Ainsley’s National Trust Cook Off | Preview (ITV1)

Chef Ainsley Harriott is embarking on a brand new cooking challenge for Ainsley's National Trust Cook Off.

The show will see some of Britain’s most recognisable professional chefs competing head-to-head, as they conjure up mouth-watering dishes using ingredients from the country’s most idyllic National Trust kitchen gardens.

Hosted by Ainsley Harriott and made by Plimsoll Productions, the ten-part alfresco cooking series will be set against stunning scenery, filming will also take place at Tyntesfield in Wraxall, North Somerset and Wimpole Estate in Arrington, Cambridgeshire.

In each hour-long episode, host Ainsley will be joined by two different celebrity chefs in his outdoor kitchen. Each chef will be challenged with cooking a dish inspired by their beautiful garden surroundings and including ingredients plucked straight from the grounds.

Volunteers and gardeners at each National Trust estate will judge the first two savoury dishes, picking the one they most enjoyed, and then it’s down to Ainsley to reveal the dessert ingredients, with both chefs tasked with pitching an inspired new recipe. Ainsley will then pick a favourite who will have the honour of making the final dish.

Ainsley's National Trust Cook Off is executive produced by Karen Plum, Plimsoll’s Head of Factual Entertainment and Andrea Jackson, Plimsoll’s Creative Director of Factual Entertainment and commissioned by Commissioning Editor for ITV Entertainment, Lara Akeju.

Ainsley Harriott said, “I love a new challenge and Ainsley's National Trust Cook Off is just that - a fun cooking competition featuring some of the country's top chefs, all set in the stunningly beautiful surroundings of amazing National Trust estates. The gorgeous scenery, the very freshest ingredients and some fantastic new recipes will be coming together to show off our countryside at its beautiful best.”

Karen Plumb, Plimsoll’s Head of Factual Entertainment said, “We’re delighted to be making this series for ITV. It combines so many things that we feel make Britain great. Exceptionally talented chefs (and the great food they produce), the beauty and bounty of the National Trust gardens and the joy, wit, and talent that is Ainsley Harriott.”

Lara Akeju, Commissioning Editor for ITV Entertainment said, “Ainsley is a national treasure and joining him and his top chef friends in some of Britain's most inspiring gardens will be a treat for our food-lovers who will discover loads of new ways to cook seasonally and locally grown ingredients.”

Ainsley’s National Trust Cook Off begins Saturday 18th May on ITV1.