More Cake Please — We’re British! Locating British Identity in Contemporary TV Food Texts, The Great British Bake Off and Come Dine With Me

Abstract

The notion of British identity in contemporary UK TV is prominent in all productions as we as a nation seek to define and differentiate ourselves and our culture in a global or transnational context. With the recent expansion of what we can call ‘Food TV’, including celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, reality TV forms encompassing the iconic game show Masterchef (1990-, BBC One & Two, Union Pictures, Union West & Shine TV) and the two case studies at the centre of this chapter The Great British Bake Off (2010-, BBC One & Two) and Come Dine With Me (2005-, Channel 4, ITV Studios & Shiver Productions), this impulse can be specifically identified as the shows express British identity not only in terms of ingredients and traditional dishes but also in terms of geographical location. These programmes engage with issues of class, race, sexuality and gender as the ordinary members of the public are seen to grapple with the complexities of multicultural Britain as they boil, bake, roast and grill their way through the set tasks and menus demanded by the entertainment industry.