Bravo announced today the development of its new creative competition series "Top Chef Junior" (working title) and the eight episode pick-up of the docu-series, the untitled "Jean-Christophe Novelli Project." The announcements were made today by Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo Media.

"With 'Top Chef' as the number one food show on cable comes the natural expansion in our food domain," said Berwick. "With 'Top Chef Junior' we're reaching a growing market and are developing a series that will teach and test the skills of younger aspiring chefs and appeal to the whole family. We feel that Jean-Christophe Novelli's reputation, personality and expertise will prove incredibly enticing to our passionate core audience."

The love of food reaches all ages and teens today are continually expanding their culinary knowledge – from cooking classes to kids' cookbooks. "Top Chef Junior," which will be based on the Emmy-nominated hit culinary series "Top Chef," is an eight episode series where teens (likely ages 13 to 16) will compete to see if they have what it takes to become a junior "Top Chef." Season-to-date, Bravo's "Top Chef" ranks in the top 15 among kids/teens 2-17 in the Wed 10-11 p.m. time period (at No. 14) versus ad supported cable entertainment networks. Magical Elves ("Top Chef," "Project Runway,") will produce the series, with Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz serving as executive producers.

The untitled "Jean-Christophe Novelli Project" is a docu-series that chronicles chef Novelli's move to Los Angeles as he opens a cooking school and trains professional chefs and those who aspire to cook like professionals. Voted "World's Sexiest Chef" by The New York Times, Novelli is a Michelin and 5AA Rosette award-winning chef with restaurants in London, France and South Africa. His Novelli Academy Cookery School in the UK has placed in the "Top 25 Cookery Schools in the World."

Novelli is hoping to expand that success to the United States and make this new business venture succeed. The series will follow Novelli as he moves to the United States, sets up the school and will chronicle as his students are tested and measured based on what they have learned. The untitled "Jean-Christophe Novelli Project" is produced by Mentorn USA ("Work Out, "Paradise Hotel") for Bravo, with Greg Johnston ("The Osbournes," "Newlyweds"), Hannah Wyatt and Dan Barraclough serving as executive producers.

Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer, 3/12/08-5/28/08, includes ad supported cable entertainment networks, Live + Same Day, P2-17 AA (000)

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