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- Five days in and around the Cardiff area begin with Suzanne from Caerphilly, a no-nonsense businesswoman who sleeps with a baseball bat next to her bed. She offers her guests food they may not have tried before - including lamb testicles.
- The five contestants from London for this week are: landscape gardener Greg Basire, who describes himself as "mediocrity personified"; events planner Sabrina Ghayour, who likes to win but admits having lost a few times in her life; former model Hugo Preece, a fashionista who likes fashionistas; PR consultant Amii van Amerongen, a young woman attracted to 'silver foxes'; and freelance food writer and silver fox Thoby Young, who is nicknamed Mr. Tarty for more than one reason. Greg Basire is the first to host the dinner party. His Spanish inspired menu consists of a selection of hot and cold tapas as a starter, paella Valenciana as the main course, and raspberry and turon semifrio for dessert. Greg is not looking forward to the evening as he hates meeting new people. He does however have a game plan for winning: get people drunk. His guests are impressed by the ambitiousness of his menu. By the end of the evening, Greg has a pretty accurate assessment of his guests' scores.
- The five contestants not only sum up their competition, but all have strong opinions on who they like and don't like. Hugo Preece is second on the list to host the dinner party. He is feeling a bit worse for wear after the long previous evening, but he soldiers on. His menu consists of foie gras and poached pear as the starter, Alaskan salmon and mint peas the main course, and a banana flambé with red wine and lavender sorbet for dessert. Besides the controversial topic of the foie gras and the fact that one of the diners has never eaten Britain's national dish of fish and chips, most of the conversation occurs post meal, when the diner's talk about their continuing like and more dislikes of the fellow diners. But they do have strong opinions about the quality of Hugo's meal, and score accordingly.
- Sabrina Ghayour is third on the list to host the dinner party. She is quietly confident and wants now more to win if only to beat those she doesn't like. Her Persian inspired menu, true to her own ethnic heritage, consists of Arabian mezze platter as the starter, spiced rack of lamb with pomegranate sauce as the main course, and rose water & cardamom poached pears with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. Beyond discussion of the food, the diners become increasingly open about their fellow diners. Some admit to changes in the perception of the others, but one feels like the outsider which the others confirm.
- Amii van Amerongen is the hostess for the evening. With warring factions emerging among the group, Amii decides to be the charming hostess to everyone to keep the peace, although she, with strong feelings about the others herself, is uncertain if she will be able to accomplish this task. In preparation for the meal, she goes to the extreme when going shopping. Her menu consists of bacon wrapped maraschino cherries as an entrée, tian of crab & avocado as a starter, phyllo wrapped noisette of lamb as the main course, and sorbet drenched in vodka for dessert. In the kitchen, she confesses she likes cooking but hates touching food. At dinner, a controversial subject breaks the ice and gets the warring words between diners started again. But they may all forget those words due to the amount of alcohol in the dessert.
- Thoby Young is the last of this fivesome to host. The other four have listened to Thoby talk and talk and talk about his knowledge of food during the week, and so he will have to put his meal where his mouth was (as they do not want another dissertation at dinner) to impress. Ethical foodie Thoby hopes that knowing where his food comes from will help make the meal better. His menu consists of buckwheat blinis with smoked salmon and *farmed* (ethical) caviar as the starter, osso bucco with risotto bianco as the main course, and Mr. Tarty's blackberry and apple tart for dessert. He also has an after dinner surprise listed on the menu. The ethical issues of food are again brought to the forefront during the meal. Believing Mr. Tarty will win the day, Thoby soon finds out if that is indeed the case as he announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The five contestants from Dundee, Scotland for this week are: office manager Laura Cunningham, an outgoing person who doesn't like dead silences in conversation; social worker Jimmy Fox, who has a thing against the English; artist Francis Glancy, who describes himself as sneaky in a cowardly way; interior décor shop manager and Englishman Adam Smith, who is meticulous about dining etiquette; and café owner Tara Tasker, who sees herself as the underdog out to win. Tara Tasker is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of cream of Arbroath smokie soup as a starter, drunken duck with bramble wine and plum bree as the main course, and Tara's tantalizing trio for dessert. Her game plan is to be as attentive to her guests' needs as possible. True to her self-professed underdog status, she is stressed throughout the cooking process, especially of her main course, which she admits to being terrible in her test earlier in the week. Is the final product any better in her guests' opinions? Beyond the food, the four Scots have a laugh over the one Englishman.
