The Frens missed out on Hotplate, only to star on Travel Guides.

Newcastle restaurateurs the Fren family may have missed out on one Nine series, but it proved to be a godsend in the long run.

“The Fren family came for The Hotplate casting. They kind of weren’t quite right but they were always in the back of our minds,” Nine programmer Hamish Turner told TV Tonight.

The Hotplate, which screened in 2015 with judges Tom Parker Bowles (son of Camilla) and Scott Pickett, asked state based restaurateurs to review one another.

Briefly the subject of a legal claim by MKR network Seven, it only ran for one season to average ratings. Their casting rejection turned out to be fortuitious.

When Travel Guides returns next week Mark, Cathy, Victoria & Jonathan embark on their 6th season as audience favourites, known for their infectious humour and candid reactions.

This season travels to Europe, the UK, South Africa, Asia and beyond.

“Travel Guides feels like the first post-COVID series,” said Turner.

“We have had one, but this is actually the first one we can go where we want to go. They’re all in cracking form.”

Travel Guides returns 7:30pm Wednesday on Nine.