Gilpin’s Tom Westerland goes head-to-head in the Welsh heats for Great British Menu
The Welsh Regional Heats will air on BBC Two from 14 – 16 February
Welsh/Cumbrian-based Chef Tom ‘Westy’ Westerland will be back on screens this February, as he competes in the Welsh heats of BBC Two’s popular cooking competition, Great British Menu.
Westy will represent Wales alongside Georgia Sommerin, Head Chef at Home in Penarth, Mark Threadgill, Head Chef at Portmeirion Hotel and Simmie Vedi, former Head Chef at Bully’s in Cardiff, as the Welsh nation’s finest chefs battle it out in the hope of securing a place in the next stage of the competition.
Since he last featured on the show four years ago when he got as far as the judging chamber, the experimental chef has honed his love of fun and cooking over fire. He will be sharing some innovative, new dishes with his veteran judge and aiming to get through to cook for the judges – Tom Kerridge with a total of 3 Michelin stars, Restaurateur Nisha Katona and comedian and food podcast host Ed Gamble – in this year’s competition themed around the 65th anniversary of Paddington Bear.
As always, one of the four chefs involved in the Welsh heat must leave the at the end of each episode, a decision given by the veteran judge and a previous winner, but Westy is staying tight lipped about how far into the series his dishes will take him:
“I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait and see how far I go this time around,” he says.
“Since my last appearance on the show, my cooking style has developed and changed a lot, as has the way I tackle the challenges. I have found a love for cooking over fire and the fun elements of food, which you probably didn’t see as much last time I was on the show. I’m looking forward to seeing what the viewers think of my dishes.”
Season 18 kicked off on Tuesday, January 31 with a fresh batch of new and returning chefs, all with top industry accolades to their name, hoping to wow the judges.
For the 2023 series, the theme is inspired by animation and illustration to celebrate Paddington’s 65th birthday. Viewers have already seen four chefs from the North East and South West of England pitted against one another in the initial regional heats.
Episodes featuring Tom ‘Westy’ Westerland air for three consecutive nights on 14, 15 and 16 February 2023.
All episodes to date are available on BBC iPlayer.
