Best mates Clare and Rebecca say they're polar opposites in the kitchen. While care worker Clare is disorganised and messy - barrister Rebecca loves to make lists and is obsessively tidy. And while that sounds like a recipe for disaster, the Dublin-based duo have a few tricks up their sleeves as they artfully reinvent traditional dishes with innovative and ambitious cooking techniques. There's more to Irish food than bacon and cabbage, you know - and these girls are out to prove a point!

Beefy Essex boys Danny and Kev bonded over food while working together as firefighters. As a former mess cook, Kev has lots of experience planning and catering for large numbers - while Danny dreams of serving eye-wateringly hot Asian street food from his own food van. This gutsy double act should definitely have a few fire engines on standby after serving their spicy menu to the MKR contestants.

Inseparable mates Gabi & Steph not only work side-by-side at Gabi's auntie's restaurant - they live and socialise together, too. In fact, you'll rarely find them apart, particularly when it comes to getting creative in the kitchen. Sunderland-born Steph and Gabi, whose family is from Italy, love mixing their cooking influences to create no-nonsense northern food with a taste of the Mediterranean. If they win the show, the girls plan to travel the world selling pizza from their very own food truck.

Practical Stuart loves home-cooked English food. His good friend Duncan, meanwhile, brings a Ghanaian twist to their menu. They think the results are daring, delicious and highly original. The neighbours first started cooking together at a local 'bring-a-pot' night - and are very excited about their Afro Saxon fusion style of cuisine.

Foodie Emma met hairdresser Phillip when he started styling her hair. They discovered a shared love of cooking and now run their own supper club. While Phillip loves to play host, Emma gets busy in the kitchen producing top-quality dishes for an exclusive clientele. It's all about fine dining for the Welsh team and Emma and Phillip admit to having very high standards. It's not just fine foods they'll be dishing up on My Kitchen Rules - get ready for a few home truths, too!

Interior designer Allanna likes her dinner parties to be aesthetically pleasing as well as delicious. And when she teams up with culinary whiz Catriona, the results are spectacular. They're inspired by Scottish produce and are proud of their traditional recipes, from clootie dumplings to mince and tatties. These ladies are out to put Scottish food back on the map!

For round two of the cooking contest, the teams go to the Lake District to concoct the ultimate breakfast for 50 B&B owners. Which dish will get the most votes?

In the ultimate test of culinary skill, the amateur cooks are challenged to produce restaurant quality food in basic camper van kitchens for 40 holidaymakers

Hunger for the MKR crown grows. To enter next week's final, the three teams must cater for 30 VIP guests at a swanky soiree. But the judges have a twist planned.

Chefs Lorraine Pascale and Jason Atherton put on their judging hats for the final course of the contest. Which region will boast home to the best amateur cooks?