Format

Earlier this month, the brand-new cooking show Celebrity Beef made its U.S. debut on E! In each episode, two celebrity contestants go head-to-head in a cook-off in an attempt to prepare the best dish but also settle their personal scores.

The idea for the show came about at the height of the pandemic, says executive producer Jodi Flynn, president of The Content Group, as “celebrities baking and cooking on Instagram was all the rage.” She adds, “The network loved Jennifer Garner’s cooking segments and how she provided an intimate look into her celebrity life, so we wanted to figure out a way to re-create that for E! We developed a few ideas around the concept, and Celebrity Beef was the name toward which we and the network gravitated. It was originally going to be a remote show, but we then adapted it to an in-studio series and attached Joel McHale.”

McHale, an E! network veteran, serves as host and executive producer. He leads the action in the U.S. series, acting as prosecutor, judge and jury, creating twists and turns with various challenges throughout the showdown. “Joel was always the perfect host for many reasons,” Flynn says. “His quick wit and charm are invaluable to creating an environment where our guests feel relaxed and engaged; that’s what leads to a great show.”

At the end of each Celebrity Beef episode, the contestants present their final meal for the ultimate taste test, as one person is crowned the winner and the duos squash their issues once and for all. The victor also receives a trophy and is awarded $10,000 for their charity of choice.