Come Dine with Me
Groups of four or five strangers, each an amateur chef, compete to host the best dinner party, each party solely for the competitors and to be held on consecutive evenings. With a set amount of money provided for the party, each host must submit a menu in advance of the week, the menu to consist of at least a starter, a main and a dessert/pudding. At the end of each party, each guest rates the party on a scale of one to ten inclusive. Each guest can use whatever criteria he/she deems important to rate the party, the quality of the food only being one possible factor. At the end of the last party, the host of that party gets the voting results, which he/she reads to the other competitors. The competitor with the highest score wins £1,000. By the end of the last party, each competitor gets to know their fellow competitors a little better. Some may become friends for life, while others wish they had never met.
- 2005-2026
- 57 seasons
- Game Show, Reality
- TV-G
Groups of four or five strangers, each an amateur chef, compete to host the best dinner party, each party solely for the competitors and to be held on consecutive evenings. With a set amount of money provided for the party, each host must submit a menu in advance of the week, the menu to consist of at least a starter, a main and a dessert/pudding. At the end of each party, each guest rates the party on a scale of one to ten inclusive. Each guest can use whatever criteria he/she deems important to rate the party, the quality of the food only being one possible factor. At the end of the last party, the host of that party gets the voting results, which he/she reads to the other competitors. The competitor with the highest score wins £1,000. By the end of the last party, each competitor gets to know their fellow competitors a little better. Some may become friends for life, while others wish they had never met.
Season 2 Episode Guide
35 Episodes 2005
Episode 1
Celebrity Special, Ben de Lisi
24 mins
Come Dine With Me begins its second run with a week of celebrity specials. Designer Ben de Lisi is the first to host, where the winner of the week's £1000 prize will give the money to charity. Guests include Mica Paris and Ulrika Jonsson.
Episode 2
Celebrity Special, Mica Paris
24 mins
"I think with the whole thing of this is that we're all - we're like five penguins craving fish, fish being attention." David Quantick sums up a rowdy night as host Mica Paris serves traditional Jamaican food to her noisy guests.
Episode 3
Celebrity Special, Ulrika Jonsson
Ulrika Jonsson surprises everyone when she doesn't cook anything Swedish, instead opting for risotto and sea bass.
Episode 4
Celebrity Special, Helen Lederer
Comedian Helen Lederer host this evening's dinner and it's a night to remember for all the wrong reasons.
Episode 5
Celebrity Special, David Quantick
24 mins
It's the final night and a winner will be announced, once host David Quantick get's his steaks on the table.
Episode 6
Essex, Jane Phillips Martin
23 mins
Five nights in Essex appear to get off to a bad start as first host Jane forgets some of her ingredients and cuts her finger preparing the food. Yet the outspoken host doesn't let it phase her, and welcomes her guests to a relaxed evening.
Episode 7
Essex, June Tedaldi
Belly dancer June plans a relaxed night in Essex and is hoping to say 'ciao' to her rivals with her Italian-style menu, including sea bass and apricot tart. But she's picked the same starter, asparagus, as last night's host Jane and soon finds herself in trouble when she over cooks it.
Episode 8
Essex, Kevin Reynolds
23 mins
Fitness fanatic Kevin serves up a health-conscious meal of carrot soup and salmon in Essex and then reveals exactly how many calories his guests are eating. His plan is to pour plenty of drink down his guests' throats, but will his transparent plan succeed?
Episode 9
Essex, Keeley Lawrence
23 mins
Trainee actress Keeley in Essex has just moved house, hasn't got any cooking utensils and claims that asking a local restaurant to prepare her food is the only solution. But she isn't telling her guests what she's up to and has to use all her acting skills to keep them in the dark. Will Keeley escape detection by the curious Amanda?
Episode 10
Essex, Amanda Swanwick-Aharoni
23 mins
Interior designer Amanda from Essex draws up plans for a formal banquet, brings in a friend to play butler for the night and wears pearls and a tiara for her dinner party. But after an exhausting week of fine dining, her guests prefer to chill out in her summerhouse between courses, where Jane and Kevin start to bicker with one another.
Episode 11
Doncaster, Neena Rainey
24 mins
The first night in Doncaster is hosted by Neena, a no-nonsense child minder. But her guests don't seem to realise she's biting her tongue when questioning everything from her class, her taste in art, and even whether she was born male.
Episode 12
Doncaster, Katherine Taylor
23 mins
The first night in Doncaster didn't produce blossoming friendships as much as it produced irritations and potential enemies. The ill feeling continues on the second night, particularly when Kathryn admits to using help to prepare the food.
Episode 13
Doncaster, Steve Clift
24 mins
After two prickly evenings, there's hope for the third, as host Steve is the only contestant yet to clash with anyone else. But even laid back Steve isn't safe from suspicions and hostility, as he's accused of not cooking his own food.
Episode 14
Doncaster, Danny Churchill
24 mins
Leg-pulling tailor Danny is the fourth host, and after three bad atmospheres in a row, he realises he needs to introduce some harmony to the group. While his Italian menu is appreciated, even more savoured is a night without arguments.
Episode 15
Doncaster, Rosslyn Thompson
23 mins
Former company director "Ross" invites the guests to her 400 year old farmhouse on her five acre estate. But her plans for a great evening become undermined by her own nervousness, the pressure causing her to argue with her guests.
Episode 16
Brighton, Margaret O'Loughlin
22 mins
For the first time Come Dine With Me holds a single gender competition, as five females compete for £1000 in Brighton. Margaret is the first to host, and brings back her love of the Caribbean in her menu, along with an ice breaker game.
