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Over the past three years Great British Menu has wowed HM The Queen at her 80th birthday banquet, served a magnificent meal to the gastronomic elite of France and thrilled some of the world's finest chefs with some of the best cutting edge contemporary British food, and now ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two has commissioned two further series – series four and five.

In the fourth series, the chefs compete to cook a glorious homecoming banquet – a culinary 21 gun salute to honour men and women recently returned from active service in Afghanistan, along with their families who have supported them.

The competing chefs are all determined to win and cook for these heroes who deserve a meal bursting with the tastes of home.

Alongside a few surprises, the Great British Menu format retains its distinctive elements: two great culinary talents battle it out in the kitchen each week, competing to create a magnificent British meal that the judges and public consider fitting for the country's returning heroes: four dishes that represent the best of Britain and a true taste of home, creating a glorious menu of outstanding British food.

The fourth series of Great British Menu made by Optomen TV for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, along with a fifth series to air in 2010, have been commissioned by ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Controller of Daytime Liam Keelan.

Lindsay Bradbury is the Executive Editor and says: "We are delighted that Great British Menu will be back on our screens – not just for another series – but for two. We hope they'll be even bigger and better than the last, with the same high production values, great chefs and cooking take-out – but we've also got some fabulous surprises up our sleeves."

Nicola Moody, Director of Factual Programmes, Optomen TV, says: "At Optomen we're hugely proud that Great British Menu has been ordered for two more series. We're delighted that the delicious mix of fine food, great chefs and a demanding challenge has proven to be a winner with both ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's audience and the nation's best chefs.

"This year we're honouring the heroism of the Armed Forces, with the UK's best chefs competing to cook for men and women who've risked everything for their country and truly deserve a really good meal."

Great British Menu is an Optomen Television production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

The Executive Producers for Optomen Television are Gary Broadhurst and Nicola Moody and the Executive Editor for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is Lindsay Bradbury.

Notes to Editors

Chefs taking part in Great British Menu 2009:

Central: Glynn Purnell (Purnell's, Birmingham) vs Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House, Cambridge)

London & South East: Mark Sargeant (Gordon Ramsay at Claridges) vs Tristan Welch (Launceston Place, London)

North East: Ian Matfin (Abode, Manchester) vs Kenny Atkinson (The White Room at Seaham Hall, County Durham)

North West: Nigel Haworth (Northcote Manor, Blackburn) vs Aiden Byrne (The Church Green, Lymm, Cheshire)

Northern Ireland: Danny Millar (Balloo House, Killinchy) vs Clare Smyth (Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road)

Scotland: Tom Kitchin (The Kitchin, Edinburgh) vs Alan Murchison (L'Ortolan, Shinfield, Berkshire)

South West: Nathan Outlaw (Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Fowey, Cornwall) vs Shaun Rankin (Bohemia, Jersey)

Wales: Stephen Terry (The Hardwick, Abergavenny) vs James Sommerin (The Crown at Whitebrook, Monmouth)

40 x 30' regional heats, 4 x 60' finals, 1 x 30' results show, 1 x 60' documentary showcasing the spectacular final banquet.

CI2