A college hospitality and catering department is to become the latest venue for a TV reality show.
Following in the wake of the Big Brother house and the Australian jungle, ITV's latest show is being filmed in the training restaurant of City College Manchester. Reality Bites involves amateur chefs cooking and serving a three-course lunch to 20 "discerning diners" (local foodies) against the clock.
The 10-part show, to be screened next month, takes place in the college's Simpsons restaurant, recently refurbished by TV production company Multi Media Arts. Local restaurateur, TV chef and broadcaster Simon Rimmer will present the 30-minute show.
Simpsons was spotted when the production company visited Manchester at the end of last year with media darling Jamie Oliver, who was visiting City College to give students an inspirational chat on why they should pursue their culinary dreams.
"The show has provided a great opportunity for the college to enhance the facilities of our training restaurant," commented Janice Nisbet, City College head of hospitality and catering.
"We want to give the students the best possible environment to learn in."