- Francis Glancy is second on the list to host the dinner party. He's worried about having a panic attack if something goes not according to plan. He is fussy about his food and its presentation, which reflects the artist in him. He uses his artistic talents both as décor and as an offering to his guests, the latter which he hopes doesn't offend. His menu consists of summer bruschetta as a starter, iskenderoni as the main course, and vanilla and ginger cheesecake with balsamic strawberries for dessert. Something during the evening does not go according to Francis' plan, but will that affect either his demeanor or his guests' appreciation of the evening?
- Jimmy uses his creativity and imagination for his menu, including a main course in the shape of bagpipes. Yet while Jimmy's warm company is much appreciated by his guests, his cooking is less savoured.
- The five contestants from Portsmouth for this week are: holistic therapist Lynne Derry, who comes across as being blunt; supermarket sales manager Kate Hibbert, who does not suffer fools gladly; detective constable Sheena Ives, who describes herself as a bit loopy and deranged; flight attendant Lee Stafford, who is attracted to outgoing, bubbly people; and restaurateur Maria Wilkinson, whose stern demeanor masks a generally happy person. Kate Hibbert is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of goat's cheese and Parma ham on a pear walnut salad as a starter, Posh Pompey fish pie as the main course, and cinnamon spiced oranges with blueberries and pomegranate for dessert. She hopes that fresh produce from the garden of her father, a television gardener, and specially chosen wine to each course will add extra marks. At dinner, one of the guests seems to be the odd person out amongst this fivesome. After dinner, the guests remark on Kate's demeanor as a hostess, which does not match her own assessment while she was working away earlier in the kitchen. At the end, Kate confesses to the camera her thoughts about winning or losing.
- Lee Stafford is second on the list to host the dinner party. Being a flight attendant, Lee believes being used to being attentive will serve him well for the dinner party. His guests presuppose that his house and menu will be immaculate and exotic. They are expected to be immaculate to Lee's red and black dress code to match the décor. His menu consists of cheesy stuffed mushrooms as a starter, Spatchcock-style chicken breast with pancetta and sausage stuffing as the main course, and raspberry soufflé with dark chocolate sauce for dessert. He takes a chance at preparing the dessert in front of his guests. He hopes his gifts to each will impress. And last night's outsider makes an attempt to explain to the others to mixed results.
- Maria Wilkinson is third on the list to host the dinner party. Being a restaurateur, Maria believes she has an upper hand, despite not being a professional chef. On the flip side, some of her guests hope she will be fair and not have her restaurant chefs prepare the meal. But Maria does use the services of her business partner who will act as server. Maria's menu consists of double baked smoked applewood soufflé as a starter, crab and mint mousse stuffed chicken breast as the main course, and white chocolate pannacotta for dessert. Instead of a palette cleanser between courses, Maria decides on a bit of activity for her guests, which doesn't go exactly according to plan. By the end of the evening, the guests have as much to say about Maria as they do about her business partner.
- Sheena Ives is the hostess for the evening. Her mixed Scottish/Mexican menu consists of a trio of Scottish salmon as a starter, chicken fajitas, guacamole and jalapeño cheese sauce as the main course, and Scottish cranachan for dessert. Although Sheena's menu is now a known to her guests, something that isn't is her occupation, which she has not yet mentioned to the others but to which she leaves clues around her house for them to guess. Will the guessing game leave her guests inspired or bored?
