BEST OF THE REST
CRAZY DELICIOUS Channel 4, 8pm
HESTON BLUMENTHAL is the man responsible for ice cream pork pie, snail porridge and lickable wallpaper. So it’s no surprise that in this imaginative series, these are the bonkers levels of creativity that he’s hoping to see.
Heston and chefs Niklas Ekstedt and Carla Hall are the ‘Gods of Food’, who must shower praise on only the most magical and extraordinary culinary creations. And they are extraordinary…
In this episode, singing food blogger Bethie, sweet-toothed maths student Lily and sports teacher Joseph battle to win the Golden Apple.
Their first task is to make the banana the star of a brand new dish, resulting in bright yellow sundaes and tacos with a twist.
Then they have to reinvent the pizza – watch out for a dough ball volcano unlike anything you’ve seen before. And finally, they have to produce their unique take on a BBQ.
It all looks crazy delicious – I guess the clue was in the title.
UNIVERSAL CREDIT: INSIDE THE WELFARE STATE BBC2, 9pm
DELVING inside the controversial world of Universal Credit, this series visits job centres, senior civil servants and MPs as changes are made to the benefits system.
Universal Credit was designed to simplify the system and encourage the unemployed into work, but it has been steeped in criticism.
With unprecedented access to the Department for Work and Pensions, this three-parter follows the people designing the system and the staff in Jobcentres.
But it’s the personal stories from claimants that are the most affecting.
After working for 27 years in the NHS, Rachel left her job to care for her elderly parents.
Now on Universal Credit, she’s struggling to make ends meet for her and her children. “I’m out of my comfort zone,” she says, tearing up.
Meanwhile, Phil has been living on benefits for 10 years and is not enthusiastic about finding work. Now job centre employee Malcolm has to step in, but it’s going to be a challenge.