The Restaurant has, again, been brilliant this year. In fact it’s one of the few shows that was placed very highly in last year’s Top 50 and still managed to hold it’s own in this year’s chart. Why? Well, it speaks very highly of the show and those that took part. I’ve had the pleasure of talking to series judge Sarah Willingham throughout the series, and, I must say, she has been terrific to chat to. I thought I’d grab a few words with her to get her reaction on another great year for The Restaurant, and it turned out that she was more than accommodating. She was just coming back from filming a brand new show, so she was pushed for time. Read what she had to say after the cut.

To catch up on our Top 50 run-down so far, go here. To have a look at all our Restaurant coverage (including our weekly interviews with Sarah), go here.

TV Scoop: So you’re filming something at the moment.. that’s exciting!
Sarah Willingham: I know! I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you actually. I really ought to find out what the party line is on that one. Probably not. This time it’s my own show, so that’s really exciting.

TVS: That’s so great, and well deserved too…
SW: Thank you! It’s bloody hard work, but I’m really enjoying it. It’s something that I haven’t done before, so I’m loving it.

TVS: Is it a business thing?
SW: Yes.. it’s always about business with me.

TVS: Well, we’ll look forward to it! Is it BBC or ITV?
SW: Yeah, BBC. BBC One.

TVS: Wow! Primetime Sarah!
SW: I know! Hahaha.

TVS: So what do you make of TV Scoop voting The Restaurant in the top ten?
SW: We only made it to number seven? What is that all about? I’m joking, I’m joking! It’s great! I was so proud to have been part of it in the first place, but the fact that it actually gets recognised by the viewers and people really enjoyed it, and it go such a huge, loyal following… what more could you ask for in a show? It doesn’t get better than that. I’m tremendously proud to have been a part of it.

TVS: What has been the feedback since the show ended? Do people still come up and talk to you about it?
SW: It’s amazing because you spend quite a lot of time doing something and afterwards it gets aired, and it ends up being a very big part of your life. A very influential part of your life, actually. It has been great fun.

TVS: Do you still keep in touch with any of the contestants?
SW: I saw the boys last week at Le Manoir! Alistair was there, front of house, all suited and booted. They’re currently training there. What a fantastic runners up prize for them. They were doing great. James has just come out of patisserie and was going onto something else. He was moving his way very competently through the kitchen and Ali was front of house. He was on reception when I was there and they were both doing very well. It was great to see them doing so well.

TVS: That must make you proud as well.. to be part of someone’s life development…
SW: Absolutely. I would loved to have been able to give them more of a mentoring role, which would have been great. I would have really enjoyed that and got a lot out of it.

TVS: What about the winners, Russell and Michelle. Any news on them?
SW: I haven’t seen them but I know they’re in the middle of training at Brasserie Blanc, which is more in line with the kind of restaurant they want to open. By all accounts they’re doing really, really well.

TVS: And what about Papa Blanc? How’s he getting on?
SW: Aaw, bless him. Papa Blanc. I still see him ever such a lot and in fact I spoke to him on the phone today – he’s coming to my wedding in three weeks time. He’s doing great, but he’s always so busy and so in demand. He’s just an amazing person though, and he’s always got time for you. He’s just a very, very special person. If nothing had come out of the show apart from my friendship with him, I would have been very, very happy.

TVS: Let’s just look at series two very quickly. I know you’ve moved onto other projects, but what pops into your mind when you think about series two?
SW: It’s never a specific thing, but it’s always a time when I’ve been in the restaurant… never the boardroom moments. It’s always the moments when you get close to the contestants, when they cook the food or take care of the customers. Lots of different memories, like sitting there waiting ages for my cutlery in James and Ali’s restaurant. Standing, very proudly, watching Michelle and Russell pulling off a really busy night. Or seeing Tim and Lindsay.. going in one week seeing Lindsay a bundle of nerves and then going in the next week seeing how she had really grown into a very competent front-of-house memories. And, in the very early days, looking at The Welsh Wok and just not getting it. Lovely people, but what on earth was the Welsh Wok. My memories are from going out and about to the restaurants.

TVS: That’s quite interesting isn’t it…
SW: Yes, it is. Actually, the most dramatic scenes are the ones in the boardroom. But for me it’s people living the dream in the restaurants that stick in my mind. One of the big moments that viewers still remember is when Raymond asked Tim whether if he was him, would he hire himself and saying no. No one could believe it. We were just like, “Why would you say that?!” And then Lindsay bursting into tears. It was very upsetting to see. They worked so hard, and to throw it away by being too humble… it was incredible stuff.