First to host is full-time mum Lydia Jones. She's opted for some French recipes that, although tried before, she's never had any success with. Her guests' responses aren't ideal: dental nurse Donna tries to work out what a canard is; hairdresser Marcello is convinced that Lydia is serving grated toast; and artist Anthony is confused by every course. As the evening starts, Ramsgate's 'most stylish man' Marcello wastes no time offending everyone he meets with cutting comments about their appearance. So, will Lydia manage to smooth the ruffled feathers with her French feast, or will they all just be rowing by the end of the first night?

It's arrogant hairdresser Marcello Marino's turn to entertain in Kent. He's really going to have to turn on the charm if he wants to win, having offended each guest last night, so he's hoping to impress with his Italian/Spanish menu - and salsa dance display. But the sound of his 'Lasagne a la Mia Mamma' main doesn't quite inspire his guests, and his starter leaves nearly everyone stumped as to what it is. The guests are amazed at what they find when they snoop around Marcello's bedroom and the risqué artwork on his walls. And, though the atmosphere is better than the previous night, the evening is destined to take a turn for the worse, leaving the host in a bit of a state. Can Marcello turn things round with a salsa dancing intermission? Or will his guests see through his veneer of vulnerability and go for the kill?

It's day three on the Kent coast and the host, Margate girl Donna Grieves, is hoping to impress with her locally sourced ingredients and a best-of-British menu. Unfortunately for Donna, Italian hairdresser Marcello is proving hard to please and, after yesterday's near-perfect manners when he was host, he's immediately back to his bad old ways. Anthony's attempt to lighten the mood with a startling revelation doesn't help matters, and things go from bad to worse when Donna gets all emotional over some news of her own. As Donna grows tired and weary, her dessert hits the deck, leaving one guest to eat pudding off the floor - much to Marcello's amusement.

Day four in Kent and experimental artist Anthony Wait is hosting. In truly alternative fashion, he's opted not to practise his cooking beforehand and just see what happens on the night. He also hopes to get his guests interested in his new art project, which uses body parts. Marcello spot-checks the house for dirt and dust, which upsets one of the other guests and causes a row. But Anthony has plotted revenge on the lippy hairdresser, and plans to make the troublemaker squirm with embarrassment. Will Anthony's improvised food prove a hit with his guests and give him a chance of grabbing the £1000 prize, or will their creative differences prove too hard to swallow?

It's the final night in Kent, and building boss - and confirmed foodie - Chris Newbold has the last opportunity to grab the prize. But he's also determined that Italian Marcello won't spoil the evening with his usual insults. Armed with a few choice words and a sophisticated, international menu, Chris hopes to impress his guests and keep Marcello in check. However, leaving much of his cooking until the guests are seated, Chris is taking quite a risk. And will Marcello's attempt to sweeten the others with gifts to win them over, or will they finally tell him exactly what they think? This is Chris' opportunity to win the £1000 prize, but only if he pulls off his challenging menu and impresses the pickiest guest of all.

A week of dining in East Lancashire with quite a lot of kissing, much belching and an unannounced twin. One of the funniest episodes of Come Dine with Me, this features the hilarious antics of mayoress Carol Stinton, perma-tanned hairdresser Jonny Kemp, spiritualist Sue Hartley and the plumber with Victorian values Nick Holt.

Part-time model, journalist and poet Azzi Kalili is first up in west London. Persian Aussie Azzi hosts her dinner party in a Moroccan marquee in her garden - on a cold London winter's night.

It's the second day of the competition and host plumber Steve Capel has a bit of an accident preparing his favourite dish, an African roulade of ostrich, kudu and springbok. Later on when he attempts a show featuring his nunchuks, Steve's routine is cut short by an injury to his thumb that causes carnage in the living room. Can he recover from these setbacks?

It's the turn of ex-wedding planner Zae, who hopes to impress with his wedding-style menu and his attention to detail. But when the guests arrive, things don't run quite as smoothly as the perfectionist host envisaged.

Events organiser Emma Boardman Magliocchetti is the latest host. The only issue is that Emma has never actually cooked a three course meal before in her life. Recently-married Emma wants to prove to her new Italian husband, and her guests, that she can be a perfect wife and create an incredible Italian feast. Will Emma's glamorous hostessing skills impress them all? Or will her picky behaviour over the previous few nights come back to haunt her?

Last to host in west London is busy mum Jane Welch, who's feeling the pressure as she's out of practice at hosting dinner parties. Fits of nerves are just the first of Jane's hurdles, because her adventurous menu may not be to everyone's taste. The night kicks off with the guests in fancy dress, but soon everyone's enjoying the first-class food. Compliments begin to flow, quickly followed by Jane's tears when she's overwhelmed by the positive feedback.

