National Geographic has officially announced Tucci in Great Britain, a brand-new five-part documentary series following Stanley Tucci as he explores the food, history and culture of his adopted home. The new series comes after the success of Tucci in Italy and will see the Academy Award-nominated actor travel across Great Britain, from the Scottish Highlands to coastal communities and cities across the country, uncovering the stories behind some of the nation’s most distinctive dishes and culinary traditions.
Produced by SALT Productions and OBB, Tucci in Great Britain will stream exclusively on Disney+ and National Geographic. Having lived in London for almost 15 years, Tucci says he wants to challenge outdated perceptions of British food and showcase the depth and diversity of the country’s culinary scene. “I am very excited to explore the history, culture and people of Great Britain through the prism of food,” Tucci said.
“Having made it my home for almost 15 years, I want to share the culinary diversity, richness and depth of its food culture.”
stanley tucci
According to National Geographic, the series will blend food, travel and cultural storytelling, using local traditions and regional specialities to explore how Britain’s landscapes, history and communities have shaped its identity… Basically, come for Tucci, stay for the regional scran.
The announcement continues National Geographic’s growing partnership with Tucci following the success of Tucci in Italy, which earned widespread acclaim and an Emmy nomination. National Geographic executive vice president of content Tom McDonald described Tucci as “smart, funny, authentic” and praised his passion for the people and stories behind great food. “The stories that Stanley and his team have unearthed will be sure to delight and surprise, a reminder of just how varied and delicious food in the U.K. truly is,” he said.
The series joins National Geographic’s expanding slate of talent-led documentaries, which includes titles such as Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, Best of the World with Antoni Porowski, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller and Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston.
For CultureCues, this feels like a perfect fit. With Tucci, food programmes are always about more than what is on the plate. The best moments often come from the people he meets, the history behind a dish and the stories that connect food to a place. As a UK-based publication, we’re also delighted to see British food getting the spotlight. Let’s be honest, British cuisine often gets an unfair reputation internationally, despite the incredible regional dishes, local traditions and multicultural influences that make up the country’s food scene today. And no, it is not all deep-fried Mars bars, although no judgement here. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
If anyone can convince sceptics, it’s Stanley Tucci. We’ll happily be pulling up a chair for this one.
A release date for Tucci in Great Britain has not yet been announced.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.