.....it isn't exactly Hell. Last year's show was appropriately named because of GR's treatment of the Celebs.

Also, I'm supposed to get to like or even care about a complete stranger in 2 weeks, enough to make me vote for them to be awarded a £250k restaurant to run by themselves!! Frankly, none of them deserve to even open a tin of beans and sell it.

Had they chosen members of the public who could actually cook, had talent and/or potential, that may have been different. But why have the producers picked people of differing cooking abilities? The only thing I have to compare the contestants with is their personalities and the amount they sweat. Not good enough for me to choose between them - if I cared at all, that is.

What started out as an attempt by the Chefs to be complete bastards, has obviously changed mid-series (plummeting viewing figures?) and has now become a bitch-fest and mini- war between the English and the French (isn't that racist??).

In my opinion, the format for this show needs to revert back to last year's: a (genuinely) tough chef, ordering a bunch of D list celebs about and making them graft for the first time in their lives. Then we can identify with the celebs before the show starts and our prior predjudices may or may not be changed in just 2 weeks.

Bottom line: Pleasant as some of these contestants are, I really don't care which of them wins and none of them should be awarded a restaurant!!!

Good post. You've hit the nail on the head. When I hear the intro. I'm programmed to watch but it's difficult to be enthusiastic about it. I am, however, very glad that both Aaron & Aby were voted off & - from the bits I have watched - IMO Terry would be a worthy winner. He seems to be genuine & a grafter. Kelly might fall into the same catagory too.

But bring back the olf format next time!!!

I have to disagree with you here having got well and truly hooked on this programme last night.

I really prefer watching people off the street forge crude alliances and bitch behind each others' backs than 'celebrities' pussyfooting around each other. The french / english and class divide themes add other levels of interest.

I would LOVE to see Kellie win a restaurant.

i love this series too its brill, and quite simply, if u dont like dont watch.

I'm glad someone has posted a thread like this. I was beginning to think that our household was the only one not taking much interest. I have tried 3 times to watch it. However 2 weeks is not long enough to give a stuff about a bunch of people who can't cook and 2 chefs who aren't as compelling viewing as Gordon Ramsey.

The show just hasn't worked for me at all. I feel no urge to vote. I couldn't care less who won. To me it is an hour wasted by ITV each night. Thank goodness Supernanny is on tonight!

We're going on personalities in this series because as far as I can tell, none of them are particularly accomplished cooks. I remember the contestants on Masterchef (not the latest crapola series btw) when they produced fantastic dishes.

Thinking back, Masterchef was one of the first reality telly programmes surely?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's sh*te, and anyone who votes is sad.

Thanks for the (unrequested) advice.

The show's OK and I'll choose whether I want to watch it or not. Was a half-hearted attempt at an intelligent discussion. My apologies if the purpose passed you by.

Can you think of a reality show which requires you to vote for non-celeb contestants, yet only lasts 2 weeks? I can't, so far.

maybe next year they could mix celeb and non celebs on teams so the non celebs can ask all those obvious questions that no ever asks

all suggestions on the back of a fag packet to 9th floor factual programming

Next time I see a reality show that wants people to chop some veg, make mash, cook meat and fish, make a souffle with runny jam on the plate, be nice and helpful and get viewers to laugh along with you, be 'umble at the right time and can cry. You set up a bank of phones with people ringing the allocated number 24/7, and you win £250.000, and pay them off ....... I am entering.

Surely someone has thought of employing people to ring their number? Or am I too cynical?

It's such a fixed and phoney prog that I am tired of it. Bet Angus is too.

The format isn't that different from last time though.

The only change in the format is that there's two chefs with two kitchens, but the style, presentation, and all the basic ingredients are all there as in the actual format.

I don't think it would be faring any better if there was just one kitchen and either Rhodes or JC was running it.

I think that this time around the format has been exposed as being incredibly weak in the first place.
Same format, but replace celebs with people you don't know and it's a disaster.

Even if Gordon Ramsey was back, I only think it would be doing slightly better.

I think first time around people didn't notice how flimsy the format was, because it was fresh and new, and a lot would have watched to see Gordon Ramsey being aggressive, and just watching because celebs were on it.

Take away Ramsey and celebs, and the format is exposed as being a bit crap.

I don't rate the format myself because it doesn't have that sense of immediacy that popular reality TV usually has.

There's nothing live about the main show. There's just clips from the previous day.
The only live bit is Angus waffling between the clips in a restaurant full of diners waiting for dinner,...so the live part is pointless.

It looks like the honeymoon is over for this show, and the novelty factor has worn off.

It could have a completely different format and I doubt it would matter. The format could be anything you wanted as long as Ramsey was shouting at celebs.
But like I say, even if Ramsey was back I think it would only be doing marginally better,...I think it was mainly about celebs and that was it.

I think the show is almost dead. Even if it was like series one with Ramsey and celebs, I just get the feeling that it wouldn't be doing as well a second time anyway as people have generally seen it all before.

I think the format was on borrowed time right from the start of series one, and people want something different,...Like Trinny and Susannah bullying celebs in a fashion design workshop or something. But then it wouldn't be Hell's Kitchen anyway.

The evening shows are too long, I'm sure the eviction show was 90 minutes the other day.

But I am enjoying it, shame to see the rating are so low.

We lost interest after the 2nd show despite being avid viewers last year. I'm not sure wether any of them have the intelligence to run their own restaurant even if they do win it. I mean did they have to pick dead ringers for Kathy Burke & Frank Bruno??

I agree with this post.

The producers seem to have broken the golden rule: If it aint broke, dont fix it!

The format this year, over a 2 wk period, was always doomed to flop. Pity.

But it might be worth it and watching some idiot win loadsofkebabmoney in some place that will go bankrupt soon after - just to see JC in action.

It's not that I find him incredibly sexy you understand

It is incredibly boring and that's why so much of it is stage managed!