Edinburgh Preview: Come Dine With Me: The Musical at Underbelly (Cowbarn)

Televising the good, the bad and the downright ugly when it comes to culinary competitiveness and unchecked hospitality, Come Dine with Me has the perfect ingredients for an irreverent musical with big laughs and a big heart. This new musical, written by Sam Norman and Aaron King, highlights the chaos that follows clashing chef personalities, and looks beyond the meltdowns, the sore losers and stroppy winners to delve deeper behind the scenes.

Based on the Multistory Media TV format, commissioned by Channel 4, Come Dine With Me: The Musical follows a film crew enter yet another weekly contest. Having a fictional episode play out before us, the show is unafraid to uncover the truth behind the beloved show. Co-created by TV producers Nell Butler (Airline; Celebrities Behaving Badly; You Be the Judge) and Genevieve Welch (Airline; I’m a Celebrity; MasterChef), who both directly worked on Come Dine With Me, this outlandish musical is a true insight into the heart – and hungry stomachs – of the show.

Despite the raucous drama that comes with every three-course meal, Come Dine With Me: The Musical is about the magic of human connection. Through fly-on-the-wall glimpses into the every-day lives of strangers and people coming together (with the odd tantrum), it is a show that taps into the nosey instincts of audiences, whether they’re coach potatoes or theatregoers.

A national treasure of British TV, Come Dine With Me has been on air on Channel 4 in a variety of guises since 2005. Its glorious technicolour of cuisine and personality uplifts the lowly, skewers the pretentious, and has a huge following across many demographics. It is one of the world’s most popular formats, airing in 43 territories.

Writer Sam Norman comments, Prepare your tastebuds! We couldn’t be more excited to serve up a feast of laughter, song, and culinary chaos. Join us for a deliciously entertaining musical that’ll leave you craving seconds!