Having recently launched roulette-inspired gameshow Red or Black?, Simon Cowell’s production company has now turned its attentions to developing a cookery show.

Syco TV is set to take on the might of MasterChef with its own kitchen-based series as the company continues to diversify away from musical talent shows.

Details of the development are sketchy, but it is thought that Cowell has been inspired by the global success of Shine’s format and will attempt to persuade some of world’s top chefs to appear on his show.

The music mogul has said in the past that he is attracted to “big event” ideas – indicating there could be some competition element to the cookery format.

Cowell has also suggested he would be open to co-producing other non-music formats following Red or Black?, which was made with ITV Studios. The ITV1 gameshow was savaged by critics and failed to deliver huge audiences when it aired earlier this month.

A spokeswoman for Syco would not be drawn on whether a broadcaster was yet attached to the cookery project.

Broadcast Greenlight

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