A COUPLE have reached the final of a national cooking competition.

Sam Bilton and her husband Neil will feature in today’s My Kitchen Rules showdown, vying to win £10,000.

The duo, from Haywards Heath, have put their talents and relationship to the test so far, with Neil’s inability to cook proving stressful for Sam.

Food historian and blogger Sam said: “It has been very hard work and very intense at times, particularly the last week.

“We were filming every other day in Birmingham then driving back home to practice for the next round.

“For the final we only had about 24 hours between preparing and cooking.”

My Kitchen Rules is an amateur cooking competition beginning with 20 couples. Sam and Neil made it through the Southern regional heats in the Channel 4 programme scoring the only nine out of ten in the region with a medieval mackerel and green sauce starter.

As the rounds progressed, Neil’s skills improved and he was making pasta from scratch in the quarter-finals, something which impressed Sam.

“Considering he couldn’t even cook before we started the competition, that’s quite amazing,” she said.

They were also seen arguing in the kitchen, with Sam shouting at her husband – but it was all in good jest.

Sam said: “It was stressful because I was trying to think constantly for both of us, but I think Neil found it even more stressful because he’s not used to cooking.

“But I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.”

In the final, the couple make a three-course meal for the judges.

Sam and Neil whip up a mussel veloute starter, cannon of lamb for the main and a baked Alaska dessert, which Sam said was met with joy from the judges.

“They really liked it,” said Sam.

But the couple do face a hiccup due to preparation times for one of the courses.

Sam added that they were facing stiff competition from the other finalists in the season finale.

Speaking of their time on national television, Sam said: “The experience has been surreal, especially knowing what’s coming next when you watch it back.

“We really didn’t even expect to make the quarter finals, so it was really hard work when we got to the final, but it was amazing.”

The final is airing at 1.05pm this afternoon on Channel 4.