The Restaurant 2009

The Restaurant will be returning to BBC2 next Thursday 29th October for an 8 week run with Mr Blanc at the helm again! Should be cracking stuff!

My only question is that it has always been on BBC2 twice a week for 8 weeks - the 1st programme being a restaurant based task and then the 2nd being a random food based challenge set by Ray Blanc. However, next week, it is only on once and then I'm not sure about the week after. Is it going to be on twice a week as per usual or have they changed the format so it is now only once a week. I hope not! Worringly, my TV guide says 1/8 for next week's show which doesn't look good...

And also hope BBC2 carry on using The Restaurant ident +/- green box!

Looks like it will only be on once a week according to the Radio Times website, which shows the 2nd episode to be on Thursday 5th of November. If so, it will be a shame as it looks as though they may have altered the format if its only on once a week.

This year there are TWO eliminations before they get their own premises, so so it might return to the two-episodes-a-week format in week three.

Personally I'm glad to see the back of the 2 shows a week format, not only was the second episode not really necessary but it made it much more difficult to keep up with

Wonder if the BBC are trying to kill it off by putting it against the ITV soap hour, rather than on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Can't be worse than the Masterchef scheduling though - that was ridiculous this year and desperately needs reformatting to fit into the schedules easier.

Yep - Masterchef : The Professionals was brilliant this year, but you needed a PVR to actually keep track of it and watch it reliably.

(Loved Michel Roux Jr's soux chef Monica, and the skills and palate test!)

Surely if they want to get rid they just would.

I suspect it is a case of scheduling unlike against like.

If you want a show to do well against Corrie - chose a show that is likely to appeal to those who don't watch soaps.

The One Show goes head-to-head with Corrie on Friday when The One Show runs for an hour. It hardly loses any of its audience across that second half hour (most people thought it would lose loads) - presumably because The One Show core audience aren't huge soap fans (the soap fans are presumably watching Emmerdale?)

I love the Restaurant, and seldom watch Corrie. I suspect I'm not alone?

Most of television is 'unnecessary', but enjoyable, but like the 2nd episode of the Restaurant.

In terms of the competition is was un-necessary and it did complicate the format somewhat.

I hope so! If its only 1 episode a week, then the majority of the series will be set in the couple's own restaurants rather than having The Challenges also, which were set in much larger places/surroundings etc and made it all the more interesting!

2 episodes a week please from week 3!!!!