My Kitchen Rules

My Kitchen Rules

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television production
Founded	2010
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Cooking competition television program

My Kitchen Rules (MKR) is an Australian cooking competition series that has aired on the Seven Network since 2010. The program is presently evaluated by chefs Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge, with Feildel having participated as a judge in every season. Chef Pete Evans served as co-host until his exit following the eleventh season. Various renowned chefs and culinary critics often appear as guest judges or mentors. The production team behind My Restaurant Rules developed the series, launching it after the success of Network 10's MasterChef Australia.

For many years, MKR maintained high viewership, regularly ranking within the top ten television programs in Australia each year. Nevertheless, audience numbers dropped sharply during seasons ten and eleven in 2019 and 2020, sparking rumors about the show's potential cancellation. Although Seven chose not to renew the program in October 2020, they did not rule out a future revival.

The show's return for a twelfth season was confirmed in 2022. In December 2021, it was announced that Feildel would resume his role as judge. By April 2022, Nigella Lawson and Matt Preston joined Feildel on the judging panel, while Colin Fassnidge took on judging duties at Kitchen HQ alongside Curtis Stone and guest judge Gary Mehigan. The thirteenth season premiered in September 2023, featuring Fassnidge as lead judge and co-host with Feildel; Lawson rejoined for the finals, but Preston did not return. In October 2023, the series was renewed for a fourteenth season scheduled for September 2024, with both Feildel and Fassnidge confirmed to return. Auditions for the fifteenth season commenced in October 2024.

Contestants

The Australian edition features pairs of contestants who share a pre-existing relationship, representing states such as New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. These teams compete to "convert a typical home into an instant restaurant complete with themed décor and table settings for one high-pressure evening." From 2011 onward, teams from Tasmania were included. Only in season three did a team from New Zealand participate. Season four expanded to fifteen teams—two from each state plus three additional "gatecrashers" hailing from New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. The fifth season saw the introduction of a team from the Australian Capital Territory, while season eleven marked the first time no team represented South Australia.

Number of teams participated per season

State	Season
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
New South Wales	colspan="3" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	colspan="4" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2
Queensland	colspan="5" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	colspan="2" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	colspan="3" Template:Yes2
South Australia	colspan="8" Template:Yes2	colspan="2" Template:Yes2		Template:Yes2	colspan="2" Template:Yes2
Victoria	colspan="3" Template:Yes2	colspan="2" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2
Western Australia	colspan="3" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	colspan="3" Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2
Australian Capital Territory					colspan="2" Template:Yes2
Tasmania		Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2	Template:Yes2			colspan="2" Template:Yes2
New Zealand			Template:Terminated
Total	10	12	12	15	15	18	18	18	16	16	10	12	9	9

Judging panel

• Series Hosts/Judges – Renowned chef Manu Feildel has been a consistent presence throughout every season. Pete Evans partnered with Feildel as a judge up to season 11, managing various challenges and assessments. In season 12, Matt Preston joined the judging team, with Nigella Lawson making appearances early on. From season 13 onwards, Feildel and Colin Fassnidge have taken on the primary judging roles, with Lawson making occasional appearances at Kitchen HQ.
• Colin Fassnidge (Judge) – Fassnidge first appeared as a guest judge in season 4, contributing to Sudden Death cook-offs and special contests such as Comeback Kitchen and Food Truck during seasons 4 and 5. In seasons 6 and 7, he alternated judging responsibilities with Feildel, concentrating on People's Choice and off-site events. By season 12, Fassnidge had become a principal judge at Kitchen HQ.
• Blind Tasting Panel – Responsible for scoring Sudden Death cook-offs, this panel initially judged with knowledge of the competing teams (seasons 1–3), but from season 4 onwards conducted blind tastings. The panel included members such as Liz Egan, Guy Grossi, Karen Martini, Colin Fassnidge, Jacqui Gowan, and Tobie Puttock. Following season 10, Fassnidge remained the sole member continuing from this group.
• Guest Judges – Starting in season 7, guest judges were introduced for specific challenges alongside the main judges. Prominent guests include Rachel Khoo (Instant restaurants), Curtis Stone (Kitchen HQ), and Darren Robertson (instant restaurant round). Season 12 featured Stone and Gary Mehigan as guest judges; Julie Goodwin appeared in the finale of season 14.

Judges	Season
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Manu Feildel	colspan="15" Template:Yes2
Pete Evans	colspan="11" Template:Yes2
Colin Fassnidge				colspan="7" Template:Terminated	colspan="1" Template:Yes2	colspan="1" Template:Terminated	colspan="3" Template:Yes2
Nigella Lawson												Template:Yes2	colspan="1" Template:Terminated
Matt Preston												Template:Yes2
Jacqui Gowan	Template:Terminated
Tobie Puttock	colspan="3" Template:Terminated
Karen Martini	colspan="10" Template:Terminated
Guy Grossi	colspan="10" Template:Terminated
Liz Egan		colspan="9" Template:Terminated
Rachel Khoo							colspan="1" Template:Guest			Template:Guest

Original format

Exclusively during the debut season, the competition employed a sudden death format—two teams each prepared a three-course meal, with the defeated team immediately exiting the contest.

