If I were a contestant I would do something which can either be wholly prepared before hand and just cooked or reheated.

Does anyone watch the Australian CDWM? Culinary-wise it's in a different league with contestants pushing the boat out compared to the British version. The narrator is highly bloody annoying, though.

I should have added to mine that there would be copious amounts of booze. I'm not a big drinker myself but most of the 'fun' episodes I've seen on the show arise from the guests being a bit tipsy.

c4rv - How much are contestants given to spend on food and drink?

I read somewhere that they get £125 to spend on food and drink. That sounds sufficient for a dinner party for 5, I wonder if some spend more from their own pocket.

It would be fun (and helpful to those living frugally) to have occasional editions where everything on the menu is made with "basic" or "everyday value" products.

Has anyone on CDWM ever finished a meal with coffee, or a cheeseboard?

Not that I've ever seen. I suspect if a potential contestant presented that on their menu, the producers would select someone else who was willing to be a bit more 'daring', not that cheesecake is anything special, but I think they prefer people to make things that have the potential to go wrong.

Yes, I've seen someone do a cheeseboard, but I think she was French and she did it as the French do and served a cheeseboard followed by a dessert.

I'm a huge fan of cheese but would never pick a cheeseboard over a dessert, I love something nice and sweet and (preferably) chocolatey to finish off the meal.

Oh gawd, I'm just watching today's episode. There's this hideous woman called Dotty, with the table manners of a pig. Where do they find these people?

I'm sure some people must do this after they have served dessert. I remember one lady made some chocolate truffles, but that was extra to her 3 courses.
I suppose some experienced people could easily manage 4 or 5 courses.

Well, we did see Forbes dish up his pig trotters. I think they were quite frugal

A friend of mine knows someone who appeared - I watched the episode.
Their menu was accepted and they were given a date.
They practiced it to perfection and two days before recording they were told they'd have to prepare a totally different menu.
I'm sure that's why many contestants claim never to have cooked their dish before.
The contestant also stated it was an incredibly long and stressful day with the TV crew arriving early morning and eventually departing well in the early hours after midnight.

I think CDWM has long run it's course. It's no longer about cooking but about personality conflict and specifically mismatched guests.

At that point I would remove myself from the show/competition as I would take that to be a wind-up, ie. the producers looking for a way to get someone to screw up/make mistakes/be extra nervous. There's no reasonable excuse as to why someone would have to change their menu. I've seen plenty of episodes where the starter or dessert is repeated during the week.

I haven't watched CDWM in quite some time, but I'm inclined to agree that it's probably time for them to let it go. Four in a Bed is often the same way, finding contestants who will clash instead of highlighting what the B&B and location has to offer.

I agree that both programmes have had their day, but surely nobody watches Four in a Bed and CDWM for B&B recommendations and cooking tips.

Still managed to squeeze in at number 30 on Channel 4 after all these years.

http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-30

... and it's a repeat edition.

I remember some early episodes when the contestants were interesting, sociable and polite toward each other, could cook and enjoyed their dinner parties.
But then the first series of Big Brother was actually an interesting social experiment.
Neither now bear a resemblance to their original concepts.
I do admit to a liking of Dave Lamb's sarcastic voice over even if it has now become scripted.

Just read that the new CDWM series is couples v couples so they appear to have combined the two concepts!

I might check that out. So will it be 4 couples? 8 people is a lot to manage, most people wouldn't have enough room at their table for that many.

It seems that there will be 3 couples per episode if it is an hour long episode. Personally, I prefer 3 half-hour episodes (extra portions)

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/whats...es-new-6752476

As you have probably seen the advert on Channel 4, CDWM Couples will be starting on Monday, 7 July at 5pm.

On Come Dine With Me I would play very very safe with popular classics like steak, chocolate fondant, etc. in order to ensure that I won the prize and anyone who said they didn´t eat something I was cooking just looked like an attention-seeking fusspot. I would also provide plenty of booze yet not too much - don´t want guests hungover and lowering my score the following morning in revenge!!

Basically I´d make a different menu to one for a normal dinner party where I know my guests well and am seeking to make something interesting rather than win a prize. xx

I can see them in the cab ride home having drained all the booze and then voting tactically by giving you 4/5 for being unadventurous. Also, you need to, at the least, organise a pole dancing session or you'll get slammed for lack of entertainment.
It's not got much to do with food theses days.

Starter: whitebait with home made coleslaw and french bread.
Main: Chicken chasseur with roasties (it's the only thing I could which could be regarded as restaurant quality)
pud: mini cheesecakes.

I have made myself hungry now.

My dad went on a one-day cookery course a year after my mum died just to pick up some tips and make new friends. a few weeks later - he got a letter from the production company asking him to apply. He had no kitchen at the time as he was rebuilding the house and was living in a caravan in the garden - but I would have loved for him to be on it. Don't ask me what he would cook though as he can't cook!!