Episode 16
Bristol, Nick Needs
23 mins
Nick hosts the first of five nights in Bristol, with food so elaborate and richly prepared he has to spend hours cooking it. His guests love his food, but do they love an absent host and waiting until after 11pm for dessert?
Episode 16
Gloucester, Tim Small
23 mins
Trout farmer Tim begins a week in Gloucester, and prepares most of his own ingredients, including catching his own fish and shooting rabbits. There's also the part of the evening that involves his guests cooking their own food.
Episode 17
Brighton, Julia John
Actress Julia has to put on the show of her life if she's going to scoop that first prize. She's decided to hire a butler to help her out, but will the others mark her down for cheating?
Episode 17
Bristol, Rachel Hodgson
23 mins
Second host Rachel uses her half-Spanish ancestry to inspire her menu, including 10 tapas dishes. Despite a smoke alarm going off the atmosphere is more relaxed on the second day, but Chyna confesses the rest of the group are boring her.
Episode 17
Gloucester, Richenda Hines
23 mins
Publishing company owner Richenda plans a barbecue party for her evening, but the English weather puts paid to her plans. Yet despite setbacks, including forgetting to cook her bread, Richenda proves to be unflappable.
Episode 18
Brighton, Paula Pearson
Tough-talking PR Paula knows some of Brighton's top restaurateurs and she's not too proud to call in a few favours, but even then the culinary cock-ups seem to flow from start to finish.
Episode 18
Bristol, Ronnie Masters
23 mins
Ronnie has a pleasant evening, despite needing to call a chef for tips and facing many criticisms from Rachel. Yet her decision to keep the alcohol flowing sees all her guests leave drunk, and Chyna comatose on the sofa.
Episode 18
Gloucester, Pat Shepherd
23 mins
Episode 19
Brighton, Nathalie Clarke
Glamour model-turned-housewife Nathalie may have braved the cameras but she's a bundle of nerves when it comes to cooking for her four feisty female guests.
Episode 19
Bristol, Clive Bromhall
23 mins
Zoologist and TV producer Clive hosts the fourth night, and has exacting preparation for his food. However, his guests aren't comfortable with his collection of creatures, including a tarantula, as well as his decision to go alcohol free.
Episode 20
Brighton, Melinda Padley
Fiery farm-owner Melinda hopes to harvest the £1,000 prize with an upmarket evening. She's laying on a bumper crop of food including Beef Wellington, crab salad and a pudding of prunes.
Episode 20
Bristol, Chyna Warren
23 mins
Chyna is determined to make the last night in Bristol go well - even if it means recruiting her guests to help with the cooking and sending her husband to the local Indian restaurant to pick up some forgotten ingredients.
Episode 20
Gloucester, Nick Cooper
22 mins
Episode 21
Glasgow, Aileen Dunn
23 mins
72-year-old Aileen likes to face fresh challenges, and thinks hosting an evening will be an ideal experience. With her flat containing such attractions as a lift that enters her home, her guests enjoy Aileen's food and and her company.
Episode 21
Gloucester, Kat McLeod
23 mins
Episode 22
Glasgow, Paul Lydon
Paul Lydon is Tuesday's host. He takes contests seriously and intends to make everything from scratch, so much that he goes fishing for trout to make his own pate.
Episode 23
Glasgow, Christine Thornton
Glamorous Christine Thornton is Wednesday's host. She likes a bit of "glitz" in her life and has her own sure fire way of pocketing the money.
Episode 24
Glasgow, Sharon Eaton
Business woman Sharon Eaton is Thursday's host. She lays out an extravagant 10 course Thai banquet in the hope of pocketing the grand.
Episode 25
Glasgow, Ishrat Gazala
Ishrat Gazala is Friday's host, she serves up an authentic Indian curry. Plus, the week's winner is revealed.
Episode 26
Nottingham, Karen Cullen
24 mins
Entrepreneur Karen Cullen starts a week in Nottingham, yet having just returned from holiday, she hasn't given herself much chance to get prepared. When her own assessment of her cooking is "absolute crap", what will her guests think?
Episode 27
Nottingham, Gordon Todd
Hairdresser-turned-restaurant critic Gordon Todd is Tuesday's host. His motto is "If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail".
Episode 28
Nottingham, Jenny Cross
Psychic Jenny Cross is Wednesday's host. She claims to have already foreseen that Gordon will be the week's winner, but still attempts to outdo him.
Episode 29
Nottingham, Jarrod Pepper
Cocky Aussie sales rep Jarrod Pepper is Thursday's host. He's laying on the most unusual menu ever seen on Come Dine with Me: crocodile and prawn kebabs followed by roasted kangaroo.
Episode 30
Nottingham, Sam Hughes
First class airline hostess Sam Hughes is Friday's host. She believes presentation is the key to a good meal.
Episode 31
London, Isabelle Goldstein
Isabelle Goldstein is convinced she's got the recipe for success with her menu of spicy soup, pancetta wrapped chicken, pears, good wine and the finest ingredients she can find.
Episode 32
London, Chris D'Slyva
Aussie smoothie Chris D'Sylva'is carefree approach soon gets him into trouble: he's doing panna cotta, but hasn't left enough time for it to set: will a few hours in the freezer do the trick.
Episode 33
London, Bill Buckley
Bill Buckley is a perfectionist and he's planned his menu of prawn mousse, baked skate and chocolate cheesecake with military precision.
Episode 34
London, Jacqueline Gill
Jacqueline Gill hosts this evening's dinner party. Will her cooking be enough to secure her the coveted prize.
Episode 35
London, Serena Wilson
Serena Wilson admits there's a touch of Bridget Jones about her, although at first she seems to avoid Bridget-esque disasters with a mushroom risotto using only the best ingredients.