The BEST episodes of The Big Family Cooking Showdown
Every episode of The Big Family Cooking Showdown ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Big Family Cooking Showdown!
Presented by Zoe Ball and Nadiya Hussain, this competitive food show celebrates the families who make ordinary food extraordinary. Over the next few months, 16 multigenerational family teams of passionate cooks battle it out for the chance to be crowned the nation's best family of home cooks. Judging their efforts every step of the way are top Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli and renowned cookery teacher Rosemary Shrager. In each episode, two families face a series of challenges based on the realities of everyday meals, cooking up their favourite dishes both in the studio and in their own homes. At the end of each show, the judges decide which family make it through to the semi-finals.
#1 - Episode 14
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 11/2/2018
It is the final showdown. Each family must create a three-course extravaganza fit for the most special of family celebrations, with canapes to start, two main courses and two puddings. Tension mounts between family members as they strive for perfection. But who will win the Family Showdown title?
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#2 - Episode 11
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/30/2018
This time, there is the incredibly tough Taste It Now Make It challenge, where the families must recreate a Catalan fish stew. Then the families are given a whole salmon and tasked with creating a selection of dishes that will use as much of the fish as possible. The families are pushed to their limits as they vie to stay in the competition.
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#3 - Episode 12
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/2/2017
It is the final of the Big Family Cooking Showdown, presented by Zoe Ball and Nadiya Hussain. Over the last 11 weeks, 16 multigenerational family teams of passionate home cooks have been battling it out and now only three families remain. Tonight they face one long, continuous challenge: preparing food for a big family get together - including a range of nibbles, main courses and desserts. There can only be one winner and it is down to judges Rosemary Shrager and Giorgio Locatelli to decide which family will be crowned the nation's best family of home cooks.
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#4 - Episode 13
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/1/2018
In the last episode, one of the remaining families was fast-tracked to the final, leaving two families fighting it out for the other place. The day's surprise task is to prepare and cook a guard of honour - an impressive lamb rib centrepiece - whilst also choosing and making complimentary side dishes. Then it is party time as they create their ultimate children's birthday cake. With rainbow cakes all round, will the judges be able to separate the two families?
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#5 - Episode 10
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/29/2018
It is the second of the play-offs. The four winning families from last week's heats now have to compete for just two places in the finals. First, there is another unprepared challenge to test their creativity in the kitchen - a surprise pick 'n' mix of ingredients that they all have to cook with. Then they rustle up a family treat night meal and hoping to impress the judges enough to secure a place in the finals.
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#6 - Episode 5
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2018
Tonight it is the play-offs. The four winning families from this week's heats now have to compete for just two places in finals week. First, there is another unprepared challenge to test their creativity in the kitchen - a surprise pick 'n' mix of ingredients that they all have to cook with. Then they are rustling up a family treat night meal and hoping to impress the judges enough to secure a place in finals week. On the menu tonight - duck, jollof rice, churros and chocolate and orange tarts.
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#7 - Episode 7
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/28/2017
In tonight's show, the Bellamores from south Wales go head to head with the Bellamy family from Dorset. Success in the Big Family Cooking Challenge kitchen relies on communication and teamwork, so which family are the most in sync and whose home-cooked dishes will leave the judges wanting more - will it be brother, sister and nephew the Bellamores, with their hearty, generous helpings, or mum and teenage daughters combo the Bellamys, with their family recipes influenced by their Persian heritage?
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#9 - Episode 9
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/26/2018
This time, the three remaining families from previous day's heat face a surprise head-to-head challenge: they must volunteer one family member to cook without knowing the dish they'll then have to prepare - a shepherd's pie. For the second task, the families are back together to make a two-course meal with smoked haddock and chocolate as the star ingredients. The pressure is on as only two families can make it through to Monday's play-offs.
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#10 - Episode 4
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2018
Tonight, the three remaining families face a surprise head-to-head challenge for which they have to nominate one family member to cook on their own. There are pastry disasters, fruit controversy and raw egg whites as the cooks tackle a lemon meringue pie. For the second task, the families are reunited to make a two-course meal with lamb and almonds as the star ingredients. The pressure is on as only two families can make it through to Friday's play-offs.
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#11 - Episode 6
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/23/2018
This time, the Bonehams from Weston-super-Mare take on the stylish Antonious from London, the competitive Bird family and the all-singing, all-dancing Fasayes from Kent. All four families enter the Showdown kitchen, totally unprepared for their first challenge - to make a £10 meal for a family of four with a surprise selection of ingredients. After cooking up 'breakfast with a twist' for their second task, they then face elimination, as only three families can make it through to next day's heat.
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#12 - Episode 7
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/24/2018
This time, the three remaining families from previous day's heat face a surprise head-to-head challenge: one member from each family has to make a Tommy Banks favourite - chicken kiev. For the second task, the families are back together to make a two-course meal with goat's cheese and passion fruit as the star ingredients. The pressure is on as only two families can make it through to next Monday's play-offs.
