Come Dine with Me

Format

The original format features four/five amateur chefs who live in the same town or area, who each host a three-course dinner party for the other contestants at their own home over successive episodes. Each competitor then rates the host's food and hosting skills during the taxi journey home, with the highest-scoring chef winning £1,000 cash at the end of the four/five-episode cycle. If more than one competitor receives the highest tied score, the cash is divided between them. The show often features guests with clashing personalities.

Episodes produced for primetime broadcast feature four contestants over a single hour-long episode.

Dave Lamb provides a voiceover, which sometimes includes sarcastic comments on the chefs' food and interior design.

Notable moments

A 2016 episode attracted particular attention, when contestant Peter Marsh made remarks upon losing to the winning contestant Jane, who was rude to Peter and effectively sabotaged his hosting round for her to win the £1000 prize. He said to her and the other contestants: "What a sad little life, Jane. Enjoy the money. You ruined my night completely just so you could have the money. I hope now you will spend it on getting some lessons in grace and decorum, because you have all the grace of a reversing dump truck without any tyres on."

Another episode gained attention online, when a clip on video sharing site YouTube of contestant Kev Riley fitting a balloon whisk into his mouth went viral. In an 'ask me anything' session on Reddit in 2022, Kev claimed that this was the result of a "spur of the moment" decision intended to make the producer laugh. This clip has had over 100m views on various threads across social media. This has resulted in the sale of merchandise, flags appearing at Glastonbury, and Riley being a regular contributor on Cameo.

From 2020, due to COVID-19, all five contestants cooked and ate in the same house; this is instead of having the contestants visiting each other's houses to dine. The location of the house would vary depending on which city the five episodes were taking place. Episodes shown from 2024 reverts to contestants hosting from their own homes.

Spin-offs

''Couples Come Dine with Me''

On 7 July 2014, the first episode of the spin-off series - Couples Come Dine with Me, premiered on Channel 4. The series uses a similar format to the original series but features three couples competing to win £1,000.

''Celebrity Come Dine with Me''

There have been occasional celebrity groups of chefs since the first episode of Series 2.

''Come Dine with Me: The Professionals''

On 12 January 2022, Channel 4 commissioned Come Dine with Me: The Professionals where local restaurants went head to head in the contest. The series premiered on 27 June 2022 on Channel 4.

''Come Dine with Me: Teens''

On 10 November 2025, Channel 4 premiered Come Dine with Me: Teens on its sister channel E4 using the same format at the original show but each contestant is a teenager.

International versions

English

Spanish

Other languages

Adaptations

Come Dine With Me: The Musical

A musical adaptation of the show is scheduled to open at the Turbine Theatre in London in September 2024 following a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in July 2024.

Notes

References

References

1. Forrester, Katy. (5 January 2016). "Come Dine With Me's Peter breaks his silence after being branded a 'sore loser'".
2. "Come dine with me hilarious clip".
3. (20 Jan 2021). "I am the "Whisk Guy" from Come Dine With Me. AMA!".
4. "Couples Come Dine with Me".
5. (19 December 2013). "Come Dine With Me turns up the heat with new format".
6. Slater, Jack. (2021-03-02). "Which celebrities have taken part in Come Dine with Me?".
7. "Come Dine with Me: The Professionals".
8. "Come Dine with Me: Teens".
9. (24 August 2009). "Come Dine with Me in Oz". B&T Today.
10. "TV3's 2010 Autumn Schedule".
11. Rowley, Alison. (15 November 2013). "US 'Come Dine With Me' to begin airing in December".
12. (6 July 2016). ""La Divina Comida" ya tiene fecha de estreno en CHV ¡Descúbrela acá!". Radio Agricultura.
13. Sweney, Mark. (4 October 2010). "Iran to get its own Come Dine With Me". [[The Guardian]].
14. link. (2012-05-31)
15. (2021-08-02). "The new season of "Come Dine with Me" is exactly what we ordered". Ynet.
16. (2025-01-06). "In a reality where Arabic has become associated with the enemy, Makan’s “Come Dine With Me” is more vital than ever". Ynet.
17. Therrien, Richard. (20 August 2012). "André Ducharme – Appelez-le Monsieur presque parfait".
18. (2024). "COME DINE WITH ME: THE MUSICAL announces London run". London Box Office.