Back in Time for Dinner, BBC2 - TV review

Two decades of TV dinners taught the Robshaw household to appreciate the value of gathering round the dinner table

Back in Time for Dinner

Want to know why British people are now officially the fattest in Europe? Then look to the food industry.

Back in Time for Dinner, BBC2's enjoyable time-travel tour of the nation's pantry, has shown how the general trend in eating has moved away from government-mandated health and towards consumer-led convenience. In last night's series finale the Robshaw family, the presenter Giles Coren and the food historian Polly Russell looked towards the future of the British diet. If the average meal has changed so much in the past 50 years, what will we be eating 50 years from now?

Giles theorised that the rise of online shopping and the demise of the weekly supermarket shop would leave us all with more time to potter around independent delis, discussing organic meat provenance with the local butcher. Although, judging by the sceptical look on Rochelle Robshaw's face, this may just be what passes for normal among Giles's own north London set. More appealing were the mini maggot tarts and grasshopper tacos which Polly served up to demonstrate the gastronomic potential of insects.

As for changes in the Robshaw household, two decades of TV dinners had taught them all to appreciate the value of gathering round the dinner table; and over a very "2015" supper of winter minestrone with farro and beans, even 10-year-old Fred was forced to admit that "vegetable-y" might be a good thing.