The VRT 1 TV programme ‘Restaurant misverstand’ has won an International Emmy Award, in the ‘non-scripted entertainment’ category. In the programme, presenter Dieter Coppens and chef Seppe Nobels run a restaurant together with eight people living with young onset dementia.
The prestigious International Emmy Awards honour the best television programmes made outside the United States. 'Restaurant misverstand' came in ahead of stiff competition from the South African production ‘Die brug’, ‘Me caigo de risa’ from Mexico and the Australia programme ‘The summit’.
In ‘Restaurant misverstand’, Dieter Coppens and chef Seppe Nobels open a restaurant together with eight people with young onset dementia. Things don’t always go smoothly at first, but gradually the team becomes a well-oiled machine.
The programme is a way of showing the outside world what people with young onset dementia can still do after they have been diagnosed. Because of their condition, they often face a lack of understanding and are sometimes forced to stop working.
What is young onset dementia?
Dementia is a degeneration of the brain that causes a progressive decline in people’s ability to think, reason, communicate and remember. Their personality, behaviour and mood can also be affected.
Everyone’s experience of dementia is unique and the progression of the condition varies. Dementia is described as ‘young onset’ when symptoms develop before the age of 65, usually between 30 to 65 years of age.
Not the first Emmy for a Flemish TV programme
It is not the first time that a Flemish television programme has won an International Emmy Award. :
'Benidorm bastards' (2011, VTM)
'Wat als?' (2014, 2BE)
'Sorry voor alles' (2017, Eén)
'Hoe zal ik het zeggen?' (2018, VTM)
'Nachtraven' (2020, Ketnet)
'Tekens van leven' (2021, Ketnet)
‘Hotel misverstand’ (2024, VRT1)