Aldi: The Next Big Seller on Channel 4: Start Date, Judges and How to Watch
Thursday 5 November 2026, 8pm, Channel 4. New series, episode 1 of 7, one hour. Also on Channel 4 +1 at 9pm.
Aldi: The Next Big Seller starts on Channel 4 at 8pm on Thursday 5 November. Small food and drink businesses pitch their products to a panel in the hope of getting them onto Aldi’s shelves. Our listings show the first episode is about sweet treats.
What is Aldi: The Next Big Seller?
It is a relaunch of Aldi’s Next Big Thing, an earlier Channel 4 series. The idea is the same: independent makers argue the case for their product, and the ones that impress most get a listing on Aldi’s shelves.
The new series is made by South Shore. It has seven hour-long episodes, including a Christmas special.
Who are the judges?
Three people sit on the panel.
- Anita Rani, the presenter, returns.
- Julie Ashfield, Aldi’s chief commercial officer, also returns.
- Jimmy Doherty, the farmer and television presenter, is new to the panel.
Channel 4 hasn’t named a separate host. The three of them quiz the makers and make the decisions.
What do the winners get?
A place on the shelves of Aldi stores, more than 1,080 of them across the country. The winning products go into Aldi’s Specialbuys range, which The Grocer describes as a temporary listing.
Episode 1: sweet treats
Our listings put sweet treats first. Each episode takes a different kind of product, and the series includes a Christmas special. The order of the rest hasn’t been confirmed, and we’ll add dates to our Channel 4 TV guide as they appear in the listings.
How to watch
| Platform | Channel 4 | Channel 4 +1 |
|---|---|---|
| Freeview | 4 (HD on 104; in Wales 7, HD 110, because S4C takes 4) | 15 |
| Sky | 104 | 204 |
| Virgin Media | 104 | 304 |
| Freesat | 104 | 121 |
Channel 4’s streaming service (formerly All 4) carries the channel. We haven’t seen a confirmed date for episodes to go on demand, so check the service after the broadcast. Channel 4 +1 repeats the episode at 9pm, and the listings show a further showing on 4seven at 4.05am on Friday 6 November.
How to apply
When Channel 4 announced the series in February, South Shore was looking for small-scale food and drink producers. People could apply by emailing the company or filling in an online form. We haven’t seen a closing date.
Everything else on Channel 4 that night is in our Channel 4 TV guide. For the best of Thursday across every channel, see Thursday’s TV guide or what’s on TV tonight.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Aldi The Next Big Seller on?
It starts on Channel 4 at 8pm on Thursday 5 November 2026 and runs for an hour. Channel 4 +1 shows it at 9pm.
Who are the judges on Aldi The Next Big Seller?
The panel is Anita Rani, Julie Ashfield (Aldi’s chief commercial officer) and Jimmy Doherty, a farmer who also presents on TV. Doherty is the only new face.
How many episodes are there?
Seven hour-long episodes have been announced, and the series includes a Christmas special.
What do the winners get?
A place on the shelves of Aldi stores. Aldi says that means more than 1,080 shops across the country, and the products are sold as Specialbuys.
What is the first episode about?
Sweet treats. Each episode covers a different kind of product, and the series includes a Christmas special.
How do I apply to be on Aldi The Next Big Seller?
When the series was announced in February, makers of small-scale food and drink could apply through the production company South Shore, by email or an online form. We haven’t seen a closing date.
How can I watch Aldi The Next Big Seller online?
On Channel 4’s streaming service (formerly All 4). We haven’t seen a confirmed date for episodes to appear on demand.
Related: Channel 4 TV guide | What’s on TV tonight, Thursday
