M6 producing local version of Red Arrow’s The Taste

French commercial broadcaster M6 is to produce a local version of Nigella Lawson and Anthony Bourdain-fronted cooking series The Taste, marking the latest international sale for the Red Arrow International format.

US network ABC ordered eight seasons of the series, which sees Lawson and Bourdain head of panel of judges to pit America’s most skilled home cooks against each other. It is produced by Kinetic Content, the Red Arrow-backed US production company lead by Chris Coelen.

The series will also be produced in India after Fox International Channels struck a deal to air a local version of its Fox Traveller channel and Australian broadcaster Nine Network is also working on a version.

Aline Avedikian, regional sales manager, France, Red Arrow
International, says, “The Taste introduces a new generation of cooking
shows: the combination a thrilling competition with the most important
thing in cooking – the taste. I am absolutely excited about the
cooperation with M6 and the pick-up of The Taste.”

Lawson told TBI that home cooks need to be represented because a lot of home cooks feel bad that they’re not professional chefs. “I believe cooking is not a competitive sport, but here I am making a programme with a competitive element. The thing that is key is teaching people how to cook by showing them. I haven’t turned into a shouty, aggressive competitive person and I feel I’m here [on The Taste] to represent the home cook because TV cooking has been dominated by chefs, whose food is great but who are intimidating,” she said.