- Lynne Derry is the last of this fivesome to host. Because she's had a cold all week, her guests haven't really warmed up to her at the previous parties, and so she's hoping her hosting will add that spark that's been missed all week. Besides her invited guests, some uninvited guests she hopes won't show up are of the rodent variety. Lynne's menu consists of goat's cheese and glazed plums on walnut bread as a starter, rolled leg of lamb with orange, garlic and rosemary as the main course, and boozy ginger and rhubarb trifle with lemon syllabub for dessert. They continue to party into the hallway before Lynne announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The five contestants from Torbay for this week are: part-time estate agent Alison Deer, a clean freak; street warden Gavin Dyer, a loud larger than life man who hates cheese and seafood; sales assistant Carol Sylvester, who doesn't like boring, old fuddy-duddies; American-Brit property developer Patrick Walker, whose friends think is a bit eccentric; and political activist David Ward, who likes fine dining and dressing up for the occasions. Gavin Dyer is the first to host the dinner party. His menu consists of fig, goat's cheese and caramelized onion tartlet as the starter, stuffed pork and mustard mash as the main course, and chocolate fondant for dessert. A person who is used to making prepared meals but is starting from scratch to impress, Gavin is treating the meal preparation like a science experiment. The five seem to get along during the evening until the person that is deemed "the posh one" starts making what are considered rude comments, which places a slight damper at the end of the evening.
- The five contestants from Manchester for this week are: sales manager Jane Bates, who strives to be the best; recruitment manager Chris Brady, who tells it like it is; drama teacher Matthew Nichols, who doesn't like to be described as average; optometrist Shaida Shipping, who is equally as blunt in her comments, and whose biggest fear is to get fat; and quantity surveyor Dave Wheeler, a prankster and music aficionado. Dave Wheeler is the first to host the dinner party. His menu consists of two starters: Dave's mushroom soup with dry sherry; and fish pie à la Dave. His main course is tenderloin of pork in cognac with vegetables and mash. And for dessert, he is making Karen's dead good dead gooey chocolate pud. Before his guests arrive, he is hoping to complete his meal preparation quickly so that he can go for a quick drink at the pub before dinner, and is hoping his "pranks" will entertain his guests. At dinner, all his guests make a joint confession, and talk amongst themselves about the quality of the dinner while Dave is out of the room. After dinner, Dave has one more surprise for his guests which he wants to be the crowning touch for the evening. Dave assesses his chance of success after his guests leave. His assessment matches his score.
- The guests are still discussing Dave's approach to dinner party hosting. They also speak of the other guests' personalities, and their own chances of winning. Matthew Nichols is the next to host the dinner party. He wants his food to speak for itself, without him having to resort to gimmicks. He takes a strict approach to the preparation. His menu consists of Cheshire cheese and leek tart with vine tomatoes as the starter, lemon and pepper lamb fillet with boulangere potatoes and seasonal vegetables for the main, and passion fruit bhapa doi and dark chocolate mousse for dessert. At the dinner table, the conversation focuses on controversial issues, which brings a serious tone to the evening. And one guest has extremely high expectations for a future party.
- Jane Bates is third on the list to host the dinner party. Being a celebrity idolizer, she is making it a Hollywood Oscar glam night, with a recommended dress code. The menu also has a Hollywood theme. It consists of Vinnie Jones Lock Stock and Smokin' Salmon as a starter, Johnny Depp Pirates' 'Planked' Steak as a main course, and Dean Martin Little Old Wine Jelly for dessert. The Oscar theme extends to the guests' arrival at Jane's house. Beyond the food, will Jane's guests be impressed by being treated like movie stars?
- The five competitors discuss how well they have all gotten along so far, with the exception of one person who they feel is the outsider, who isn't aware of this perception. Shaida Shipping is the hostess for the evening. She has listed a surprise as an opening to the evening, that surprise which taps into one of her hobbies. The guests are nervous about what that surprise is. Shaida's menu consists of roly-poly meatloaf as a starter, lamb kichro as the main course, and pineapple cheesecake for dessert. Beyond the quality of the food itself, the guests are surprised that the menu doesn't seem to reflect what they would have expected from her. After the party, the guests remark most about the tone of the evening.
