Channel 4 has served up its latest culinary offering with Come Dine With Me: Teens, but this new spin-off of the long-running cooking competition fails to deliver the same entertainment value that made the original series a British television staple.
A Formula Past Its Prime
The television industry has long followed a predictable pattern: when creativity wanes, introduce a junior version. This approach has seen success with programmes like MasterChef and The Great British Bake Off, both of which launched youth editions within years of their debut. However, Come Dine With Me arrives late to the party, attempting this formula two decades after its initial launch.
The new series features contestants aged between 16 and 19, all younger than the show itself. This striking fact highlights the programme's advanced age in television terms, making viewers acutely aware of the passage of time since the format first graced our screens.
Toning Down the Signature Style
The essence of Come Dine With Me has always been narrator Dave Lamb's sarcastic commentary, where he essentially mocks the contestants' culinary efforts. This distinctive style works brilliantly with adult participants but becomes problematic when directed at teenagers.
Based on the first episode of this five-part series, Lamb has noticeably tempered his approach. He appears less like an attack dog and more restrained, sometimes audibly holding back his natural sarcastic instincts. When contestant Ben mistakes beef Wellington for footwear, Lamb's response is surprisingly mild: "I get your logic."
There are glimpses of the old Lamb emerging, particularly when he screams "SHUT UP" upon discovering two contestants have never eaten soup before. This suggests he might become more unrestrained as the series progresses.
Where's the Entertainment?
The fundamental issue with Come Dine With Me: Teens lies in its sheer dullness. The young contestants lack the life experience and developed personalities that make their adult counterparts so entertaining. They haven't had sufficient time to accumulate the resentments that typically fuel dramatic outbursts like the legendary "What a sad little life, Jane" moment.
This isn't the first time the franchise has experimented with variations. The original format spawned numerous spin-offs including celebrity editions, couples versions, and even a professional chefs iteration. The constant reinvention suggests the core format may have become stale through overuse.
There are occasional sparks of potential, particularly with contestants like the catering student who dresses as Elvis and carries Celebrations chocolates everywhere. With careful editing, such characters might develop into memorable eccentrics, but the initial episode offers little promise of this transformation.
Come Dine With Me: Teens represents a safe, sanitised version of what was once a sharply observed social experiment. While the adjustment to accommodate younger participants is understandable, it comes at the cost of the very elements that made the original compelling viewing.
