MKR's Piper: 'It's more challenging than having kids'
Piper O'Neill is at the centre of the biggest controversy in the 10-year history of My Kitchen Rules (airs Sun. at 7pm and Mon. to Wed. at 7.30pm; Seven) thanks to her secret relationship with Victor. WHO talks to the 35-year-old mother-of-two, who caused a stir this week at the Super Dinner Parties, about just how hard the competition has been.
How have you found your time on MKR so far?
It has been the most challenging thing I have done in my entire life.
Even more than having kids?
Yeah, I’d say even more than kids.
Does the long days of filming make it so hard?
That’s one part of it. But I think what makes it so difficult is that it’s nonstop. You have long days, but then on the time you do get off, you’re constantly researching recipes.
What do you spend your downtime doing?
You’re practising in the kitchen, and that in itself takes up so much time. Not to mention the stress – you might have a challenge the next day, but the day before, you’re sourcing all your ingredients, getting them right, making sure everything’s perfect, tasting it … Then if you get it wrong, you’ve got to start all over again.
How is it spending so much time with the other teams?
You’re living in close quarters so you develop close relationships with them. It was amazing to have everybody there, but it was really challenging for me.
What can you say about your romance with Victor?
We had a lot in common. Even though we can both be very outgoing people, we also have a quiet side, and when you’re around so many outgoing people, it was nice to just step away and hang out with somebody you could just be yourself with.
How did it all happen?
It was just this friendship that kind of grew. We were very close friends.
