Dawn French as Gina in Delicious CREDIT: SKY

Whether taking a page from former husband Lenny Henry’s brilliant portrayal of culinary genius, Gareth Blackstock, in the comedy series, Chef, or channeling her portrayal of Geraldine Granger and her love of all things food-related in Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French is awesome in the new Sky1 comedy/drama series, Delicious. Alongside French will be Silent Witness star Emilia Fox, Game Of Thrones actor Iain Glen and veteran theatre and television actress Sheila Hancock.

With 3 series encompassing 12 episodes in the books Dan Sefton’s (Mr Selfridge, Death in Paradise, Secret Diary of a Call Girl), <emDelicious</em> will see the former Dibley resident star as Gina, a passionate cook who was once married to Leo Vincent (Iain Glen), a successful entrepreneur, chef and hotel owner, with whom she shares a daughter. Leo definitely owes much of his success to Gina’s exceptional cooking, but since leaving her for the glamorous Sam (Emilia Fox), his business has continued to thrive at the idyllic Penrose Hotel in the Tamar Valley. Now, you’re going to have to follow me closely here…

Photo: Sky

Since divorcing Gina, Leo’s culinary empire has continued to grow, with the fruits of success now being shared with his new wife Sam. However, Leo is keeping a secret which is set to upturn all of their lives. In a friendship already born out of betrayal, Gina and Sam face the secrets and scandal that will bind them together in the most unlikely of circumstances.

When Sam has suspicions that Leo is having an affair, she confides in Gina, confident that she’ll recognize the signs. Only to later discover that it’s Gina herself who is the ‘other woman’. The secrets and scandals that spill out are proof that sleeping with another woman’s husband is never a good idea – even if he was your husband first. As Sam and Gina try to fix their broken families, will a friendship rise from the ashes of betrayal or will they tear each other apart?

Sounding like more drama than comedy (FYI, I hate the word Dramady), Delicious looks to be more of a story about  love, heartbreak and female friendship rather than food. According to press material, the series will attempt to answer the age-old question of, “When your best friend is your husband’s ex – can you ever really be friends or will your secrets eventually overwhelm you?”

Delicious with Dawn French and Emilia Fox heads to a public television station near you in the not-too-distant future.