Rylan Clark-Neal’s new reboot of Ready Steady Cook has been dubbed a flop already by chef Aldo Zilli, who after appearing on the original series thinks it needs more people with ‘character’.
The Italian cook was front and centre of the competing teams when Aisnley Harriott fronted the show, starting back in 1994 until the series was axed from the BBC in 2010.
But now, with a brand new team and new host in Rylan, the show is being giving a new lease of life… but Aldo isn’t impressed with what he’s heard.
Branding Rylan’s hiring “playing it safe”, he told The Mirror: ‘I think it is going to be a flop. People want to see people that have got character, like me.
‘I did the last series. I have done a lot of them. A hundred per cent, it would have been nice it they had got some of the old chefs back.’
The new version of the show will be changed to reflect the UK’s changing dietary habits and budgetary needs that have become common for households since it last appeared on screens.
In the first challenge of the show, contestants, who will be paired up with high-class chefs, will be told to bring a bag of items worth £10 in value to create a gourmet dish.
The original series, fronted by the eccentric Ainsley Harriott, ran for more than 1000 episodes, turning stars including Antony Worrell-Thompson and Ainsley into household names.
His hiring comes despite former beloved host Ainsley saying he would be willing to return.
‘Yeah [I would come back], but it could be somebody else’s turn,’ he later added.
‘I loved doing it, it made cooking really interesting, it bought cooking into people’s living rooms and cooking and made people believe they could have a go.’
But when the news was announced, gracious Ainsley gave his blessing, handing over the metaphorical apron and wooden spoon to the in demand presenter.
Ready Steady Cook will launch in the new year on the BBC.
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