Plastic surgery fan Jo Allen takes on self-confessed `hairy-bummed roofer' Nigel Reid, Rocky Horror-obsessed drag queen Justin Hussey, and saleswoman Margaret Hope, in a week of fights and lost tempers.

Marketing manager Stephanie Hale goes head-to-head with local councillor Alex Foster, beauty therapist Janice Overton, project engineer Brian Hodges, and party animal (and business manager) Barry Dickman. Stephanie is a great cook and she also knows how to mix a mean cocktail. But one of her guests can't stomach her prawns, while another has trouble working out what an artichoke is.

In Nottingham, local councilor Alex Foster hopes to impress with a fancy French menu and a spot of bell ringing. Sadly, Brian likens Alex's starter to cat food, Janice tells him to tidy up his house, and Barry compares the cornichons to intimate body parts.

Janice Overton is feeling quietly confident that her 1970s themed night will be a winner. Luckily her guests are also in the mood for a bit of 70s nostalgia with the normally grumpy Brian arriving dressed as Noddy Holder and Alex squeezed into a PVC pantsuit. But it's not long before a chill descends on the dinner table when Brian reveals that he's not keen on one of his fellow diners. And things get worse when everyone reveals how uncomfortable they feel in Janice's pristine house.

In Nottingham it's the turn of a self-proclaimed 'sexist' - engineer Brian Hodges - to host. But, Brian can't actually cook. In fact Brian does so little cooking he doesn't even have enough cutlery to go round. Knowing his skills are limited to say the least, Brian's plan for his evening is to wing it. He's borrowing cutlery from his local pub, has a friend sorting him out with some wine, his local butcher helping him in the kitchen, and has even convinced his friend's daughters to come and waitress for him.

Barry Dickman is hoping his Greek-themed night will be enough to win him the competition. But how will his guests take to eating his traditional Greek food and dancing to traditional Greek music?

Battling it out in the heart of Robin Hood country are U2 fanatic Lynn Negus, DJ/photographer/ex-gigolo Dennis Nyama, primary schoolteacher Maria Beal and former roadie Pete Chaffe.

First to host is glamorous insurance worker Zoe Prince, who's cooking an Italian-themed menu, despite not being Italian and never having been to Italy. But that might not be too much of a problem as the other guests don't seem to know their saltimbocca from their vermicelli. With a tip-top menu prepared, Zoe soon learns she's got a lot more on her plate to deal with than just the food, as her guests are a right bunch. The boys seem more interested in finding out whether Zoe's a model or pole-dancer, rather than a good cook. And things go from flirty to frosty when chip shop manager Martyn Bilby attempts to hold the hand of fellow guest Latvian ice queen Signe Jase. Fusspot Tracey Hewer, who works in trading standards, is on edge as soon as she hears Tito the cat meowing upstairs. And don't even get her started on her high food-presentation standards. Will Zoe be able to get her guests to put their differences aside and stop looking at her grubby cutlery for long enough to give her a credible score?

It's chip shop manager Martyn Bilby's turn to host, and he's pulling out all the stops with his signature dish 'Swan Lake': a chocolate éclair swan on a blue jelly lake. After a fractious first night at Zoe's, Martyn asks his guests to dress formally. But any chance of impressing them goes out the window when Zoe and Signe spot photos of him greased up and posing for a 'Mr Doncaster' body-building competition. And things go from bad to worse when Signe gets what looks suspiciously like a hair in her hot king prawn surprise. Martyn might talk a good game, but that just gives him further to fall as far as fussy Tracey is concerned. Can she hide her utter contempt or will it be plain for all to see?

Tracey Hewer is a queen of desserts and she's sure she can win over her guests with a barrage of cup cakes - for starter, main course and, obviously, for dessert. The guests might also be going home with a dozen carefully packaged cupcakes all of their own. But by the end of the night frozen peas might be of more use after Zoe threatens to wallop Martyn if he doesn't hold his tongue. And Signe is less than flattering about Tracey's cooking.

It's Latvian lecturer Signe Jase's turn to host, and she's decided to offer an adventurous menu of Latvian delicacies such as herring salad and salted salmon. Signe's main is wild boar. It's all too much for Tracey, who refuses to try much of the food, leading to a showdown with Martyn who thinks she's being rude. Can Signe calm fraying tempers and come out on top?

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In South Buckinghamshire, Nicholas Witherick, who works and lives in a stunning stately home, takes on hard-talking waitress Lisa Bristow, wind-up merchant Dale Evans, and creative art teacher Annie Hearne. What follows is a week of fine dining featuring body art, seafood wars, fibbing, taunts, and daggers drawn at pudding time.

First to host in Birmingham is hair and beauty tutor April Richards. April is serving zebra meat for starters. But Paz Thakrar is a strict vegetarian who thinks even eating vegetables is cruel. Might a puppy in a pot and a raw dessert save the day?