Stakes are high in foodie face-off

From home brewing and smoking meat to handmade cheeses, chutneys and preserves, Britain is teeming with tasty gourmet fare – but just who are the people behind the foodie revolution?

New BBC Two show Top Of The Shop With Tom Kerridge aims to find out, as it unmasks a host of kitchen table producers keen to showcase their delicacies.

The eight-part series offers 28 amateur food makers from all walks of life the opportunity to promote and sell their wares in a real shop.

But there’s more to it than simply appealing to the nation’s taste buds.

For while acclaimed chef and presenter Kerridge will be cheering from the sidelines, experts Nisha Katona and Alison Swan Parente will be judging whether the creations have what it takes to sustain a profitable business.

The aim: to convince everyone involved that their product deserves a permanent space on the shelves.

With the stakes high, the shop floor makes for a competitive playing field.

“It’s not nasty win-at-all-costs, but these are people who want to succeed,” said Kerridge, 44.

“The winners aren’t going to be the people who make the best TV, the winners are going to be the ones with the best product.”

Kerridge is confident viewers will be swept up in the show’s feel-good factor.

“It showcases British produce,” he explained.

“It’s something that we should all be proud of because British food, 20 to 30 years ago, was seen as a laughing stock and now the roots of some amazing, incredible products are coming through. “The whole vibe of it is really good – and that’s what will separate it from a lot of other shows.”

Top Of The Shop With Tom Kerridge, BBC Two, Tuesday, 8pm.

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