 Blanc invested a six-figure sum of money into the programme, and was described as being "very excited" about the series.The first series began airing on 29 August 2007 and drew to a close on 17 October 2007.The series saw married couple Jeremy and Jane Hooper win the chance to set up their own restaurant, Eight at the Thatch, in the Oxfordshire town Thame, which opened in November 2007.