User Reviews

I really liked this show and wished that the BBC would commission a new series. To see these young individuals grow over the eight episodes, for me was a privilege to see. I really wanted them to do well. I also gained a greater understanding of the hard work that goes into the service industry and the world of fine dining. I thought that Michel Roux Jnr. was a great mentor and teacher and it showed throughout the series. I loved that he introduced the students to so many interesting and respected people in the food service world. I hope that people were actually inspired by this series and I definitely recommended that you watch this.

I have never been a follower of reality TV, but this series gripped me utterly. I could not wait to see the next episode as Michel Roux took a handful of unlikely candidates and set yet another daunting task in the restaurant industry. The basis of the series is that a group of young hopefuls (one a part-time dinner lady, one a mother at sixteen, another the recipient of an ASBO at fourteen)are briefly trained for the next challenge, but then are effectively 'thrown in the deep end' at more and more prestigious establishments, trying to achieve the ultimate goals : scholarships to train as a master sommelier and as Front-of-House in the restaurant industry. The presentation of the programme is such that the audience will come to admire the determination to achieve of the candidates, and I would challenge anyone to say that ultimately he/she did not root for a personal favourite. Michel Roux and his small team of tutors are superb throughout, giving gentle support when required or maybe a necessary kick-up-the-backside. The Charisma of Michel Roux and his chosen guinea-pigs add an extra dimension to what is not just another documentary. This series is well worth viewing - why ever did the BBC not commission a second series?