Art and Cookery commissioned for Channel 4

Channel 4 has signed one of Britain’s leading artists, Grayson Perry, in a two year exclusive deal while chef Jamie Oliver returns to the network with a new daytime series.

Grayson Perry proved a hit with his recent series, All in the Best Possible Taste with the production receiving widespread critical acclaim. In the three-part series Grayson made his way through the taste tribes of Britain, observing our taste, exploring the details of modern life and revealing what they tell us about ourselves through his artwork.

“In each episode, he embedded himself with people from across our social spectrum – the working classes of Sunderland, the middle classes of Tunbridge Wells and the upper classes of the Cotswolds – in a bid to get to grips with our differing takes on taste. He shopped, ate, drank and socialised with his hosts, learning about and taking part in the revealing rituals of the Great British public.” the press office state.

At the end of his journey, he created six imposing tapestries called ‘The Vanity of Small Differences’ – his personal but panoramic take on the taste of 21^st century Britain. The tapestries are currently on display at the Victoria Miro gallery in London until 11 August.

The series was commissioned by Channel 4 Arts Commissioning Editor Tabitha Jackson, who says ‘I’m delighted that Grayson has agreed to continue the creative partnership which produced the taste series. His skill not just as an artist, but as an artist-anthropologist somewhere between William Hogarth and Bruce Parry, gives us a unique opportunity to really explore the texture of contemporary life and to understand it in a different way.’

Elsewhere its the former face of Sainsbury’s that’s popping up in the daytime schedules as Jamie Oliver returns to Channel 4 with Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals.

“Building on the phenomenal success of Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, in this series each half hour episode will offer two fifteen minute meals back to back to inspire viewers and show them just what they can achieve in a short space of time, every single day of the week.” the press office say.

Jamie will take viewers through the dishes step by step, and each meal is based on ingredients easily found in supermarkets, using key kitchen equipment and offering plenty of hands-on advice to help the aspirational home cooks serve up a range of fantastic dishes that are a huge improvement on your average mid-week fare.

Channel 4 say that Jamie’s recipes will offer great family entertainment, plenty of new ideas, tips and suggestions and are guaranteed turn around Britain’s family mealtimes. So that’s you told.