- The four previous hosts reflect on their respective evenings. Shaida has come to the realization of her outsider status among the group. Chris Brady is the last of this fivesome to host. Much like Shaida, Chris has a surprise for his guests, but doesn't tell them that there even is a surprise until their arrival, which he keeps until the end as a cap to the evening. His menu starts with grilled haloumi with salsa. He has an Italian trio as the main course: lasagna, chicken and tomato tagliatelle, and tomato, basil and mozzarella towers. Summer fruit pudding ends the meal. Immediately following the surprise, Chris announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The five contestants for this week, all from London, are: product manager Matthew Baker, who enjoys the finer things in life; office manager Moni Bharij, who doesn't want to be presupposed as boring because she's a vegetarian, and who will bring a bottle of wine to each meal just in case she doesn't like the wine being served to her; defense lawyer Lisa Connell, who is excited but apprehensive about this week; journalist Judi Lembke, who wants her guests to feel relaxed in her home; and prep school headmaster Peter Rixham, who's surprised (but not sad) to still be single at age thirty-seven. Judi Lembke is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of goat's cheese and onion tart as the starter, chicken piccata and linguine with king prawns as the two main courses, and chocolate fondant with custard and raspberry sauce for dessert. She hopes that the extras she brings from her Swedish background will add a spark to the meal. She makes a confession at the end of the meal.
- The guests from last night's dinner discuss their chances of winning in light of the quality of the first party. Lisa Connell is the next to host the dinner party, she who is concerned about two of the guests who have stated that they are highly critical. She is also fastidious about the cleanliness of her work area and her house in general. Her menu consists of king prawn, crab & butternut squash risotto as the starter, roasted lamb shanks and pan-fried sea bass as the two main courses, and a milk chocolate fountain and a cheese plate as the desserts. She has a kitchen equipment malfunction which could spell disaster. A malfunction of a different kind happens during the post-main course drinks in the living room. A final change occurs with the menu as it's being served.
- The guests are still discussing the wine spilling incident from last night, Judi, the supposed culprit, still not quite admitting to it being her fault. Peter Rixham is third on the list to host the dinner party. He is confident about his menu and hopes he can execute it well. He also hopes the evening will be light and fun for his guests. His menu consists of asparagus wrapped in Parma ham with hollandaise (served ham-less for vegetarian Moni) as a starter, boeuf bourguignon and ratatouille as the main courses, and chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis for dessert. As the evening rolls on, the five discuss the importance of winning versus the importance of having a good time at each party.
- Moni Bharij is the hostess for the evening. Most of her guests expect that she will go to her Indian roots both for the menu and any additional table décor. They aren't wrong, but are surprised by the ingredients in the main. Her menu consists of king prawn curry as a starter, mixed thali of lamb, chicken, aubergine and lentil curry as the main course, and strawberry and champagne surprise for dessert. Lisa decides to bring Moni a gift reflecting Moni's gifts to everyone else thus far. Conversely, Lisa seems purely by chance to receive the short end of the stick on several occasions during the evening.
- The five reflect on the four new friends they have out of this experience, many no longer caring if they win the top prize. Matthew Baker is the last of this fivesome to host. He believes he has a good shot at winning having grown up in what he has coined the Jamie Oliver generation. Because of Matthew's boasting during the previous parties, his guests have high expectations of him. His menu consists of basil wrapped tortelloni, mozzarella and tomato as a starter, grilled red mullet as the main course, and duo of tiramisu and experimental fruit soup as the desserts. He hopes his choice of wine impresses one of his guests. They all have a good laugh at Judi's expense about a past indiscretion before Matthew announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The five contestants from Sunderland for this week are: nightclub owner Tony Griffiths, a flashy person who doesn't like to be considered big-headed; Ashley Hughes, a lover of kuchen, beer and Sunderland football; warehouse manager Roy Ledger, who describes himself as an energetic kid at heart; barrister Anthony Merton-Smith, who believes his friends think he's arrogant but hopefully interesting; and PR executive and kosher eater Bernice Saltzer, a moody but not brooding person. Tony Griffiths is the first to host the dinner party. His unintentionally 1970's inspired menu consists of avocado and prawns (avocado and salmon for kosher Bernice) in a Rose Marie sauce as a starter, roast lobster and fillet of beef (a tuna stir fry for Bernice) as the main course, and banoffee pie for dessert. He is making things as "fresh" as he knows how, which isn't very, but will his guests find out about his shortcuts? As the meal progresses, the fivesome slowly size each other up. By the end of the evening, Tony believes he's done a great job, but will his scores reflect his belief?
