Wark to host BBC2 food quiz

A Question of Taste will run for an initial series of 6 x 30-minutes, produced by indie Silver River.

It will pit two teams of food experts against each other and test their gastronomic knowledge according to a statement from the company.

Silver River’s statement said that it hoped that the series would be “hugely playalong at home, capitalising on the rapidly growing audience for food shows who have become arm chair experts in their own right”.

The programme, which is being overseen by in-house Silver River executive Shaun Parry, also includes a feature called Kitchen Corner in which journalist and food writer William Sitwell imparts what the indie desribes as “surprising gastronomic information”.

The series is being executive produced by Silver River’s chief executive Daisy Goodwin.

The BBC had not been able to respond to queries at the time of publication.

The series is expeted to air in spring 2012.

Alison Kirkham, BBC2’s commissioning editor for formats and features, said: “The series is a really distinctive new way to explore food and gastronomy on BBC2.

“We’re a nation of foodies and the food quiz format will capitalise on that interest by allowing the audience and panel to explore the depths of their gastronomic knowledge while also being entertained.”

A statement from the BBC said the series will “look to explore gastronomy, cooking techniques, recipes, ingredients, food history and science through a quiz show format that will sort the gastro ‘nerds’ from the ‘foodie’ frauds”.

Wark said: “This is going to be a real joy for me as I am crazy about cooking, and pitting enthusiastic cooks against each other and the audience at home with questions about ingredients, foodie facts, famous chefs and using archive from some kitchen greats – will I hope, be a very tasty dish.”