Season 6
The primetime cookery show in which amateur chefs attempt to wow each other with their culinary and hospitality skills in order to win a cash prize returns with a new season made in South Africa.
The format is simple: South African chefs takes it in turn to host a dinner party and the guests score the host on their way home.
Throughout, Come Dine With Me's narrator Dave Lamb never fails to make the most of the participants' fumbles and foibles, with humurous and occasional savage commentary.
Of course, with personality clashes at almost every dinner party, it's often not just the champagne corks that go with a bang as insults are traded, homes are snooped around, and the flowing wine loosens the diners' tongues...
The cooking competition is back for a sixth season and has a new home on BBC Lifestyle, once again narrated by the savage Mr Dave Lamb. Four brand new hopefuls are in the running to take home that cash prize of R10,000.
It's week one and it seems that in the premiere episode of the all new Come Dine With Me South Africa that everyone's a food critic, sometimes you just can't win, but someone has to...
Thespian Gregg, spelt always with two gs darling, is not shy in talking frankly in front of this week's unsuspecting cooks.
Fun-loving Janet - aka Miss J - takes us on a Pan-African culinary experience.
Shogan opts for a trip a little further east and brings colour to his dishes with the brightest red chicken tikka you've ever seen.
Kelly delights in including twists and surprises to her menu including the world's only Italian champagne...
The first night is hosted by actor and director Gregg. His dinner party is themed against the backdrop of Broadway characters. Much to his guest's annoyance, he has a waiter on call, summoned by a bell.
His starters is vichyssoise, or a cold potato soup. For his mains, he serves tenderloin medallions, served well done alongside a lesson in wine glass etiquette.
Dessert is a showstopper thanks to a special surprise which delights his guests and brings the fun back into a rather intense dining experience.
Night two and its advertising account manager Kelly's turn to host a three-course meal cooked from scratch. Gregg arrives and graciously points out that Prosecco is not Italian champagne.
Kelly's other two guests Janet and Shogan bite their tongues, aware that they will have to deal with this wannabe food critic later in the week.
Kelly serves asparagus, brie and prosciutto bruschetta for starters. Her ciabatta is a tad crispy, much to Gregg's delight.
Mains is meat free and Italia with her gnocchi gorgonzola. Dessert promises to be a surprise. An aubergine chocolate cake. It would appear the only surprise is that it is dry.
Poor Kelly – sometimes you just can't win, but someone has to...
Night three sees travelling people manager Janet take over the reins of hosting. Her menu is inspired by her work across Africa. Her Afro chic dress code sets the tone for her evening.
She starts with spicy jollof rice, served with calamari. It's a taste profile that even Gregg likes. For her mains, it's a peppered lamb rack. Dessert is a chocolate pudding affair.
It's Janet's first time baking and she pulls off a winning recipe. Has she done enough to top the previous two dinner parties?
The final night arrives and it's instructional designer Shogan's chance to show off. His menu is rooted in his Indian heritage. Chicken tikka, lamb saag, and cardamom brûlées.
Shogan's evening takes its first wrong turn when he incorrectly spells Gregg's name with one g.
The accompanying long grain white rice to his lamb saag is deemed the ultimate curry crime to Gregg and yet for Kelly, it's her favourite meal of the week and she tucks into Gregg's generous leftovers after cleaning her plate entirely.
The brûlée dessert delivers 2 out of 3 cracks. Not bad, but is it enough for him to take the cloche of cash?
Come Dine With Me South Africa is executive produced by Kee-Leen Irvine and Duncan Irvine. The series is an ITV Studios format licensed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment and produced by Rapid Blue for BBC Brit.
Broadcast Notes
Season 6 premiered on BBC Lifestyle on 27 May, 2020. After six episodes the show went on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, resuming with Episode 7 on Wednesday 5 May, 2021.