Bringing The Heat! Olivia Attwood's new cooking show is more Love Island than MasterChef and it's simmering with scandal
The Heat sees 10 hopefuls head to Barcelona to become Jean-Christophe Novelli's next big thing
The Heat, hosted by Olivia Attwood, starts on ITV2 next week (February 24) – and the Love Island alum has shared her surprise after things started to hot up between the contestants away from the kitchen!
Olivia, who recently split from husband Bradley Dack, is a woman in demand. As well as her ITV2 series Getting Filthy Rich, she’s also a podcaster, regularly appears on Loose Women and has even hosted This Morning.
She’s certainly come a long way since her Love Island days, but it seems her new show might not be that far removed from the sass and sauce of villa life…
What is Olivia Attwood’s new show The Heat about?
The Heat sees 10 ambitious chefs travel to Barcelona, working under Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. He’s opening an exclusive summer restaurant at the glamorous Port Vell Marina and is on a mission to find the next rising star.
However, this isn’t just a straightforward cooking competition. Each day, when the kitchen service is over, the cameras keep rolling. Because when you’re living, working and competing with one another, there is no escaping The Heat.
ITV said viewers can expect post-shift dates, staff nights out and more. And, blending both their professional and personal lives will see tempers simmer, steam and boil, in and outside of the kitchen.
The young hopefuls will quickly realise that no one’s place is secure, as they consistently battle it out in a bid to climb the kitchen ranks. Promotions, demotions, power plays, sackings and shock decisions are sure to keep the contenders on their toes and every service is a chance to soar or sink.
‘We were completely caught off guard’
Olivia has teased “romance and rivalry” in her new ITV2 series, The Heat.
Asked what surprised her most about the show, Olivia said: “The rivalry and the romances that unexpectedly unfold in the evening! We were completely caught off guard when things started to heat up during filming. The heat in the kitchen, in every sense of the word, is pretty explosive.”
She added: “The show is so far away from the parameters of just a dating show, it’s a reality competition, with a cooking format at the heart of it. But things really heat up with all the dating and romances – which happen in a lovely, organic way. It’s so great to see the stories unfold.”
But who will become rivals? And who will enjoy a tête-a-tête outside the kitchen? It’s time to meet the contestants…
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Meet the hopefuls
Akito, 24, Cheshire
Passionate about Japanese cuisine, Akito is known for creating visually striking, artistic dishes. He currently works as a full-time influencer and content creator with large followings on Tik Tok and Instagram.
Alex, 22, County Cork, Ireland
Alex was born and raised at the world-famous Ballymaloe in Ireland, where his family owns and runs the renowned restaurant and cookery school. Keen to prove himself, he moved to London, gaining experience as Chef de Partie at Straker’s. His ultimate ambition is to return home, take the reins of the family restaurant, and reclaim his great grandmother Myrtle’s Michelin star.
Djordje 26, Wakefield
Djordje is cheeky, fun, charming and full of warm Northern warmth – the kind that means he somehow gets away with everything. He enjoys being a prankster and loves having a laugh. He doesn’t take things too seriously, wears his heart on his sleeve and is open to every opportunity.
Jayon, 22, Manchester
Jayon began working in kitchens at 16, starting as a Kitchen Porter washing dishes, before quickly progressing through the ranks. He developed his skills on the grill at Nandos and Gourmet Burger then went on to roles at The Ivy and Medlock Canteen. His goal is to open his own Jamaican-themed restaurant in Manchester.
Kat, 22, Scottish Highlands
Kat kicked off her career at Glasgow’s Virgin Hotel, before moving to the city’s fine-dining hotspot Glaschu. She then took her talents to the Marriott Hotel, stepping up as a Chef De Partie. She’s accustomed to being the only woman in the kitchen and standing her ground – thick-skinned, quick-witted and fluent in the banter needed to fit in. Kat wants to become a top private chef.
Maja, 25, London
If Maja looks familiar, that’s because she’s the daughter of football manager Alan Pardew. She studied criminology at university but, after graduating, realised her real passion lay in the kitchen. She trained at Leith’s Cookery School, before working as a Chef de Partie at Clipstone Restaurant. A Hinge match then took her to Australia, where she landed a role at the iconic Icebergs restaurant on Bondi Beach.
Marta, 21, London
Marta began her cheffing career as an apprentice at a three-Michelin restaurant, where she discovered her passion for pastry. She then worked as a private chef in Tenerife. Her signature dish? A show stopping croquembouche. Marta’s dream is to become a private chef on luxury yachts.
Helina, 21, London
Helina currently works at a private members’ club in Soho. Previously, she cut her teeth at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London gaining first-hand experience handling high-pressure service and fiery chefs. While hospitality is her happy place, Helina’s true passion is music. She’s also best friends with Marta, having known her from school.
Tom, 21, South Wales
Tom is a huge character, ambitious and confident beyond his years. He’s a force to be reckoned with, quick-witted, charismatic and full of sitcom-worthy humour. He began cooking professionally at 16, building his experience at The Savoy in London with an internship under Gordon Ramsay.
Seren, 21, Buckinghamshire
Confident, chatty and impossible to ignore, Seren grew up in Buckinghamshire surrounded by music, chaos and creativity. Raised by a DJ dad and music-manager mum, she was destined for the spotlight. Seren is currently studying Fashion Marketing but her real passion has always been food. Alongside uni, she works as a chef at Honest Crust, a buzzing market pizza stand.
Olivia promises we’ll be ‘captivated’
Olivia added: “The Heat is in a league of its own, everything about it feels so fresh, the contestants, the format, the location, it feels super elevated. It feels cooler and edgier than any other reality shows that are on TV at the moment. The chefs have such tenacity and confidence, that you can’t help but be captivated by them from the very first episode.”
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