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‘Planet Cook’ goes online
MUMBAI: Fans of the hit culinary adventure format, Planet Cook, will now be able to interact with their favourite brand 24/7, with the launch of the brand’s latest platform, www.planetcook.com.
Planet Cook creator and producer, Platinum Films, and brand manager, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) have appointed Akiko Design to create and develop a ground-breaking website to support the brand using 3D modelling, Flash movies and a wide range of interactive elements to appeal to the brand’s core target audience. The website went live on 19 September.
Based around a tropical island, www.planetcook.com allows visitors to explore every aspect of the island, during which time they can download their favourite recipes from the TV programme, watch natural world video clips called ‘Info-bites’ and view the latest pictures and recipe creations submitted to the Cadet Camp Gallery.
In addition, a wide range of fun and interactive elements have been integrated into the website, including dancing yetis, talking venus fly traps, jokes, flying taste buds, specially created food-themed games and even burping clams.
FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide international brand manager Andrew Piller said, “Our goal is to make the Planet Cook website a benchmark in the online space both for children and their parents alike. In the future, we envisage ww.planetcook.com to be a one-stop-shop for Planet Cook fans to have a huge amount of fun in a safe environment, but also a unique and comprehensive information source for parents to go to gather nutritional hints and tips and learn more about the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle for their families.”
Platinum Films CEO Nigel Stone added, “The Planet Cook website is simply unlike anything else for children on the web. We are really delighted with how well the brand has translated online and we are confident that fans will find it the perfect place to continue interacting with their favourite show off-air.”
The Planet Cook website will be a part of an integrated global brand programme managed by FLW.
Planet Cook is a unique, live-action cookery adventure show for children where mealtime disappointments are a thing of the past. Set on a tropical island, each episode sees Captain Cook guide three young Cook Cadets as they create a meal against the clock. Each recipe is inspired by the natural world – from leaf-eating dinosaurs to volcanoes – which gives Captain Cook the inspiration to create delicious dishes like ‘Erupting Volcano Surprise’. All recipes have been analysed by independent, qualified nutritionists to fit within the context of a balanced, healthy diet.
Planet Cook already has a first class broadcast platform in the UK and a local version of the show is currently airing on German public broadcaster, ZDF. In addition, a tape deal has been struck with ABC in Australia for 52 episodes of the UK show.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
