Foodies film Come Dine With Me at Renishaw Hall

Film crews spent two months at the county house in Eckington, north Derbyshire, filming for a new series of the Channel 4 show.

It started on Monday and will be screened at 5pm on weekdays for four weeks.

In this series Dave Lamb, who normally ridicules contestants from behind the camera, invited winners from previous series to Renishaw Hall to compete against each other in the ultimate battle to find a ‘Champion of Champions’.

Viewers will see three past winners a day take on three culinary challenges, with the winner of each daily heat going through to a Friday final to be crowned that week’s ‘Champion of Champions’.

As well as scoring each other in secret, contestants will have their cooking skills scrutinised by Michelin starred Chef Glynn Purnell.

In another twist some of the most memorable faces from over the last 11 years of Come Dine With Me will be seen visiting the hall for reunions with those they competed against in previous series.

Filming took place last year.

Alexandra Sitwell, owner of Renishaw Hall, which has been in her family for 400 years, said: “It was great fun to see the house buzzing with atmosphere”.

Fashion giant Primark used the country house as the backdrop for its Christmas advertising campaign last year.

The world famous retailer took over the historic Grade II listed for its shoot over the summer, decking the rooms out with Christmas trees.

Renishaw Hall was built in 1625 by George Sitwell, former High Sheriff of Derbyshire.