More familiar to London’s top restaurants, self confessed first time chef Rowland is a virtual stranger to his own kitchen. In the celebrity special his 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 pinning her hopes on an “Italian” and “organic” menu, seeking inspiration from her best friend and a favourite local restaurant. Linda is second in the line up on the Come Dine With Me celebrity special.

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, including a Catalan Paella in the celebrity special

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.

Hoping to wipe the floor with the competition on the celeb special is Aggie Mackenzie: she’s the co-presenter of ‘How Clean Is Your House’ and former Associate Editor of Good House Keeping Magazine…so her guests have very high expectations of her home and cooking.

71-year-old Terry White from Liverpool hopes to win over four complete strangers with his classic Cordon Bleu menu. He’s been cooking for over 40 years, but now he’ll have to learn some new tricks.

It’s the second gathering in Liverpool and tonight’s host is fishmonger Dan Redfern. Super competitive, he tries to impress his guests by spending £200 on alcohol alone to accompany an ambitions four course meal and an array of fish canapés.

Tonight it’s Nikki O’Leary’s turn to have a shot at the £1000 prize in Liverpool – but it’s not going to be easy because she’s planning to serve a three course vegan meal to four meat loving food connoisseurs.

Customer Service Manger Ian Cook, in Liverpool, tries to grab the top prize by planning his cooking as a military operation. Armed with the freshest ingredients, his own recipes and a superb knowledge of his critical guests, he tries to win them over one by one, by appeasing their particular tastes.

It’s the final night of the culinary stand off in Liverpool and it’s the turn of etiquette queen and Royalist, Margaret Twemlow. She has a hard act to follow, after a week featuring some of the highest scores seen on Come Dine With Me. But Margaret has a plan which just might put her in the lead.

It’s the start of five days of stiff culinary competition in London. Cooking for four complete strangers tonight is anthropologist Linda Shanson. She’s planned her menu to reflect her well travelled past, with no less than sixteen dishes from around the world.

It’s day two in London and tonight fishmonger Jonathan Norris is entertaining. He’s passionate about all things fish, and when he lays his eyes on a prize turbot, it’s love at first sight.

Night three in London and it’s the turn of seventy year old opera singer Patricia Varley who’s hoping to impress her guests with a retro menu of dinner party hits straight out of the seventies.

It’s the fourth day of the competition in London and tonight is the turn of Italian estate agent John Santamaria.

It’s the last night of the competition and our five London food lovers are about to find out who’s won that £1,000 first prize. Tonight’s host is architect, surveyor and property developer Richard Whitaker. Richard is a stickler for detail and when it comes to food everything has to be just so.

Fancy Dress company owner Julia Knight serve up a mexican theme Dinner Party.

Postman Grahm Fox aims for the £100 prize but there's a crab bone in the fish cakes!

Holistic Therapist Patsy serves up a spicy caribbean menu.

Erotic dancer Michele cooper trys to impresse her guests with chicken hotpot.

Half French Web designer Danny Fletcher trys to impress his guests with an all french menu.

Rachel ropes in her husband and kids but the move backfires when the kids brownies end up in the bin.

It’s day two in Cambridge and the turn of flash estate agent Gael Norris to show her skills. Gael is a perfectionist so goes to extraordinary lengths to make sure her meal is beautifully presented.

Night three in Cambridge and it’s the turn of house husband and home grown produce fan Phil Webb, who’s hoping to impress his guests with a menu of pork straight from his own little piggies.

It’s day 4 of the competition in Cambridge and German born domestic goddess Simone Breneis is planning to pull out all the stops to make sure she wins.

The final night in Cambridge and it’s the turn of ex-nightclub singer turned market researcher Carolyn Tycer who’s concentrating more on the entertainment than the food.

It’s the first night of a week of fine dining in Ayr, and white witch Maureen McKissock is off to a spell-binding start as she prepares to throw a dinner party for four complete strangers.

It’s day two of the food lovers’ competition in Ayr, and the turn of college lecturer Elaine Munro. Elaine’s hoping her no-nonsense approach to dining will score highly.

Tonight it’s the turn of the only man in the group – Ayr's answer to Donald Trump – Forbes Robertson. Casino owner Forbes is no stranger to the high life, but he’s from humble beginnings and he’s planning a dinner party that reflects his down-to-earth roots.

It’s day four of the competition in Ayr and time for upmarket Englishwoman Lizzy McCubbin to show off her skills. She’s pulling out all the stops to offer polished presentation and the finest cuisine.

The prize for best host will be awarded this evening and Sarah will have to work hard to beat Elaine, who impressed everyone with her cool and collected hosting earlier in the week.

First up this week in Swansea is social worker David Murray. He considers himself the greatest of hosts and is hoping to wow his guests not just with his menu, but with an extravagant dining experience.

It’s the second day of the competition in Swansea. And today it’s the turn of 57 year old golfing fanatic Ernest Lemonheigh, who is hoping that his traditional Welsh fare of cockles, bacon and laver bread will be enough to bag him the £1000 prize money!

It’s the penultimate day of the culinary competition in Swansea. And today it’s the turn of 42 year old first class air hostess Karen Perry, who is hoping that her stylish salmon bake with chilli, lime and ginger will see her flying off with that £1000 first prize.

