A Leeds student Facebook page was first to hear the news.
Students are known for their weird and wonderful culinary inventions. Whether you lived off pasta for the first year of halls or all you know how to do is put frozen food in the oven, students are often known for their lack of invention in the kitchen.
Apparently, finding the kitchen a challenge makes you the perfect candidates to get five minutes of fame in Leeds.
Image: ITV Studios
ITV Studios is looking for 18 - 30 year olds in Leeds that struggle to muster up anything in the kitchen as part of a new television series.
The show is casting for individuals that struggle in the kitchen and, of course, are happy to share that with the world.
The call for potential contestants was shared on the Leeds Students' Group this week and has piqued plenty of interest over the last few days.
"ITV Studios is looking for people aged 18-30 to take part in a huge new reality / competition series which see's 10 people living together who are useless in the kitchen! With celebrity guests, different challenges throughout the show and a big cash prize to be won!
"If interested in finding out more details or would like to nominate someone, please comment below, send me a message or drop an email to samuel.lynn@itv.com".
Despite advertising on the student page, it seems that anyone within these age brackets can apply for the show.
As you'd imagine, students aplenty were keen to apply, even if it meant confessing to their lack of culinary skills.
One said "So Big Brother student edition, I'm down" and another asked "can [we] dumb down your kitchen skills in order for an hour of fame?" with others chipping in tagging their friends with statements like "I reckon you could win, the way u cook those frozen nuggets is incredible".
Although nothing has appeared on the ITV website for the programme yet, the Facebook post gives details about how candidates can apply for a spot on the show.
Last month, Channel 4 were also on the lookout for TV chefs in the making, though they were hoping for a professional level of cooking.
Entitled Come Dine With Me: The Professionals, Channel 4 has been looking for restaurants that can serve up the best food in town and share it on national television.
Those hopeful to make it on to the cult TV show will have to apply via Multi Story Media and email cdwm@multistory.tv, for more information you can visit the Come Dine With Me Facebook page.
One of Leeds’ most iconic buildings is set to be brought back to life.
Plans for a brand-new padel and leisure destination at The Roundhouse on Wellington Road have been approved by Leeds City Council’s West Plans Panel.
Consent has been granted for Ollo Padel to transform the Grade II* listed Roundhouse into a state-of-the-art sport, fitness, food, drink and community venue subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Built in 1847 for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company, The Roundhouse was once home to the steam locomotives that powered industrial Victorian Leeds. In recent years, the building has stood largely unused.
Image: Supplied
The approved plans will restore and protect the landmark building and give the site a new, long-term future as one of the city’s most distinctive leisure destinations.
The three-acre site, located on the edge of Leeds city centre, will include nine outdoor doubles padel courts under a 10-metre canopy, plus a dedicated indoor coaching court within The Roundhouse itself.
At the heart of the site will be the Ollo Clubhouse; built around an all-day kitchen and bar, it will combine a comfortable lounge and co-working space, meeting rooms and live sport and events spaces.
The kitchen and bar will be run in partnership with Southbank Provisions, the independent Leeds hospitality team behind Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Galleria whilst the gym will be operated by fitness and performance specialists Northbound, who will bring strength and conditioning practice, Hyrox training and pilates classes to The Roundhouse.
Image: Supplied
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the venue aiming to open in early 2027.
Luke Gidney, Founder & CEO Ollo Padel: "This is a huge day for Leeds, for The Roundhouse and for Ollo. The Roundhouse has been part of the city’s story for nearly 180 years. It’s an incredible building but it needs people, energy and purpose again. Our plan is to bring it back to life as a place where people can play, eat, work, meet friends and feel part of something.
"Padel is growing so quickly because it’s fun, social and easy to pick up. But for us, this is about more than just the courts. We want Ollo to become a proper community destination for Leeds, somewhere welcoming, joyful and full of life.
"We’re incredibly grateful to Leeds City Council’s planning team, our case officer, the wider council team and everyone who has supported the project to this point. This has been a complex project but the sport and engagement throughout has been brilliant. Now the real work starts and we cannot wait to open the doors for you.”
New study crowns Leeds as one of the friendliest cities in the UK
Clementine Hall
New research has revealed a global ranking of cities with the best customer service, with Leeds taking one of the top spots.
If you've been wondering which cities across the world are the friendliest of them all, then look no further because MoneySuperMarket have done the work for us in a new study.
In a world where social media culture plays a huge part in people's lives, online customer reviews are pretty important to local businesses.
To uncover the global locations that are home to the best customer service, the businesses insurance experts analysed over 100,000 reviews of leisure and hospitality businesses in 107 cities worldwide.
They looked at the language in the reviews to see how often friendly workers and staff were mentioned, building a global ranking of the cities where customer service truly stands out.
Out of a whopping 107, Leeds came in at a very respectable number 12. Now we think that's pretty good going.
Outside of the UK, Hanoi, Paris, Montreal and Abu Dhabi were highlighted for their friendly customer service whilst Edinburgh tops the global ranking, with Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol also making the world’s top 10.
The top 10 cities in the UK with the best customer service are as follows:
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Birmingham
Bristol
Belfast
Leeds
Glasgow
Cardiff
Manchester
London
Alicia Hempsted spoke on the study: “As businesses grow and engage with more customers, it’s important to make sure they’re protected. Public liability insurance is an important safeguard for those working with the public, helping to cover costs if something goes wrong, while also showing customers that their experience is taken seriously - from the moment they walk through the door to long after they’ve left.”
Sophie Smith -
16th February 2022 