- The four guests from the previous evening assess their chances of winning based on first host Tony's performance. Bernice Saltzer is second on the list to host the dinner party. She is hoping to dazzle not only with her food but also her foot wear. Being a PR executive, she kiddingly threatens to mount smear campaigns against her guests if they mark her low. Her menu consists of pear and warm blue cheesecake as the starter, teriyaki salmon as the main course, and a duo of chocolate treats for dessert. During the meal, one diner is the target of the others, not for what is said but for what is not said. Beyond the food, Anthony and Roy dislike something else that Bernice hands over to them. At the end of the evening, Bernice is uncertain of how she will be scored.
- Ashley Hughes is third on the list to host the dinner party. As she has been the most openly critical thus far, the others aren't sure how she herself will take criticism. Regardless, she hopes that she gets the excitement in preparing the night's meal as she does when the Sunderland football team scores a goal. The one thing she is not confident about is her choice of wines, as she is purely a beer drinker. Her menu consists of salmon and tarragon mousse as the starter, beef medallions with a Stilton crust (and sea bass for kosher Bernice) as the main course, and blackberry and lemon ice in brandy snap cups for dessert. In preparing her meal, she demonstrates by its overuse her favorite kitchen gadget, and on which items she spends little thought. Besides the food, she is overly meticulous about another aspect of the evening. By the end of the meal, the one thing her guests did notice was her constant need for approval.
- Anthony Merton-Smith is the host for the evening. His guests are expecting great things from him as the "posh" one of the group, but as he has not divulged much information about himself during the week either, they also believe he could totally surprise them. He is confident about his chances of winning, especially after the first three meals. His menu consists of game terrine with chutney (fish terrine for kosher Bernice) as a starter, roast venison with black cherry sauce (seared tuna for Bernice) as the main course, and crêpes Suzette for dessert. His meal preparation does not start well and he hopes that mishap is not a sign of things to come. Three items hit the wow factor for the evening: a musical interlude by Anthony, a story by Ashley and dessert.
- All five of the diners, even the person whose night it was to host, comment on the totally unusual aspect of one of the dinner parties. But that night promises not to hold a candle to Roy Ledger's, he who is the last of this fivesome to host. Despite it being the middle of summer, Roy has decided on a Christmas theme, which he had not told his guests before they see the menu. His menu consists of garlic mushrooms and seared scallops with prawns as the starters, roast turkey with *some* trimmings (and orange crusted salmon for kosher Bernice) as the main course, and sherry trifle for dessert. He takes a risk by preparing much of the meal in front of his guests. At dinner, talk turns to the unusual items Roy has in his garden, and a special piece of clothing that Anthony is wearing. Followed by the five's discussion of future plans with each other, Roy announces the winner of the £1,000.
- Jenna Smith is third on the list to host the dinner party. She admits that cooking is not her strongest suit, but feels that hosting skills are more important, her hosting which she hopes will result in good times a few laughs. Her guests have little idea of what to expect. Her menu - the secondary aspect to the evening in her mind - consists of salmon and lemon fishcakes as the starter, drunk pigeon as the main course, and plum custard tart for dessert. Unknown to her guests, she has not made any of these dishes before. But she hopes her guests recognize the effort she places in the table setting. Jenna's presentation priorities go according to plan, but will these also be the priorities of her guests? A comment made by one of the diners at dinner shocks the other four.
- The five contestants from Northampton for this week are: football development manager Kirsty Frior, who wants the judging of her party to be accurate to her beliefs; marketing consultant William Henry, who considers himself to be gregarious and loud; medical sales rep Angela Parker, who doesn't like bombastic, opinionated and pushy people; Jenna Smith, a girly girl who judges things more on presentation than substance; and theater director Alex Soulsby, who learned much of his cooking while on global travels. Kirsty Frior is the first to host the dinner party. Her après ski inspired menu consists of mulled wine as an aperitif, cheese fondue as a starter, red wine braised duck leg as the main course, and lemon sorbet followed by snow peaked surprise with raspberry coulis for dessert. During the meal, the five have first impressions of each other, with one person taking the brunt of the comments solely due to dominating the conversation with strong opinions. Kirsty is pleased with the taste of her dishes if she does say so herself. Will her guests score her to her own assessment?
