Raymond Blanc is to star in another new foodie show to look forward to, and it should make for some very interesting viewing.
The two-Michelin-starred chef-patron of Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons will take us on a gastronomic tour of his home country in a new series called Raymond Blanc: The Very Hungry Frenchman.
Interestingly, the self-taught chef has never cooked professionally in France. His culinary career began in England as a waiter at the Rose Revived Restaurant.
Then one day the chef fell ill and Raymond rushed to the rescue.
So I imagine he leapt at the opportunity to show off his heritage in this five-part BBC production. Each episode will see Raymond explore a different area of France, starting with the Franche Comté region where he was born, and where his 90-year-old mother and father still live.
He will go on to investigate the distinctive produce and cuisine of Burgundy and Provence by way of Lyon and Alsace, demonstrating traditional dishes and doing an RB pop-up menu at a local restaurant in each region with a little help from two of his young British protégés, Katie and Kush.
I love watching Raymond in action. He's mad as a box of frogs (no French pun intended) and his passion for produce is incredibly infectious.
And I suspect that I will be browsing French gîtes in each of the featured regions after every episode as I hope to follow in the very hungry Frenchman's footsteps.
* Raymond Blanc: the Very Hungry Frenchman is provisionally scheduled to broadcast weekly on BBC2 at 8pm, starting Thursday 2 February.
Fabulous news that Raymond Blanc will soon be back on TV. Love his programmes and a journey with him through France sounds wonderful.
Wow this will be amazing! loved his kitchen secrets last year, role on nest week.
PLEASE PLEASE CAN WE HAVE THE RECIPE FOR THE CHEESE SOUFFLE TART IT LOOKS SO,oooooo delicious !!!! a new twist on the same old soufflé