Luton-born chef shows off culinary skills as she returns to BBC’s Great British Menu
A private chef born and raised in Luton will return to the Great British Menu for its 2026 series, with her first episode airing tonight (Tuesday).
Louisa Ellis is based in Nottingham and runs a private dining business, cooking restaurant-quality multi-course meals in clients’ homes.
The 31-year-old started her culinary career at Barnfield College, and one of her first jobs was at Menzies Strathmore Hotel in Luton.
She explained: “I grew up in Luton, lived on a council estate… I didn’t really feel like I fitted in at school, but then I fell in love with cooking.
“When I was a kid, I really got stuck in the kitchen, cooking family meals when Mum and Dad were working very long hours.”
Louisa progressed and worked at a Michelin-star restaurant in Birmingham, which helped shape her fine-dining approach to cooking.
Two years ago, she managed to make it to the judges’ chamber before exiting the competition.
But this time, she wants to go even further: “I didn’t actually apply – they reached out for me to come back again, which was amazing. I really wanted to give it another go.”
The 2026 Great British Menu theme is British films, meaning dishes have to reference movies – both in presentation and taste.
Louisa described “many sleepless nights” preparing her dishes for the competition.
She said: “You can cook amazing tasting food, but if it doesn’t hit the brief, you’re not going to get top scores.”
And although she represents the Central region, she said she remains “a Luton girl at heart.”
Louisa gave some advice to any aspiring chef in the town: “Take every opportunity you can to learn the craft… You don’t necessarily need a culinary college to become a good chef.”
“The lifestyle is chaotic and the hours are unsociable, but it’s incredibly rewarding when you can make an occasion special for someone.”
Catch Louisa on BBC2 at 7pm tonight (March 10).