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#14 - Episode 8
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/25/2018
This time, the Mistrys from south London take on the Whittakers from Lancashire, the Walker-Kings from Wandsworth and the Varmas from Walsall. All four families enter the Showdown kitchen totally unprepared for their first challenge - to make a £10 one-pot wonder with a surprise selection of ingredients. Their second challenge is to cook up their family's take on fishcakes. Taking both dishes into account, judges Angellica Bell and Tommy Banks decide which three families can cook for them again in next day's heat.
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#15 - Episode 3
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2018
Tonight, the Butlands from Cornwall take on the fun-loving Lees from Warrington, farming family the Whites from Scotland, and the Gohils and Al- Sheikhs from London. All four families enter the showdown kitchen totally unprepared for their first challenge - to make a £10 meal for a family of four with a surprise selection of ingredients. After cooking up fish and chips with a twist for their second task, they then face elimination, as only three families can make it through to the next heat.
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#16 - Episode 4
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/7/2017
The Massaccesi family from Wiltshire go up against the Gangotras from Birmingham. The Massaccesis are mum, dad and their 16-year-old daughter. Italian home cooking is at the heart of their family and it is with these dishes they hope to win over the judges. In their way are the Gangotra sisters, whose flair for traditional Indian food draws on their heritage. Which family's clever use of flavour will see them through to the semi-finals?
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#17 - Episode 2
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/22/2017
Tonight, the Karim family from west London go up against the Dawes from Hampshire. Will the Karims, with their simple Indian recipes, curry favour with Rosemary and Giorgio, or will the Dawes and their ambitious flavour combinations earn them a place in the semi-finals? Aunt Zakila is queen of the kitchen in the Karims' household but will her spice mix leave the judges wanting more when they visit the family at home? Ellie Dawes and her scientist boyfriend Sam share a passion for food but will their bold use of ingredients be a step too far for the judges?
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#18 - Episode 12
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/31/2018
Tonight, it is all about the judges. First there is an unprepared challenge that features a meat and veg box from Tommy's farm, then the families must make two of Angellica's favourite desserts - carrot cake and trifle. But which family will win a free pass to Friday's grand final?
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#19 - Episode 2
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/16/2018
Tonight, the three remaining families from the first heat face a surprise head-to-head challenge - they must volunteer one family member to cook without knowing the dish they have to prepare - a salted caramel tart. For the second task, the families are back together to make a two-course meal with beetroot and oats as the star ingredients. The pressure is on as only two families can make it through to Friday's play-offs.
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#20 - Episode 1
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/15/2017
Tonight, the Marks family from west London go up against the Charles family from Yorkshire. Will the Marks family impress the judges with their Scandinavian-inspired dishes or will the Charles' food, influenced by far-flung holidays, wow them? 86-year-old grandmother and former model Toren has a lust for life and rules the roost in the Marks' kitchen, but will her age-old family recipe for Swedish meatballs hit the mark? Betty is the boss in the Charles family, but will her decision to serve up a risotto to a Michelin-starred Italian chef pay off?
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#21 - Episode 1
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/15/2018
The competitive food show that celebrates the families who make ordinary food extraordinary is back! Over three weeks, 16 family teams battle it out in the showdown studio kitchen. They face a series of challenges based around family cooking and they are judged by presenters Angellica Bell, herself a Celebrity MasterChef winner and cookery book author, and Tommy Banks, Britain's youngest ever Michelin-starred chef. In each episode, the teams are given two tasks - one they have had time to practise at home, the other a complete surprise, testing their collective ability to work together and think on their feet. Tonight, the Whites from Hampshire take on the Penmans from Lincolnshire, the Stones from Dorset and the Abimbola-Younges from London. All four families enter the showdown kitchen totally unprepared for their first challenge - to make a £10 brunch for a family of four with a surprise selection of ingredients. Their second challenge is to cook up their family's take on a pasta bake. Taking both dishes into account, judges Angellica Bell and Tommy Banks decide which three families can cook for them again in the next heat.
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#23 - Episode 9
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/12/2017
It is the semi-finals and nine families remain to face three demanding new challenges. Judging their efforts are top Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli and renowned cookery teacher Rosemary Schrager. Tonight is the first of the semi-finals and three families go head to head. But only one can go through to the final.
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#24 - Episode 5
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/14/2017
The Ayoubi family from Essex are up against the Herberts from Gloucestershire. The Ayoubi family originally hail from Syria and their food is steeped in history. They are hoping their clever use of simple ingredients and generous sharing dishes will have the judges coming back for more, but to secure a place in the next round they need to outcook the Herberts. For the Herbert family, cooking, particularly baking, runs in the blood. They love to experiment with weird and wonderful flavours but will this be a recipe for success or a step too far for the judges?
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#25 - Episode 6
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/21/2017
The Kings from south west London compete against the Codougan family from Northamptonshire. The King family motto is 'backbone', and they are hoping that this approach, along with their favourite home-cooked dishes, will earn them a place in the semi-finals. Standing in their way are the Codougans - a mother, son and daughter combo who want to impress the judges with their spicy Caribbean-inspired food.
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