Banijay Entertainment is expanding its unscripted television lineup with the launch of "Cooking Grandmas," a brand-new Italian culinary competition series heading to the international market at the Mipcom content showcase in Cannes. Developed and produced by Banijay Italia, the show was originally commissioned for primetime broadcast on Sky Italia's TV8. Combining time-honored cooking traditions with reality television mechanics, the format aims to offer an uplifting, character-driven alternative to high-stress kitchen competitions.
Blending Heritage Cooking with Reality Television
At the core of "Cooking Grandmas" is a contest among grandmothers who showcase their cherished family recipes and regional specialties. However, the format does not limit participants strictly to home-style comfort food. Throughout the contest, participants are pushed beyond their traditional comfort zones through diverse culinary assignments inspired by street food, international gastronomy, and fine dining techniques.
Adding a distinct dynamic to the competition, the contestants live together in a shared rustic farmhouse away from the kitchen set. This living arrangement introduces reality elements to the program, allowing the show to follow emerging friendships, natural rivalries, and the emotional personal backgrounds of the women behind the recipes.
Italian celebrity chef and restaurateur Alessandro Borghese leads the series as the head chef and primary judge. Borghese is already a well-established personality on TV8, bringing familiar star power to anchor the format's mix of humor and culinary evaluation.
Creative Executives on Format Potential and Broad Appeal
Executives behind the production emphasize that the show was designed to resonate with universal themes while celebrating competitive older women. Francesco Lauber, chief creative officer at Banijay Italia, noted that grandmothers represent the keepers of heritage, memories, and recipes across the world. Lauber explained that the show balances their beloved generational cooking with unfamiliar challenges, highlighting their humor, competitive drive, and emotional resilience.
Banijay Entertainment is positioning the format as an easily adaptable concept for foreign territories. James Townley, chief content officer of development at Banijay Entertainment, stated that the concept aligns with key global audience trends, specifically traditional cooking, family heritage, and authentic, character-centric narratives. Townley highlighted that the combination of reality television with a scalable culinary structure makes the project versatile for international broadcasters seeking feel-good programming.
Banijay's Unscripted Roster and Mipcom Market Slate
"Cooking Grandmas" arrives as part of Banijay Italia's wider unscripted portfolio, which manages established entertainment franchises alongside streaming projects. The local production arm is behind well-known titles such as "Survivor," "Foodish," and "Bake Off Italia," in addition to streaming releases including "Love Is Blind: Italy" and "The 50."
At the Mipcom market in Cannes, "Cooking Grandmas" joins a varied slate of newly presented Banijay formats targeting international buyers. Other titles showcased alongside the Italian culinary project include "100 Knives," "Last One Standing," "Million Dollar Idea," and "Date Knight."
As distributors and international networks convene at Mipcom, Banijay Entertainment will look to gauge buyer interest and secure international adaptation rights for "Cooking Grandmas" across multiple territories.
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Source: Variety
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