- The five contestants assess their chances of winning based on meeting the other four and experiencing the first party hosted by Kirsty. Four also comment on the domineering personality of the fifth. William Henry is second on the list to host the dinner party. His Italian inspired menu consists of tomato and mozzarella bruschetta as an antipasti, scallops with broad bean purée as the starter, chicken escalopes in Marsala as the main course, and pears poached in dessert wine with zabaglione for dessert. He plans on serving a different wine with each course, the wines from his own personal cellar. Beyond the food, perceptions of William's party take a drastic turn when talk around the dinner table goes to the personal.
- The guests are still in shock over the comment made by William at last night's dinner party. They also comment on the open flirting happening between Kirsty and Alex. But do Kirsty or Alex see a future together? Angela Parker is the hostess for the evening. Her menu consists of French onion soup with savory scones as a starter, haggis stuffed chicken with Drambuie sauce as the main course, and chocolate mousse for dessert. She remembers a comment by Jenna which makes her alter her menu. In the kitchen, she confesses she likes cooking but hates touching food. At dinner, two comments are made, both comments which surprise the two people about which they are.
- Alex Soulsby is the last of this fivesome to host. He realizes in doing five dishes he is putting himself under some pressure, but he hopes the effort will be noticed with a resultantly high score. His Thai inspired menu, which stems from the fact of having lived in Thailand previously, consists of three starters of pan-fried duck breast, tom yom soup and larb ravioli. Deep fried southern Thai fish curry as the main course, and galangal and vanilla infused white chocolate mousse for dessert round out the meal. Alex hopes that a mishap early in the meal preparation, to which he confesses, will not dampen his guests' appreciation of the meal. He has some special surprises for each of his guests. He will soon find out if these measures affect his scores as he announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The five contestants assess their chances of winning based on meeting the other four and experiencing the first party hosted by Gavin. They also assess how they will get on with the others for the remainder of the week. Alison Deer is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her Italian inspired menu consists of roasted red pepper soup with homemade bread as the starter, lasagne as the main course, and tiramisu for dessert. She spends as much time preparing the meal as she does cleaning the kitchen. Part of the meal doesn't sit well with Gavin, the cheese hater. The dinner conversation continues much of the same tone from the previous evening, which in turn strengthens Carol's open dislike of Patrick. Another has an equally strong dislike of Patrick and Carol, these feelings which are kept to that person.
- David Ward is third on the list to host the dinner party. He wants his hosting skills to reflect an air of elegance. Elegance is also in order for his shopping trip, and in order for himself in preparation for his own presentation for the evening. His menu consists of king prawn and queenie scallop salad as the starter, brie stuffed supreme of chicken as the main course, and raspberry crunch for dessert. Gavin has a few embarrassing moments prior to dinner. Carol is surprised that David does know how to cook. Unlike previous evenings with this group, the dinner conversation steers clear of the sexual innuendo - on the most part.
- Alison, Carol and Patrick discuss their problems with the other two, Patrick taking the brunt of the criticism for his open sexual innuendo, especially directed toward Carol, who takes offense to the comments. Alison in general just doesn't like the sexual innuendo, which she considers lowbrow. Patrick Walker is the host for the evening. His "old fashioned hotel food" menu consists of scallops with black pudding as a starter, sole Florentine (pheasant Florentine for fish hater Gavin) as the main course, a jalapeño, lime and mint ice as a palette cleanser (which ultimately does more than cleanse the palette for one guest), and crème brûlée for dessert. He is as impressed by his menu as he is with his kitchen utensils, the "biggest in the village" which impresses the ladies of the village in his estimation. He is not impressed however by any of his guests. His guests ultimately have issue with a last minute changes to his menu. More fireworks occur at dinner between Patrick and Carol, this time by a comment by Carol about Patrick's dogs. By the end, the evening totally deteriorates.
