GORDON RAMSAY TRAVELS TO SOUTH EAST ASIA THIS JULY ON BBC AMERICA

- Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape goes to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia -

Announced today by BBC AMERICA, Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape is set to return this July for a 4-part series with Gordon Ramsay travelling to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malyasia on the hunt for authentic South East Asian cooking. Gordon Ramsay, one of BBC AMERICA's original and biggest stars, first embarked on a pilgrimage to India for fresh flavors and inspiration and now he's setting out on a trip of a lifetime, a gastronomic adventure in South East Asia. Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape premieres Tuesday, July 12, 9:00pm ET/PT.

Gordon Ramsay may be one of the most renowned chefs on the planet, but when it comes to dishes from South East Asia, he can only cook a pad thai. On his latest Great Escape, he tracks down the best cooks and chefs to learn the trick to authentic South East Asian cuisine. In true Gordon style, he'll attempt to master the art of each country's amazing food and put his neck on the line when his skills are tested by his mentors.

It's an extraordinary journey in which Gordon cooks and eats food that's definitely not on any western menu, an experience that makes him review his own relationship with food and what may - or may not - be acceptable to eat. Among the challenges are Gordon being served up a six-foot long snake complete with beating heart in Vietnam and wading through snake infested rivers on the hunt for a Cambodian favorite, frog. He cooks his first Malaysian curry for the Prime Minister and concludes his Asian tour in Thailand, where he learns to master some of the country's most delicious dishes and dives for giant oysters in Krabi.

The first season of Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape premiered on BBC AMERICA in August 2010. Exploring what was, for him, a virgin culinary experience, Ramsay set out to experience the diversity of India's culinary traditions, submerging himself in all aspects of the culture, no matter how challenging, unfamiliar or extreme.

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy, four Golden Globes and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 68 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.

EPISODE SYNOPSES

Episode 1 - Vietnam

Gordon touches down in Vietnam. He's never visited the country before but this nation are fearless foodies - if it moves they eat it and every bit of it. On Gordon's travels he is wowed by legendary local restaurateur Mrs. Duck, who turns out to be the queen of beak to tail cooking. He loses his nerve when a six-foot long snake, complete with beating heart, is served up for dinner. And finishes his week trying to impress Vietnam's pickiest foodies when he takes over a traditional restaurant and has his own Kitchen Nightmare. Episode one premieres Tuesday, July 12, 9:00pm ET/PT.

Episode 2 - Cambodia

Gordon is going off the beaten track in Cambodia. After years of the Khmer Rouge rule the country was at year zero. Today it's in recovery and the food is undergoing a revival. Gordon scours the country hunting out historic recipes that pre-date the Khmer Rouge rule. He hires a chopper to take him into the heart of the jungle where he discovers a dessert fit for a restaurant. He turns hunter gatherer as he wades through snake infested rivers on the hunt for a Cambodian favorite - frog - and is on the trail of Cambodia's hairiest delicacy, tarantula. Episode two premieres Tuesday, July 19, 9:00pm ET/PT.

Episode 3 - Malaysia

Gordon is in Malaysia where he quickly learns it's the women and not the chefs that rule the kitchens. Gordon's week is spent under the wing of some of the country's best female cooks and he's invited to cook his first Malaysian curry for the Prime Minister. He has to scale great heights to find the key ingredient to birds nest soup before he's entered into a cooking competition against the country's hottest female cooks. Episode three premieres Tuesday, July 26, 9:00pm ET/PT.

Episode 4 - Thailand

Thailand, home of the UK's fastest growing favorite food, proves to be a real eye opener for Gordon. Before he's made it out of Bangkok, Thailand's most celebrated TV Chef signs Gordon up to a battle of the chefs on his TV show at the end of the week. Before that Gordon enters a temple to search for inner calm when he gets a lesson in mediation, a night out to see Thai Boxing takes a peculiar twist when Lady Boys steal the limelight and Gordon finishes his week trying to out-cook, celebrity chef, McDang, on national TV. Episode four premieres Tuesday, August 2, 9:00pm ET/PT.