The producers of Channel 7’s long-running reality show My Kitchen Rules have given food fans their first taste of the 2024 season.
With the 14th iteration of the series set to hit screens later this year, the first team of ‘home cooks’ competing for culinary glory has been revealed.
Best friends Simone and Viviana are expected to bring ‘passion, fashion and style to the kitchen,’ according to a statement.
Originally from Italy, but now calling Queensland home, this dynamic duo are eager to serve Australia “style, class and modern Italian cuisine with a twist.”
Simone describes himself as “an adventurous chef, taking old classics and innovating them in new ways.”
Similarly, Viviana is keen to bring some of the classic dishes from her homeland to Australian screens.
She revealed that the first dish she prepared was ‘gnocchi alla romana with my grandmother’.
While both admit they can’t live without pasta, the answer is a resounding no when it comes to pineapple on pizza.
With the 14th edition of My Kitchen Rules set to hit screens later this year, the first team of ‘home cooks’ competing for culinary glory has been revealed. Pictured: Simone and Viviana
The first photos shared by the culinary best friends show a very avant-garde duo.
The promotional photos show Simone wearing a pair of burgundy pants with a light pink shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
The haute couture designer completed the ensemble with a pair of sunglasses and a printed scarf around his neck.
According to a statement, the best friends are expected to bring “passion, fashion and style to the kitchen.”
Meanwhile, Viviana wore a brown leather miniskirt that showed off some tattoos on her thigh and a tight, long-sleeved floral-print blouse.
The couple also gave off some ‘La Dolce Vita’ vibes in another promotional photo that showed the pair happily riding a bright red Vespa.
In September 2023, the premiere of the 13th season of the cooking competition managed to gather only 470,000 viewers in major capitals.
Originally from Italy but now living in Queensland, this dynamic duo are eager to serve up Australian flair, class and modern Italian cuisine with a twist. Pictured: MKR, LR hosts Manu Feildel, Nigella Lawson and Colin Fassnidge
MKR didn’t even finish in the top ten most-watched shows overnight, a far cry from its ratings peak a decade ago when it was attracting more than a million viewers per episode.
MKR returned to Channel Seven in 2022, two years after its cancellation.
After its debut with just 500,000 viewers, the show has continued to gain followers in metropolitan centres.
Simone describes himself as “an adventurous chef, taking old classics and innovating them in new ways.” Pictured: Feildel and Fassnidge on set
Channel Seven removed My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals from its Sunday night schedule in 2020.
The struggling cooking show has been replaced by a hastily broadcast documentary about koalas rescued during the recent bushfires.
Sunday’s episodes of MKR struggled to compete with shows like Married At First Sight, Dancing with the Stars and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
The show’s ratings, which have fallen to an all-time low, were said to be unsustainable and Seven executives were “pushing” to cancel it in 2020.
A source told the magazine: “MKR is no longer a safe place. There are people in power pushing for the show to end for good.”
However, it returned in 2022, but has continued to struggle in the ratings.
