Great British Menu chefs prepare for cook off

Sixteen chefs from across the UK get ready to compete in the fourth series of Great British Menu

Sixteen of the nation`s top chefs will go head to head on TV next week for the chance to cook at a homecoming banquet for servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan.

The fourth series of BBC Two`s, Great British Menu starts next Monday and will see two culinary talents from eight regions compete against each other to win a place in the final before judges Oliver Peyton, Prue Leith and Matthew Fort decide on the four dishes that will be served at the banquet.

Previous series` have seen chefs prepare meals for The Queen, the gastronomic elite of France and the world`s greatest chefs.

Nicola Moody director of factual programmes at Optomen TV, the company producing the series, said: "This year we`re honouring the heroism of the Armed Forces, with the UK`s best chefs competing to cook for men and women who`ve risked everything for their country and truly deserve a really good meal."

The chefs competing are:

Central: Glynn Purnell (Purnell`s, Birmingham) vs Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House, Cambridge)

London & South East: Mark Sargeant (Gordon Ramsay at Claridges) vs Tristan Welch (Launceston Place, London)

North East: Ian Matfin (Abode, Manchester) vs Kenny Atkinson (The White Room at Seaham Hall, County Durham)

North West: Nigel Haworth (Northcote Manor, Blackburn) vs Aiden Byrne (The Church Green, Lymm, Cheshire) 

Northern Ireland: Danny Millar (Balloo House, Killinchy) vs Clare Smyth (Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road)

Scotland: Tom Kitchin (The Kitchin, Edinburgh) vs Alan Murchison (L`Ortolan, Shinfield, Berkshire)

South West: Nathan Outlaw (Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Fowey, Cornwall) vs Shaun Rankin (Bohemia, Jersey)

Wales: Stephen Terry (The Hardwick, Abergavenny) vs James Sommerin (The Crown at Whitebrook, Monmouth)

Great British Menu starts on BBC Two on Monday March 30 at 6.30pm