The River Cottage 3 Go Mad TV Show… Famous for everything but their cooking skills!
For Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, one of the great joys of life at River Cottage has been learning the ways of country living, the importance of seasonal, ethical produce and the delights of homegrown, home-cooked food. It’s fundamental to what he believes in and the heart of everything he teaches.
And now he wants to that share all those pleasures and lessons with some folk who are famous for everything but their cooking skills.
Over two days of good cooking and fun on the farm Hugh wants his famous guest chefs to understand the journey our food takes from farm to plate; to really discover that food doesn’t begin life on the shelf of a shop, everything we eat has to be raised from birth or grown from the ground.
But will they rise to the challenge? Or get stuck in the mud?
Join The Good Life's Felicity Kendall, Ashes to Ashes stars Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes, Stephen Mangan and Mark Heap from Green Wing, Kathy Burke of Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Peep Show's Robert Webb and comedians Ruby Wax and Lee Mack as Hugh attempts to adapt them to the River Cottage way of life.
THE ACTORS
The actors are Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes – stars of the 80s-inspired
cop show, ‘Ashes To Ashes’ and ‘The Good Life’s’ Felicity Kendal, the
original poster girl for small holders throughout the land arrive at River
Cottage for a lesson in self sufficiency.
Over two days of good cooking and fun on the farm, Hugh introduces his famous
guests to the ways of River Cottage; the importance of seasonal, ethical produce
and the delights of homegrown, home-cooked food.
Felicity, Keeley and Philip may all be better at treading the boards than
using chopping boards, but after intensive training from Hugh and his equally
enthusiastic chefs, Tim Maddams and Gill Mellor, they soon becomes stars of the
kitchen too!
And there’s plenty of fun and tasty food to be enjoyed along the way, from
fishing trips to catch creatures of the deep to forages for earthy secrets; from
delicious chocolate cakes to soups with an extra zing.
THE COMEDIANS
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is joined at River Cottage by three much loved
comedians, Robert Webb, Lee Mack and Ruby Wax. But while they might all be funny
people, sadly their cooking skills are laughable, as well. But, will two days of
intensive cooking classes with the River Cottage team whip them into shape
as chefs?
Lee and Robert are thrown in the deep end; left alone to knock up a kedgeree fit enough to serve Hugh. But that is just the first of their tricky tasks. Later Lee teams up with Ruby for a bit of competitive cake cooking! Before all three comedians go head-to-head in a sausage making challenge….but Ruby has a secret ingredient that could help her win and we’re not talking about the foragers cocktail she whips up in a field with wild gathering guru John Wright!
After all the larks our three jokers get serious, to serve up a three course meal to the River Cottage Team. But will it win Hugh and his chefs’ seal of approval? Or will their efforts end up as flat as Robert’s pancakes?
CHRISTMAS
It’s Christmas at River Cottage and Hugh is throwing open his doors to some
celebrity friends. Joining him, star of hit series Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Harry
Enfield and Chums, Kathy Burke, as well as comedy actors Stephen Mangan and Mark
Heap – stars of cult series, Green Wing.
What could go wrong? Apart from Kathy hating Christmas and Mark and Stephen not liking the main ingredient of the pudding! But nothing’s going to dampen Hugh’s irrepressible love for food and the festive season, so it is time to rope in all the River Cottage team to win over our celeb scrooges! Hugh takes Kathy out on a fishing trip – to catch an alternative Christmas day main course, perfect for non meat eaters like her, or anyone fancying a change from the boring bird!
Meanwhile, forager John Wright heads to the woods in search of wild mushrooms and oak moss for a surprising seasonal starter and Hugh’s ever-dependable chefs, Tim and Gill are on hand to show our celebs and us how to make Christmas cocktails, festive breads and tasty trays of veg. All that and cake, a chocolate truffle challenge and milking goats! So join Hugh, Kathy Burke, Stephen Mangan, Mark Heap and all the River Cottage faces for plenty of festive fun, frolics and laughs.