Iron Chef comes to the UK

Cult TV series Iron Chef is UK-bound and will be on our screens courtesy of Channel 4 from Spring of this year. Based on the eccentric hit Japanese cookery show which aired in Japan in the 90’s, its American counterpart has been a runaway success – even Michelle Obama is said to be a fan.

An episode sees four brave contestants (who have included Jamie Oliver in the USA) don oven mitts in place of boxing gloves, in order to do battle with the resident Iron Chefs in a cookery competition based around a mystery ingredient unveiled at the beginning of the show. The task is to prepare four exceptional dishes focused on said secret ingredient, which could be anything from aubergine to octopus.

The daily show culminates in a grand Friday final where the best of the week’s contestants go head-to-head with the strongest of the week’s Iron Chefs in the toughest of challenges. Whether the contest will be begin, as it does in America, with the catchphrase ‘With an open heart and an empty stomach, I say unto you… Allez Cuisine!’ remains to be seen.

Hard to imagine? Think Ready Steady Cook meets Gladiators and you’re half way there. The format might sound a bit over-the-top but the cooking will be first-class. Identities of the resident Iron Chefs have not yet been announced but you can be sure they’ll be the best in their field. Marco Pierre White taking on Gordon Ramsay? Now that would be interesting.