The fourth series of the Australian competitive cooking game show My Kitchen Rules commenced on 28 January 2013 and concluded on 28 April 2013 on Seven Network.
Format Changes
Gatecrasher Round: Three additional "gatecrasher" teams entered the show after the instant restaurant round of Group 2. They competed against the bottom three teams from the remaining 10, in a third round of instant restaurants . Comeback Kitchen: A number of teams were eliminated on more than one occasion. After their initial elimination, they were brought back through a "Comeback Kitchen" which saw teams compete for one remaining spot in the finals. Losing teams were "re-eliminated" from the competition. This challenge saw eliminated teams cooking meals to order for judge, Colin Fassnidge's restaurant 4Fourteen. Patrons paid for what they thought the meals were worth and the winning or losing teams advanced or were re-eliminated. Blind Tastings: For all Sudden Death Cook-Offs guest judges no longer knew who cooked which dish.
Teams
For this series, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania each commenced with two teams, while New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia each had three teams (two original teams and one "gatecrasher" team) A team's Group 1, 2 or gatecrasher status was only of significance in the Instant restaurant rounds.
Elimination History
Notes
— After Lisa & Candice were eliminated, the total tally of the instant restaurant scores were shown and the three lowest scorers out of the remaining ten teams were Ali & Samuel, Lisa & Stefano and Dan & Steph. They competed in another instant restaurant round with the three gatecrasher teams. These gatecrasher teams were introduced after the last instant restaurant of the second group (Jenna & Joanna). — The winners of the People's Choice were given the pleasure of choosing one other team to be safe with them, through to the next round. — Finishing first on the instant restaurant leaderboards, these three teams were exempt from this challenge and safe from elimination. — The 'Comeback Kitchen' rounds were separate challenges from the main competition and occurred alongside the main stream. Only eliminated teams between the Top 12 and Top 6 (except Josh and Andi due to personal reasons) participated in the Comeback Kitchen.
Competition Details
Instant Restaurant Round
Round 1
Episodes 1 to 6
Airdate — 28 January to 6 February
Description — The first of the two instant restaurant groups are introduced into the competition in Round 1. The lowest scoring team at the end of this round is eliminated.
Round 2
Episodes 7 to 12
Airdate — 7 February to 18 February
Description — The second of the two instant restaurant groups are introduced into the competition in Round 2. The same rules from the previous round apply and the lowest scoring team is eliminated.
Round 3 (Gatecrasher Round) Episodes 13 to 18 Airdate — 19 February to 27 February Description — In the third round of instant restaurants, the three lowest scoring safe teams in the first two groups combined, into another instant restaurant round. From here, three newly introduced 'gatecrasher' teams also joined the round. As per the first two rounds, the same format of scoring is repeated and the lowest scoring team is eliminated.
Top 12
People's Choice Challenge: Annual Block Party
Episode 19
Airdate – 28 February 2013
Location - Kings Cross, Sydney, NSW
Description – Teams were challenged to cook in the kitchens of small compact apartments. Five teams chose to cook a main, and four teams cooked a dessert. Their meals were served to 50 guests for the annual block party. Guests voted for their favourite dish and the team with the most votes won the People's Choice.
Note
— Finishing first on the instant restaurant leaderboards, Mick & Matt, Luke & Scott, and Ali & Samuel were granted immunity status and did not participate on the round.