• Teams were divided into two sets of five, each undergoing separate instant restaurant rounds.
• The team finishing last in each group was eliminated outright; those placing third and fourth entered a cook-off, resulting in two additional eliminations.
• The six remaining teams advanced to quarterfinals held over three matches:
  • The second-placed teams from both instant restaurant groups faced off in the first quarterfinal;
  • The top team from the first instant restaurant group competed against the leading cook-off winner in the second quarterfinal;
  • The top team from the second instant restaurant group met the runner-up cook-off team in the third quarterfinal.
• Teams defeated in quarterfinals were removed from the competition. The quarterfinal winner with the highest score progressed directly to the grand final, while the other two victors contested a semifinal to determine the last finalist.

Instant restaurant round

In each episode, one team hosts a three-course dinner—comprising an entrée, main, and dessert—for judges and rival teams. Competitors have three hours to complete their preparations before guests arrive. Opposing teams assign an overall score out of ten, whereas judges rate each course individually. The team with the lowest total score faces elimination.

Due to limited kitchen space, contestants frequently cook outside their own residences, utilizing homes of relatives, friends, or holiday properties.

Team progress and eliminations:

Season-specific format details:

• Season 1: Teams finishing last (fifth place) were eliminated immediately. The top two teams from each group advanced to quarterfinals; third and fourth place teams battled in a cook-off that removed two more teams.
• Season 2: Lowest scoring teams entered a sudden death cook-off; losers were eliminated. Survivors progressed to a People's Choice Challenge, which replaced quarterfinal rounds.
• Season 3: The bottom three teams from each instant restaurant group moved into a third instant restaurant round; one team was eliminated.
• Seasons 4 and 5: Two instant restaurant rounds featured six teams each; the lowest scoring team per group was eliminated immediately. Scores were aggregated after both rounds, with the three lowest combined scorers competing in a gatecrasher instant restaurant round that eliminated one more team.
• Season 6: Following completion of two groups' rounds, a third 'Colin's secret round' was introduced featuring judge Colin Fassnidge exclusively. The lowest scoring teams across all three groups were eliminated. Subsequently, the bottom two teams from each group entered an Instant Restaurant Redemption round to eliminate two additional teams.

Pre-finals round

After concluding instant restaurant stages, remaining teams participate in off-site or Kitchen headquarters challenges. Top performers earn People's Choice or Judge's Choice accolades, granting them immunity or other advantages. Teams receiving poor evaluations face Sudden Death elimination.

• People's Choice Challenge – Teams have 90 minutes to prepare dishes aligned with a specific theme. The team garnering the highest guest votes or sales wins People's Choice and secures safety from elimination.
• Food Truck – Unique to season 5 (2014), this challenge involved splitting Top 12 into two groups operating competing food trucks housed in semi-trailer kitchens. Customers paid what they deemed appropriate for meals; the group generating greater revenue was safe and formed a jury, while the losing group confronted a rapid cook-off.
• Rapid Cook-off – Conducted at Kitchen Headquarters, teams create dishes featuring a key ingredient within 30 minutes. Judges assess all entries; some teams earn immunity while others enter a subsequent showdown. In season 5, immunized teams formed a jury capable of saving one competitor.
• Showdown – Teams with the weakest rapid cook-off dishes compete by preparing a meal centered on a core ingredient within 60 minutes. The lowest scoring team proceeds to Sudden Death.
• Sudden Death – Two losing teams prepare a three-course meal over three hours for Pete, Manu, and four guest judges. Each dish is scored out of ten; the team with the lowest total is eliminated. Starting season four, blind tastings were implemented to ensure impartial judging.

Finals round

The finals feature two semifinal cook-offs followed by a grand final, all conducted as sudden death rounds. Teams must prepare three-course meals which are evaluated on a scale of one to ten by both main and guest judges. After each round, the team with the lower score is eliminated.

Semifinals

Prior to the grand final, four teams compete in the semifinal stage, with the format for match-ups differing across seasons:

• In 2011, teams drew knives labeled Semifinal 1 or Semifinal 2 to decide their semifinal opponents.
• In 2012, a seeding round ranked dishes out of ten; the highest-ranked team (#1) competed against the lowest-ranked (#4), while #2 faced #3.
• For 2013 and 2014, semifinal pairings were determined by Final 5 standings: #1 vs #4 and #2 vs #3.

