Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

The Food Programme

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Food & Drink

Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

BBC Radio 4 LW

Food Programme

Sheila Dillon

Genevieve Taylor

Anne-Marie Bullock

The Food Programme: Cooking for Poldark

Cooking for Poldark

11/09/2016

BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme, Cooking for Poldark

Food stylist Genevieve Taylor reveals how she created elaborate feasts for Poldark.

Genevieve Taylor, the food stylist on the new Poldark series, invites listeners behind the scenes to show how she created the elaborate feasts on set and how much is real.

As the much-anticipated new series of Poldark returns to our screens, most eyes will be on Aidan Turner but behind the scenes a raft of experts has worked to ensure each setting is as accurate to the time as possible - including the food. The Food Programme was given special access on set to see the effort that goes into recreating the fantastic feasts that marked so many social functions in the Georgian era and were a marker of class and wealth. 

Food Stylist Genevieve Taylor is used to creating wonderful images of food for cookery books and adverts but in her first period drama she faced a new set of challenges - researching the typical foods available at the time and how they were served, how to recreate them, which 'cheats' to use all before transporting the food to set intact, dressing the scene and preventing the crew from stealing the goodies. 

She invites us into her kitchen and to the secret set locations for an insight into the detailed effort made - but it's not easy. From sourcing obscure fruits, to whipping up dishes under a gazebo, balancing tiered cakes on wobbly dishes to turning out jellies in front of a whole crew - can she impress Ross Poldark, the Directors and the audience? 

Presented by Genevieve Taylor and Sheila Dillon
Produced by Anne-Marie Bullock.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Food Programme

Cooking for Poldark

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4