Channel 5 has announced its first in-house produced series – Marco Pierre White”s Kitchen Wars. The series, which will air this summer, will see the chef sort through hundreds of couples in what the broadcaster says will be one of the country”s biggest ever cooking competitions.

Summarising the 7 x 60 mins show, Channel 5 says: “Starting on the streets of Britain with the Kitchen Wars” mobile kitchen and building to an intense studio finale, it”s not just the Michelin starred chef who needs impressing; Marco will also ask members of the public to exercise their taste buds to help him find the victorious couple.”

Andrew O”Connell, Head of Factual, News and Current Affairs at Channel 5, added: “We are delighted to be working with Marco Pierre White, one of Britain”s leading chefs. The show features the best of British competing at something that really captures the public”s imagination.”

The fact that C5 is producing the show in-house is an interesting development. Until now, C5 has been completely reliant on indie producers but is believed to be ramping up a significant number of show in-house.