Two foodie favourite shows are set to return to TV screens in the UK and US as Aldi's Next Big Thing and The Bear returning for respective second seasons.
Supermarket chain Aldi launched the first series of Aldi's Next Big Thing on Channel 4 in the UK, a show which features new British suppliers who compete each episode to gain a listing at the discount retailer, pitching to Aldi UK buying MD Julie Ashfield, alongside hosts Anita Rani and Chris Bavin.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: "The response to the first series of Aldi's Next Big Thing was overwhelming. We've had such positive feedback on showing shoppers behind the scenes, from tasting and developing products, to seeing them land on shelves. We are 100% committed to supporting British businesses and thanks to Aldi's Next Big Thing, the British public can be a part of that too. I can't wait to see what lands on our plates this series."
Hopeful suppliers can enter on Aldi's website here.
On the other side of the Atlantic, The Bear returns this summer for Season 2. The highly acclaimed series chronicles the lives of members of Chicago's restaurant industry, following a young chef from the fine dining world who is forced to return home and run his family's sandwich shop, the Original Beef of Chicagoland, following a death in the family. IMDB says: A world away from what he's used to, Carmy must balance the soul-crushing reality of trading in Michelin star restaurants for the small business' kitchen filled with strong-willed and recalcitrant staff and his strained familial relationships, all while grappling with the impact of his brother's suicide.
As well as the popularity and interest in the show itself, The Bear has helped raise the profile of Italian beef sandwiches nationally, putting a spotlight on a Chicago street food classic.