For the winners of the first series, the prize restaurant was in Oxfordshire, near Blanc's own Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons.

Challenges were set by Raymond Blanc, a successful French chef who owns a number of restaurants in the UK, most notably Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons.

The BBC announced the production of The Restaurant in October 2006, with chef and restaurateur Raymond Blanc named as the star of the series.

The series saw married couple Jeremy and Jane Hooper win the chance to set up their own restaurant, Eight at the Thatch, in the Oxfordshire town Thame, which opened in November 2007.

[7] After a period of maternity/paternity leave, Jeremy and Jane stepped down and left Eight at the Thatch, on 5 May,[8][9] 2008 their brief tenure marked by reported rampant arguments and failure[citation needed].

[10] It is reported in The Aylesbury Commuter newspaper (8/5/08) that two local restaurants, The Green Dragon in Haddenham and Le Bistro in Wendover are to feature in the next series, which commenced filming 21 May 2008.

[11] The final episode of the second series was screened on 29 October 2008, in which finalists Michele and Russell competed against James Knight-Pacheco and Alasdair Hooper to provide a high class five-course meal to passengers on the Orient Express.

The programme concluded as Raymond Blanc chose to start a new restaurant with winners Michele English and Russell Clement.