Albany ‘chilli-heads’ Che and David set to represent WA on My Kitchen Rules 2022

A hot-sauce connoisseur and a competitive chilli-eater from Albany will bring the heat to a new-look My Kitchen Rules this year, plating up their sizzling creations for celebrity food-experts Nigella Lawson, Manu Feildel and Matt Preston.

Chilli aficionados Che Cooper, 43, and David Shorter, 35, are set to fire up the competition, taking on culinary couples from across the country in this year’s season of MKR — premiering on Channel 7 this Sunday.

It comes after MKR mainstay Feildel — who will return as judge for his 12th season — was spotted enjoying the sights of Albany in May during filming of the show.

The self described “chilli-heads” bonded over their love of cooking and all things spicy, with Mr Cooper founder of the award-winning hot sauce company Gods of Sauces and Mr Shorter a competitive chilli eater.

Mr Cooper said it has been a long-held dream to compete on MKR and said cooking was his “whole world”.

“As a coeliac with two coeliac children, I have had to learn how to cook,” he said.

“I love to make all meals gluten-free to show people that you can make gluten-free food taste good.

“I like to entertain, host dinners and make people happy with the food I create.”

Mr Cooper said they were ready for the challenge and looking forward to making WA proud.

Mr Shorter said “cooking and food mean everything to me”.

“I wind down by cooking when I get home from work,” he said.

“Getting to cook for my family is a bonus.”

The pair of street-food fans described their relationship as based around being “good mates, banter and good food”, Mr Shorter said.

“We work great as a team. He’s there when I need him,” he said.

For the first time, this season’s competitors from around the country will be judged by renowned food writer, television cook and “domestic goddess” Nigella Lawson.

“While I admire chefs enormously, home cooking is where my heart is,” she said.

“For me, it’s the real story of food, and I was just terribly excited about eating food that told me where people had come from, who they are, and what they love.”