MKR: The Rivals: meet the teams

My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals kicks off on Sunday with returning contestants taking on newcomers.

This season features format changes including teams divided into two houses, mentored by Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.

Amongst the new format tweaks, all contestants will dine together with Pete Evans as the only judge to attend all dinner parties.

Seven has also trimmed the prize from $250,000 to $100,000 this year.

For the first time in MKR history, it’s Chef vs Chef and House vs House, as five favourite teams go head-to-head with five new teams in the fiercest competition yet.

The Fans will live together and represent the House of Colin, while the Faves share digs and
fight for the House of Manu.

Teams will first compete for their Houses in a series of Instant Restaurants, cooking under the guidance of mentors Manu Feildel or Colin Fassnidge, while Pete Evans dines as the impartial judge. At the end of the round, one team will be eliminated. Then, still competing for their Houses, teams take over real restaurants and try to avoid further eliminations. In the final round, the battle lines are blurred as the Houses crumble and it’s every team for itself.

As the competition progresses, the rivalry between Chefs and Houses heats up, with teams producing some of the most exceptional dishes ever served on MKR.

Format twists send strategy into the stratosphere and as friendships form, some bonds splinter while a hint of romance adds some spice.

Ultimately, only one team can be crowned MKR: The Rivals champions and win $100,000. Will it be a Fan or Fave? You’ve never seen an MKR like this!

House of Colin : Fans

Harbourside mansion

Jenni & Louise
Mummy bloggers
Queensland
Sunshine Coast BFFs Jenni, 42, and Louise, 39, met in antenatal class 11 years ago when they were both pregnant with their first child. When a birthing video started to play, they jumped up and left and a firm friendship was forged over their shared sense of humour. The bubbly pair went on to found the motherhood blog/website, Paging Fun Mums, and with more than 330,000 followers, mummy blogging is now a full-time career for the “social influenzas”.

Ben & Vasil
Bartenders
Victoria
Bartending friends Ben, 27, and Vasil, 28, are entering the competition with their eyes on the prize, but admit they can get easily distracted by “fly honeys”. The affable pair grew up in New Zealand and met through mutual friends when they moved to Melbourne around the same time eight years ago. With each of them cooking from a young age, they say they shouldn’t be underestimated as they have flavours on point and a few sneaky tricks up their sleeves.

Sue Ann & Sylvia
Childhood Friends
Victoria
Childhood friends Sue Ann, 56, and Sylvia, 52, first met as kids in their hometown of Alor Star in Malaysia. Many years later they reconnected in Melbourne and now the fabulous friends share a passion for their culture, cooking and karaoke! Outgoing mother-of-two Sue Ann, who works for
World Vision, loves breaking out into song and being the centre of attention. Commercial accountant Sylvia is happy to support her best friend live out her MKR dream.

 

Kerry & Kaylene
Ex-Army Sisters
WA / Queensland
Although they live on opposite sides of the country, sisters Kerry, 34, and Kaylene, 29, are very close. Having both previously served in the Australian Army, Sergeant Kerry and Corporal Kaylene believe they have the mental and physical toughness to win MKR. Married mumof-two Kerry, who is still an active reservist, says they’re going to put Australia on a plate, sharing the types of dishes they enjoy cooking at home for friends and family. Kaylene, now a student, says when it comes to the competition “If somebody takes on one of us, they will one hundred percent be taking on both of us.”

Mark & Lauren
Poker Playing Siblings
Victoria
Born and raised in New Zealand, siblings Mark, 40, and Lauren, 35, have always been huge fans of MKR. Now based in Melbourne, the competitive duo are ready to learn, grow, evolve and win – you can bet on it! Mark is a professional poker player who competes at the casino, at home and with friends. And just like in poker, his strategy is to “read the table, identify threats and if worse comes to worst turn on the charm offensive”. Lauren says that while she comes across as sweet and innocent, she’s not and as a team they’re going to be unstoppable.

House Manu : Faves

Inner city warehouse

Dan & Steph
Married Couple | Season 4 Champions
Queensland
One of the series’ most loved teams, Dan, 38, and Steph, 37, were crowned MKR Champions in 2013. Winning the competition completely changed their lives, with the Hervey Bay couple able to (achieve their dream of) start a family through IVF, welcoming daughter Emmy four years ago. They also opened a restaurant, EAT @ Dan and Steph’s and bought a home, while Dan turned his life around losing 85kg through gastric sleeve surgery.

Jake & Elle
Brother & Sister | Season 4 Grand Finalists
Queensland
Brother and sister Jake, 27, and Elle, 29, came runners-up to fellow Queenslanders Dan & Steph in the 2013 Grand Final – but there’s no bad blood. MKR opened many doors for the young siblings who came up with the idea of a shipping container market scene in Brisbane which evolved into the popular Eat Street Northshore. There, their own food stall Jake & Elle’s Kitchen, currently sells over 900 American Italian street food meals a night. Alongside the container business, Jake works in fitness while Elle juggles the demands of a young family.

Jac & Shaz
Country Cousins | Season 6 Grand Finalists
Queensland
Country cousins Jac, 47, and Shaz, 48, put Mount Isa on the map when they made the 2015 Grand Final, where they came runnersup to Will & Steve. Making it that far in the competition and becoming household names came as a complete surprise to the downto-earth mums-of-three, who even joined other “Legends of the City” on the famous Mount Isa billboard. Since the show, Jac has
rebranded her fashion boutique, while Shaz left her job at the local courthouse to focus on a career in food.

Roula & Rachael
Best Friends | Season 9 Contestants
Victoria
Straight-talking besties Roula, 36, and Rachael, 23, are the first to admit they caused some drama in the 2018 season and their food suffered as a result. The Melbourne friends were eliminated after the first location challenge, with a lack of focus from fighting with each other, and other teams, to blame. Since the show, Roula has been working as a nanny while Rachael has been focussed on her career in property management and bought her first house. They’ve been training their minds and bodies, and in the kitchen and are ready to show Australia how they’ve evolved as cooks and as people.

Sophia & Romel
Tough Critics | Season 4 Contestant/Season 10 Grand Finalist
NSW
Two of MKR’s most outspoken competitors have teamed together and these Sydneysiders will do anything to win. Sophia and her original teammate Ashlee were memorable Season 4 villains in 2013, while Romel and his teammate Ibby were runners up in MKR’s 10th anniversary season in 2019. Tough-talking “babe” Sophia went on to compete in the 2013 season of Dancing with the Stars and is now a professional dance teacher and qualified counsellor. Romel continues to run his photographic studio, as he gets ready to launch an online accessories store and skincare line. Watch this fiery Asian/Middle Eastern team set the competition alight!