‘Come Dine With Me’: Why Enduring 20-Year-Old Format Is “The Quickest Way To Understand The Brits” & How Narrator Dave Lamb Prepares

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: “Someone once said the quickest way to understand the Brits is by watching episodes of Come Dine With Me,” says the series producer behind the beloved UK format, which turned 20 last month.

Henry Hainault, who has worked on more than 1000 episodes of Channel 4’s food-cum-relationships-cum-lifestyle show, says Come Dine With Me celebrates British diversity in all its forms. “I think because we go to so many regions around the country it gives you a really good insight,” he adds. “We don’t get into politics because that can be quite divisive so it’s more a case of covering as much of the country as possible.

It’s a snapshot.” Ramping things up a bit, Dave Lamb, who has narrated almost every single one of the circa-2,500 Come Dine With Me UK episodes, compares the show to Danny Boyle’s memorable London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. “No one was left behind,” he adds. “This is Britain.

Look at all of its aspects.” Lamb and Hainault speak with Deadline as the ITV Studios property, which has sold to 49 territories to date, turns 20.