Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less Returns with Fresh Families and Festive Flavours

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Joe Swash and Suzanne Mulholland are back to help more families stretch their budgets and reclaim their evenings. In a new six-part series and a festive special of Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less, the Channel 4 presenter and the batch‑cooking guru known as The Batch Lady will join forces with Lidl GB to showcase nutritious, time‑saving recipes and clever kitchen hacks. Their mission remains the same: to turn mealtimes from a daily chore into a money‑saving, stress‑busting routine.

The first series proved there is a real appetite for this kind of practical inspiration. It drew an average consolidated audience of 1.1 million viewers within the first 28 days of broadcast. Viewers sent messages of thanks after discovering how planning and cooking in batches can cut food waste and slash bills. Joe and Suzanne tapped into that enthusiasm by taking on households of all shapes and sizes, from young parents juggling work and toddlers to empty‑nesters keen to revive their cooking skills.

They're both keen to dive back in. "We're both excited to keep spreading the word about the power of batch cooking and look forward to teaming up again to transform the lives of families around the UK," Joe and Suzanne say in a joint statement. Casting is now open for anyone who wants to take part. Families can apply via the Channel 4 take‑part website and bring a fresh batch of challenges and triumphs to the screen.

Production is handled by South Shore Productions in Cardiff, with Melanie Leach, Andrew Mackenzie‑Betty and Sam Grace serving as executive producers. Claire Nosworthy is the series editor, while the show is commissioned by Clemency Green, Senior Commissioning Editor for Lifestyle, alongside Jo Street, Head of Lifestyle and Director of Commissioning for Nations & Regions. The festive special will ring in the season with seasonal batch‑cooking ideas and budget savvy for Christmas dinner and beyond.

With Lidl GB on board, each episode will highlight real‑world price comparisons and ingredient swaps, showing how quality produce need not come at a premium. Between Joe's down‑to‑earth enthusiasm and Suzanne's meticulous planning tips, the new run of Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less promises to deliver both inspiration and practical know‑how. Families across the country can look forward to discovering how a little foresight and a few simple tricks can make every meal matter.