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The time has finally arrived! The My Kitchen Rules 2026 teams have reached Kitchen HQ, and it’s safe to say that the competition has risen to new heights.
In this new round, the seven teams — Zoe and Zac, Oliver and Harrison, Krysten and Lucy, Angus and Simon, Tiffany and Giancarlo, Mary and Golden, and Sheridan and Ted — were divided into two timed challenges.
Gone are the days of having a break-down in the safety of your own kitchen. Now, the contestants’ meltdowns and mistakes are on full display for the other teams to watch from above.
Speaking to WHO, Alisha and Deanne predicted that “Angus and Simon” would crumble under the “pressure”. However, what they couldn’t predict was just how much the first day of Kitchen HQ would take everyone by surprise, even the judges.
Alisha and Deanne are rooting for Oliver and Harrison to win
When it comes to who they believe will take home the top spot on My Kitchen Rules 2026 this year, Alisha and Deanne have pointed to Sydney-based home cooks Harrison and Oliver, who surprised them with their spicy Italian-style Instant Restaurant.
“If [Harrison and Oliver] don’t win…if they don’t take this competition out…” Alisha said to WHO. “Get those tears out Oliver! No, I’m kidding.”
“Those boys, they deserve to go very far. The food that they served up was absolutely amazing, and I just think they’re very genuine, and the love that they have for food and stuff, it was beautiful to see them like that. I think it was beautiful to see men show emotion like that on TV.”
The girls also went on to criticise Simon and Angus for labelling Oliver’s tears as a way to earn more points, arguing that they think it’s “beautiful when a man shows emotion”.
“Obviously, that dish was very close to his heart, so for him to serve it up to the judges and get so emotional about it – and it was a 10 out of 10 dish – it was amazing,” they added. “So that to us just showed exactly what kind of people they are. Those boys are the most genuine boys you’ve ever met.”
Alisha also compared Oliver and Harrison’s friendship to her relationship with Deanne, saying that Deanne is “there to pick [her] up like Harrison was there to pick up Oliver”.
Who are the first teams up for elimination in Kitchen HQ?
Despite their confidence in the boys, Oliver and Harrison haven’t had the strongest start to their time in Kitchen HQ, as the first challenge sent them to the next elimination round, where they have to face off against – surprisingly – the mother-daughter duo Krysten and Lucy.
Two of the strongest teams from Round Two already up for elimination? The competition is just getting started!
However, no matter who wins, Alisha and Deanne’s support for Oliver and Harrison proves what My Kitchen Rules is all about: real people, real emotions, and real cooking.
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