fox network on 15 December 2009.[9] Guests included Whoopi Goldberg, Cedric the Entertainer, Alyson Hannigan and LeAnn Rimes, with home cooks featured live via Skype. The three course meal shown on the U.S. premiere was identical to episode 3 of the original British series.

In September 2008, an Australian version was announced for airing on the Nine Network, also hosted by Ramsay.[10] However it never eventuated.

Optomen and One Potato Two Potato licensed the Cookalong format for Swedish television. Tina's Cookalong starring Tina Nordström premiered in September 2009, with Ramsay appearing as a guest.[11]

A Spanish version titled Cocina conmigo was announced to premier on Nova on 24 February 2013, hosted by Rodrigo de la Calle.[12]

A Bulgarian version hosted by Silvena Rowe has aired on bTV since September 2013.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Filming Location.
  2. Web site: The Big Food Fight (official site). 2008-08-01.
  3. Web site: Gordon Ramsay Cookalong Live. The Mirror. 2008-01-18.
  4. Web site: Ramsay launches production venture. Variety. Schreiber, Dominic. 2008-07-24.
  5. Web site: Posh to appear on Ramsay Cookalong. Marie Claire. 2008-10-15. 16 October 2008. 12 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120212023947/http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/277527/posh-to-appear-on-ramsay-cookalong.html. dead.
  6. Web site: Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live. 29 September 2020. thetvdb.com.
  7. Web site: Gordon's Christmas Cookalong Live Gives Channel 4 A Festive Ratings Treat . Optomen . 2011-12-27 . 2013-09-09.
  8. Web site: EastEnders takes Christmas crown.
  9. Web site: Amber . Dowling . Free Ramsay cooking class . . 2009-08-06 . 2008-08-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090810020931/http://tvguide.sympatico.msn.ca/Special_Features/TCA_Fall_2009/Articles/090806_gordon_ramsay_AD . 10 August 2009 . dmy-all .
  10. Web site: David. Knox. Ramsay to Cookalong Live for Nine. tvtonight.com.au. 2008-09-15. 2008-09-18.
  11. Web site: 08/09/09 Cookalong Sweden Proves A Ratings Smash. Optomen. 2009-09-08. 2008-09-27. 24 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161224032647/http://www.optomen.com/newsitem.aspx?content=991. dead.
  12. Web site: Nova emitirá en la sobremesa del domingo 'Cocina conmigo' (Rodrigo de la Calle), la versión de 'Cookalong Live'. FormulaTV.com. 2013-02-13. 2013-02-14.