Grand final

The victors from the semifinals progress to the grand final, where their dishes are scored to crown the My Kitchen Rules winner.

Prize money

Cash prizes awarded to the champion are as follows:

• Seasons 1–2 and from season 11 onward: A$100,000
• Seasons 3–10: A$250,000

Series overview

Colour legend:

Winner

Runner-up

... [Table continues with similar format for subsequent series] ... {{MKR}|QLD}|| style="background:#ede939;" | Simone & Viviana|| Danny & Sonia|| | | | {{MKR}|SA}|| Ash & Cassie|| | | | {{MKR}|VIC}|| Janey & Maddie|| Rob & Liam|| | | | {{MKR}|WA}|| Mike & Pete|| Hannah & Lawrence|| | | | 15

Series	Premiere date	Finale date	Number of teams	Competing teams							Host & main judges	Kitchen HQ judges	Guest judges
1	1 February 2010	22 March 2010	10	Template:MKR	Mossy & Gabe	Deb & Ben					Pete Evans Manu Feildel	Jacqui Gowan Guy Grossi Karen Martini Tobie Puttock	__
				Template:MKR	Veronica & Shadi	Tanja & Gen
				Template:MKR	Paul & Mel	Matt & Melissa
				Template:MKR	Clint & Noah	Rowan & Sophia
				Template:MKR	Holly & Grace	Marc & Natalie
2	31 January 2011	13 April 2011	12	Template:MKR	Sammy & Bella	Alex & Bill						Liz Egan Guy Grossi Karen Martini Tobie Puttock
				Template:MKR	Artie & Johnnie	Mal & Bec
				Template:MKR	Anne-Marie & Nick	Donna & Reade
				Template:MKR	Esther & Ali	Mel & James
				Template:MKR	Kane & Lee	Kelly & Ash
				Template:MKR	Daniela & Stefania	Kerry & Holly
3	30 January 2012	27 March 2012		Template:MKR	Steve & Helen	Sam & Jillian
				Template:MKR	Simon & Meg	| | |
				14	9 September 2024	19 November 2024	Template:MKR	Caz & Fergus	Robert & Andrea	| |				_	Julie Goodwin
							September 2025	2025	TBA

Awards and nominations

This reality television series has garnered numerous nominations and accolades over the years:

Year	Award	Category	Outcome
2012	Logie Awards	Most Popular Reality Program	Template:Nom
2013	AACTA Awards	Best Reality Television Series (Season 3)	Template:Nom
	Logie Awards	Most Popular Reality Program	Template:Nom
2014	AACTA Awards	Best Reality Television Series (Season 4)	Template:Nom
	Logie Awards	Most Popular Reality Program	Template:Won
2015	AACTA Awards	Best Reality Television Series (Season 6)	Template:Nom
	Logie Awards	Most Popular Reality Program	Template:Nom
2016	AACTA Awards	Best Reality Television Series (Season 7)	Template:Nom
	Logie Awards	Best Reality Program	Template:Nom
2017	Logie Awards	Best Reality Program	Template:Nom
2025	Logie Awards	Best Competition Reality Program	Template:Nom

Ratings and viewership average

The Seven Network’s "My Kitchen Rules" audience figures were monitored across Australia's five metropolitan areas: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. The viewership is measured in millions.

Season	Premiere date	Finale date	Episodes	Premiere ratings	Rank	Finale ratings (Grand final)	Rank	Finale ratings (Winner announced)	Rank	Season average	Average rank
1 February 2010 | 22 March 2010 | 15 | 1.103 | #9 | 1.525 | #1 | colspan="2" | N/A | 1.337 | #4
31 January 2011 | 13 April 2011 | 33 | 1.205 | #5 | 1.719 | #2 | 2.020 | #1 | 1.426 | #2
30 January 2012 | 27 March 2012 | 37 | 1.484 | #1 | 2.186 | #2 | 2.675 | #1 | 1.752 | #1
28 January 2013 | 28 April 2013 | 46 | 1.384 | #3 | 2.154 | #2 | 2.952 | #1 | 1.835 | #1
27 January 2014 | 29 April 2014 | 48 | 1.774 | #1 | 2.408 | #2 | 2.712 | #1 | 1.891 | #1
2 February 2015 | 4 May 2015 |48 |1.596|'#1'|'2.082'|'#1'|'2.039'|'#2'|'1.561'|'#1'
'1 February 2016'|'26 April 2016'|'48'|'1.576'|'#1'|'1.820'|'#2'|'1.969'|'#1'|'1.482'|'#1'
'30 January 2017'|'30 April 2017'|'48'|'1.309'|'#1'|'1.392'|'#2'|'1.482'|'#1'|'1.187'|'#2'
'29 January 2018'|'6 May 2018'|'49'|'1.182'|'#1'|'1.368'|'#2'|'1.543'|'#1'|'1.227'|'#2'
'28 January 2019'|'28 April 2019'|'50'|'0.816'|'#6'|'0.873'|'#5'|'0.946'|'#4'|'0.796'|'#6'
'2 February 2020'|'24 March 2020'|'29'|'0.498'|'#10'|'0.553'|'#17'	N/A	0.510	#15
'7 August 2022'|'31 August 2022'|'16'|'0.503'	'#8'	0.528	'#9'	0.643	'#6'	0.449	'#12'
13	4 September 2023	3 October 2023	15	0.470	'#12'	0.637	'#7'	N/A	N/A	0.536	'#8'

