My Kitchen Rules

The boys have been mates ever since Artie, 42, employed Johnny, 26, to work at his award-winning butcher shop - Nambour Plaza Meats - a few years ago. Since then, Artie has inspired his young protégé to reach new culinary heights.

Hosting everything from tapas nights to dinner parties, Kane, 28, and Lee, 25, make one formidable duo. They define their cooking style as Asian-fusion with a twist. Growing up with a Chinese mother, Lee borrows heavily from her Asian heritage.

For Sydney sisters Sammy and Bella, cooking is a family affair. Their grandmother Ursula was a chef in Poland who cooked for many high-profile politicians including former US president Bill Clinton.

The Adelaide couple have been running their own business for the last 12 years and use cooking as a means of escape from their work. They love it so much they even knocked down a wall in their home to create a bigger kitchen.

Melanie, 37, was married for 12 years to a chef who dominated their kitchen, eventually taking over their kitchen after a divorce. James, a 36-year-old jazz musician, was a notoriously bad eater.

Friends Stefania and Daniela from Perth channel their Italian heritage into a selection of dishes for the judges - both hoping that their efforts will ensure they avoid elimination from the competition.

Queenslanders Mal and Bec begin the second leg of the instant restaurant round. The pair have spent years working in cafes, but never as chefs, and expectations of the service at their dinner are high.

Budding chefs Ash and Kelly are poles apart in the kitchen with one preferring European cuisine and the other with a liking for Australian flavours.

Best friends Esther and Ali who met at the Tasmania Police Academy join forces in the kitchen in the hope of impressing the judges with the food they serve.

Best friends Bill and Alex are confident ahead of their dinner party, but cracks start to appear when things do not go to plan as the event progresses.