- By this, the last party of the week, Alison, Carol and Patrick are just waiting for the entire process to end so that they never have to deal with each other again. But they vow to be on their best behavior for this last meal, which may irk Gavin and David, who have been amused at the fireworks from the sidelines. Carol Sylvester is the last of this fivesome to host. Her menu consists of Channel crab cakes as a starter, lamb stifado as the main course, and raspberry Pavlova and chocolate fondue for dessert. Carol has a kitchen equipment failure which could affect her ability to cook the meal. She hopes that her home brewed beer will lull her guests into a sense of relaxation. She will soon find out if these issues affect her scores as she announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The five contestants from Bradford for this week are: community worker and part-time radio DJ Khaliva Ashrafi, who believes passion is required to make good food; engineer Nigel Beaumont, a loud larger than life man; insurance underwriter Stuart Hudson, whose biggest passion in life is cooking and food; Christian charity worker Jane Longhurst, who considers herself a bubbly person; and barmaid Theresa Walsh, a party girl. Jane Longhurst is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of chocolate dipped strawberries and cheese sablé as the appetizers, roasted asparagus as the starter, coq au Riesling as the main course, and warm chocolate brownies for dessert. For a person who has cooked for hundreds at a time, a dinner party for five should be a breeze for Jane, but she ultimately feels she let herself down. Will her guests concur? As the five get to know each other, one personality dominates the evening.
- The five contestants assess their chances of winning based on meeting the other four and experiencing the first party hosted by Jane. They also are still discussing and feeling the effects of the asparagus that Jane served last night. Muslim Khaliva Ashrafi is second on the list to host the dinner party, which will be alcohol-free due to her religious roots, and which may affect her guests' appreciation, or lack thereof, of the evening. Her Pakistani menu of family recipes consists of chicken tikka and lamb chops as the starter, chicken karahi and channa masala as the main course, and Asian fruit salad and store-bought South Asian sweets for dessert. The menu scares Jane, who likes her food a little on the blander side. But the menu and the actual preparation gets the stamp of approval from Khaliva's watchful mother. Bradford being a city where there are many South Asian restaurants, Khaliva's meal is compared to restaurant fare when the guests provide their scores.
- All five contestants are still openly confident about their chances of winning the week. Nigel Beaumont is third on the list to host the dinner party. His menu consists of catch of the day seafood platter with raita as the starter, braised pork loin (halal salmon for Khaliva) as the main course, and mille-feuille for dessert. He doesn't have problems cooking the meal, but does have problems describing it to the camera. The table decorations bring about the most discussed issue of the night. Time management becomes an issue for the evening. Nigel ends up being his harshest critic - with the exception of one.
- The five reassess their chances of winning as the week progresses. Nigel in particular reflects on his party and the comforting words of encouragement from Theresa. Theresa Walsh is the host for the evening. She is planning on making the night fun, especially after the somber end to the previous evening with Nigel. Her Italian inspired menu consists of an assortment of grilled figs as a starter, Tuscan baked swordfish as the main course, and mascarpone peanut cheesecake for dessert. She makes a last minute alteration to the main course and dessert, just because. She dictates a red, white and green dress code for the evening. As a barmaid, she prepares a special cocktail to start the evening. As the dinner conversation progresses, the discussion heads back to the poisonous table decorations from the previous evening, which brings about the first openly hostile moment amongst the group. From that, the hostilities fly at any opportunity. But host Theresa tries to keep the peace.
- Stuart Hudson is the last of this fivesome to host. He admits that cooking is his passion, but he needs the reassurance from others to provide him with some confidence in his abilities as he really wants to be a professional chef. Although Nigel and Jane seem to have made up by the end of last evening, Stuart will not allow any bad behavior in his house for his party. Stuart's menu consists of rabbit terrine (a chicken alternative for Muslim Khaliva) as a starter, baked monkfish as the main course, and pistachio and olive oil cake for dessert. He will soon find out if he gets the approval he so much desires as he announces the winner of the £1,000.
- The knives (and forks) are out as a group of strangers compete for the title of ultimate dinner party host. And the £1000 on the table adds spice to the proceedings...
- Rowland's meringues are stuck to the baking tray, his pancakes are falling flat and for once our comedian host just can't get his timings right.
- Linda may have starred on theatre and television but she's never before cooked a dinner party. She's seeking inspiration from her best friend and a favourite local restaurant.
- Anneka's more used to being wined and dined than getting her hands dirty, but still opts for an adventurous menu full of Mediterranean flavour.
- Our celebrities on the celebrity special have bonded well - with the exception of restaurant critic Toby Young. His acerbic remarks have not gone unnoticed and he's not been winning friends.