Come Dine with Me's Teenagers: The Formulaic Failure That's More Cringeworthy Than Frightening
The latest spin-off to hit our screens, Come Dine With Me: Teens, is an exercise in disappointment. This new series brings together 16- to 19-year-olds who are essentially blank slates when it comes to the world of cooking and social dynamics. It's a formula that's been tried before, but this time around, it feels like a tired rehashing of past successes.
The real question is, why did Come Dine With Me take so long to adapt its format to a younger audience? The answer lies in its presentation, which has always set it apart from its imitators. Dave Lamb's dry wit and sarcastic remarks have been the backbone of the show, but they're less effective when paired with innocent teenagers.
In Monday's first episode, Lamb toned down his signature style, opting for a more measured approach that's almost too polite to be funny. The result is a viewing experience that feels like watching a caricature of a teenager trying their best to navigate adulthood.
Take Ben, one of the young contestants who thinks a beef wellington is a type of footwear. His awkwardness and naivety are cringe-worthy, but Lamb's response – a muffled "I get your logic" – only adds to the discomfort.
While it's possible that Come Dine With Me: Teens might spark to life eventually, with contestants who have more depth and nuance, the current lineup feels like a pale imitation of its predecessors. The format has ossified, relying on tired tropes and formulas rather than fresh ideas or perspectives.
The biggest problem is how dull it's to watch. These teenagers are essentially starting from scratch, with no built-in resentment or frustration to draw upon. It's like watching a blank slate being slowly filled in – it's a slow burn that's more likely to induce boredom than excitement.
Come Dine With Me: Teens feels like a marketing gimmick rather than a genuine attempt to revitalize the franchise. With its lack of creativity and reliance on tired tropes, it's hard to see how this spin-off will ever truly come alive. For now, it's a 4 out of 10 – not terrible, but certainly forgettable.
The show is currently airing on Channel 4, but let's be real, you can probably skip it if you're short on time or have better things to do.
The latest spin-off to hit our screens, Come Dine With Me: Teens, is an exercise in disappointment. This new series brings together 16- to 19-year-olds who are essentially blank slates when it comes to the world of cooking and social dynamics. It's a formula that's been tried before, but this time around, it feels like a tired rehashing of past successes.
The real question is, why did Come Dine With Me take so long to adapt its format to a younger audience? The answer lies in its presentation, which has always set it apart from its imitators. Dave Lamb's dry wit and sarcastic remarks have been the backbone of the show, but they're less effective when paired with innocent teenagers.
In Monday's first episode, Lamb toned down his signature style, opting for a more measured approach that's almost too polite to be funny. The result is a viewing experience that feels like watching a caricature of a teenager trying their best to navigate adulthood.
Take Ben, one of the young contestants who thinks a beef wellington is a type of footwear. His awkwardness and naivety are cringe-worthy, but Lamb's response – a muffled "I get your logic" – only adds to the discomfort.
While it's possible that Come Dine With Me: Teens might spark to life eventually, with contestants who have more depth and nuance, the current lineup feels like a pale imitation of its predecessors. The format has ossified, relying on tired tropes and formulas rather than fresh ideas or perspectives.
The biggest problem is how dull it's to watch. These teenagers are essentially starting from scratch, with no built-in resentment or frustration to draw upon. It's like watching a blank slate being slowly filled in – it's a slow burn that's more likely to induce boredom than excitement.
Come Dine With Me: Teens feels like a marketing gimmick rather than a genuine attempt to revitalize the franchise. With its lack of creativity and reliance on tired tropes, it's hard to see how this spin-off will ever truly come alive. For now, it's a 4 out of 10 – not terrible, but certainly forgettable.
The show is currently airing on Channel 4, but let's be real, you can probably skip it if you're short on time or have better things to do.
. The format always felt kinda formulaic anyway, and now it just feels like a repeat of the same old stuff. They're basically giving us a bunch of clueless teens trying to cook and interact, which is more annoying than entertaining 
. And what's up with Dave Lamb being all chill and polite? It's like he's lost his edge or something 
. The whole thing just feels like a marketing ploy to cash in on the success of the original, and honestly, it's not working 
. I'd give it 3 out of 10 – it's just not that interesting 
these teens are literally trying their best and it's just so... awkward 
dave lamb's dry wit is lost on them, and honestly, i get it, they're not exactly the most entertaining contestants 
come dine with me: teens is basically a 4/10 – not terrible, but not even close to being worth watching 
skip it if u ask me 
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to take a formula that worked for older contestants and swap them out for kids? It just feels like they're trying to be edgy or whatever 
. And don't even get me started on the host's attempts at humor – he sounds like a muffled dad trying to be cool 
. The whole thing just feels like a rehashing of past episodes, but with less charm and more cringe 
. I'd give it a 2 out of 10, personally 
.
but it's not just the humor that's off, it's the whole presentation vibe which feels too sanitized for a show that's supposed to be about awkwardness and growing pains 
dave lamb's wit is still on point but now he's toned down to be more "polite" and less snarky 
I don't get why they made a whole new version just because the original was popular. The formula still feels so same-old, same-old. They should've tried something new and different, like getting contestants who are actually interested in cooking or trying to learn from each other 
.