Criticism

During Season 5, the finale faced a boycott campaign on Facebook as viewers accused the runner-up duo of bullying behaviour. The show attracted ongoing condemnation in subsequent seasons for allegedly encouraging bullying conduct. In season 9, a team was removed due to hostile actions and an off-screen physical confrontation, an event that coincided with a drop in audience numbers. In April 2021, Seven was mandated to compensate former season 10 participant Piper O'Neill for “psychological injury” stemming from bullying by the producers and network.

Long-standing fans also expressed dissatisfaction with later editions for prioritizing interpersonal conflict over culinary content. Responding to this criticism, Seven committed to emphasizing food once again following the show’s revival in 2022. Additionally, the program faced adverse attention related to ex-judge Pete Evans, whose contentious lifestyle and diet opinions occasionally clashed with the show’s brand.

International broadcast

rowspan=2 | Russia

Country	Network	Currently airing?
Belgium	VTM2	Yes
Bulgaria	24Kitchen	Yes
Canada	Gusto TV	Yes
Cyprus	Fox (Arabia) via Nile Sat	Yes
Estonia	TV3	Yes
France	NRJ12	Yes
India	Colors Infinity	Yes
Ireland	RTÉ One	Yes
Template:Country data Israel	The Good Life Channel (broadcast as HaMitbakh HaMenatze'akh – The Winning Kitchen) available on yes and HOT	Yes
Italy	Sky Uno	Yes
Latvia	LNT	Yes
	TV3Life	No
Lithuania	BTV	Yes
Netherlands	NET 5	Yes
New Zealand	TVNZ 2	Yes
Philippines	Colours	No
Portugal	Fox Life, SIC Mulher, +TVI	Yes
Sony Entertainment Television	Yes
You	Yes
South Africa	M-Net	Yes
Spain	Divinity (under the title En Mi Cocina Mando Yo)	Yes
United Kingdom	Channel 4	Yes

Canada

Between 2010 and 2013, Québec broadcast its own adaptation of MKR on Casa and TVA called Ça va chauffer!, featuring chefs Jonathan Garnier and Mathieu Cloutier.

In addition, Dinner Party Wars, hosted and judged by Canadian chef Corbin Tomaszeski alongside UK etiquette specialist Anthea Turner, aired for two seasons in 2017 on Food Network Canada, based in Toronto.

Israel

Since October 2018, the Israeli adaptation of the show, titled MKR The Winning Kitchen (Hebrew: MKR Hamitbakh HaMenatze'akh), has been produced by July August Productions for Keshet Media Group and is broadcast on Keshet 12.

New Zealand

My Kitchen Rules NZ made its debut on TVNZ 1 in 2014. The inaugural season wrapped up in October 2014, with Neena and Belinda from Waikato emerging as champions. The second season concluded in December 2015, crowning Jess and Stella from Wellington as winners. The third season launched in September 2017, featuring hosts Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

Russia

The Russian edition of MKR is shown on SONY SET TV and has completed ten seasons to date.

Serbia

Format rights were obtained by Emotion Production for Serbia, where the show is titled Moja kuhinja, Moja pravila (My Kitchen, My Rules). Its first season premiered in 2014 on B92.

South Africa

In South Africa, My Kitchen Rules SA debuted on M-Net in 2017.

United Kingdom

After achieving notable ratings success in 2013, Sky Living secured the format rights for a UK adaptation, which premiered on 25 January 2014. The series was presented by chef and author Lorraine Pascale alongside chef Jason Atherton.

A second UK installment aired on Channel 4 starting September 2016, comprising thirty hour-long episodes. This series was hosted by Prue Leith and Michael Caines, produced by 7 Wonder Productions, and offered a £10,000 prize.

United States

In 2012, American production company Kinetic Content acquired the format rights during the MIPTV Media Market event in Cannes. Fox commissioned an eight-episode celebrity edition filmed in Hollywood residences, featuring chefs Curtis Stone and Cat Cora as co-judges.

See also

• List of Australian television series
• List of cooking shows
• MasterChef Australia
• Come Dine with Me Australia

External links

• Official website