THE RESTAURANT THAT BURNS OFF CALORIES

BBC Two, 9.00pm

At first glance this Horizon special about the link between calories consumed and exercise appears to be little more than an entertaining gimmick. The premise sees Fred Sirieix invite a group of diners into a new restaurant serving what he terms “classic Bistro food” from chicken to burgers. They’ve been told that it’s part of an experiment into how we consume calories. What they don’t know is that behind the scenes Dr Zoe Williams has an army of fitness fanatics on bikes, rowing machines and treadmills who have to burn off the calories the diners eat. Will they manage it or will the dessert menu prove a repetition too far?

This being Horizon it’s not all about spinning plates and wheels, however, with both Williams and Sirieix heading off to further explore whether knowing how much exercise we’d have to burn off with each food choice would help us moderate our intake. Although the pair fail to investigate the negative aspects of obsessively counting calories, there is fun to be had from listening to the diners. Jilly claims never to watch what she eats but orders the healthiest food on the menu and skips dessert while Angela notes “it’s easier to eat everything and be fat.” Sarah Hughes

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Burn what you eat: Dr Zoe Williams and Fred Sirieix host

Keep Crafting and Carry On: Kirstie Allsopp