Saturday Kitchen returned this weekend with Matt Tebbutt fronting a Rivals special, but one familiar face was missing when the One cooking show went on air. Helen McGinn did not take part in the broadcast after, Tebbutt said, staying at home for a binge-watch party with her neighbours in Hampshire.
Tebbutt told viewers McGinn was “too much of a fangirl” to sit in the studio and said she could not believe she was missing the special. He also said he had binge-watched the first two episodes of the newly released second season himself, setting the tone for an edition built around the Disney+ drama and its sharp-edged 1980s feel.
The episode drew on that theme throughout. Gary Lamont, Lisa McGrillis and Emily Atack appeared on the show, while Will Murray, Jake Croft and Kate Jenkins served up dishes inspired by 80s classics in homage to Rivals. Ollie Smith added classic cocktails in tribute to the series, giving the programme a menu that matched the glossy, period-heavy world of the drama.
For viewers, McGinn’s absence quickly became part of the moment. People watching at home noticed she was not in the usual line-up and commented on X, while Tebbutt answered the gap on air with a joke that kept the pace light. “Probably is. Helen, drop us a text, let us know what you are up to,” he said, before adding, “It’s absolutely brilliant,” and, of the guests, “And I have to say, none of you looks anything like you do.”
The exchange gave Saturday Kitchen Today the sort of loose, live-TV energy that often lands best when it feels a little improvised. Jake Croft and Lisa McGrillis both asked, “Are you hungover, Helen?” while Gary Lamont added, “Wish you were here.” The broadcast made clear that McGinn’s no-show was not a mystery at all; it was a night of binge-watching in Hampshire, followed by a morning she could not make.
Saturday Kitchen airs on One on Saturdays at 10am, and this weekend’s edition used that slot to plug directly into Rivals and its second season. The result was a crossover that leaned on the show’s relaxed format, a guest list tied to the drama and a presenter willing to turn an off-camera absence into part of the entertainment.