It’s the penultimate day of the culinary competition in Swansea. And today it’s the turn of 42 year old first class air hostess Karen Perry, who is hoping that her stylish salmon bake with chilli, lime and ginger will see her flying off with that £1000 first prize.

It’s the final day of our culinary competition in Swansea. Tonight it’s the turn of chocoholic super-mum, Heather Skipper. But after air-hostess Karen’s top flight performance last night Heather knows she’s got a tough challenge ahead to have a chance at winning the £1000 prize.

It’s day one of our culinary show-down, in and around the Cardiff area. And first to take on the challenge of cooking for four complete strangers is mum, and business woman, Suzanne Green, from Caerphilly. Suzanne is sure she’ll earn the highest marks from her guests by broadening their taste-bud horizons and giving them a completely new dining experience. With this in mind she serves up sweetbreads – or lambs’ testicles. It’s a risky dish to serve to four people she’s never met before – so will it pay off?

It’s day two in Cardiff. Tonight’s host is B&B owner Annette Howard. Last night Suzy Green cooked lamb testicles, but Annette didn’t share her sense of adventure and refused to eat them. Annette needs all the help she can get to win her guests around. Luckily she also claims to be a psychic, and as a surprise to help her spirit away that one thousand pound cash prize, she decides to buy them all a crystal.

It’s day two in Cardiff. Tonight’s host is B&B owner Annette Howard. Last night Suzy Green cooked lamb testicles, but Annette didn’t share her sense of adventure and refused to eat them. Annette needs all the help she can get to win her guests around. Luckily she also claims to be a psychic, and as a surprise to help her spirit away that one thousand pound cash prize, she decides to buy them all a crystal.

It’s the half way point of this week’s cook-off in Cardiff, and tonight it’s the turn of ex-merchant navy seaman Jim Blythe to try and steady the ship after a rocky two days. Last night crystal-healer Annette Howard failed to impress with her menu of prawn cocktail and fried chicken, and with the Cardiff natives now both hungry and restless, Jim has a job on his hands to restore calm.

It’s the penultimate dinner party in Cardiff. Last night ex-merchant seaman Jim Blythe sailed into the lead with a gastronomic tour of the South Seas but his dinner party hit stormy waters when tempers flared between Annette and Jane. Tonight’s host socialist and postman Charlie Balch hopes that his organic food will stamp out any bad feeling.

It’s the last night of the competition in Cardiff and the all-important final dinner party is being hosted by fun-loving nurse and true Welsh patriot Jane Lloyd, who’s hoping to wow her guests by serving up a local speciality: Coes cig oen rhost (roast lamb).

Interior designer Carlos Buller, from Come Dine With Me Manchester, knows how to throw a good party. The self-assured chef thinks he's the don of dinner party hosting because he "knows what people want". "They want the best and nothing but the best and I will give them that," he chirrups.

Extrovert housing officer Susan Bicknell, from Come Dine With Me Manchester, has a lot of energy and admits she "can do people's heads in sometimes". She doesn't mind opinions but doesn't want to join any opinion parties - whatever they are. Right you are, Susan

Performing artist, Dan Cumberland, from Come Dine With Me Manchester, is a vegetarian who believes people should be able to kill what they eat. He likes his food to be as pure as possible. "I don't like food that's been radio-actified," he admits. Well Dan, it's an acquired taste.

Straight-talking mother-of-two, Karen Oulton, is incredibly honest and won't eat anything just to be polite. She claims not to like confrontation but, having got off to a bad start with Carlos on the first day and offended Dan on the third, she seems to be running out of friends fast.

Night club manager Stuart Burke describes himself as a flamboyant, outgoing and lively personality who's not afraid to experiment in the kitchen. He's also very critical - so let's hope he can live up to his own exacting standards.

Host on night two of Come Dine With Me Birmingham is opinionated recruitment consultant and gym bunny, Ian Harvey "If someone doesn't hold my interest, I make it so obvious," warns Ian, "I pretty much ignore them." Trainee wine merchant and all round charmer, Ian, thinks he's a cut above the rest and is confident his combination of great timing and even greater wine will see him pocket the prize money. He'll be using his skills to match a different wine to each course and hoping his guests stay sober enough to taste them.

Flying the flag for Birmingham on night three is garage manager, Amanda Kelman Amanda doesn't suffer fools gladly and after the chaos of the first two nights, she reckons she's in with a chance at the prize fund. Cool, calm, collected, Amanda's recipe for success means giving her guests whatever their hearts desire. And if it all goes wrong - there's always the Chinese takeaway.

Man of the world, Wayne, is used to living the high life, so there's a treat in store when his humble Come Dine With Me Birmingham rivals come to his crib Wayne's ideal dinner party would involve him and four ladies. Happily for his wife, there's another man at the table. And what a table. Wayne's dressed his dining room as if it were Christmas; he's even made place settings. Lovely.

Sporty singleton, Suzie, has some secrets up her sleeve for her Come Dine With Me Birmingham guests Demure divorcee, Suzie, is looking for love. Sadly, this week hasn't thrown up any Romeos. Still, onwards and upwards. A cool £1000 cash might help cheer a lonely heart. Suzie certainly thinks so. "I've got an inner belief that it's just going to be fantastic on my night," she gushes.

Tanya Jay served up 17 fiery-hot dishes to her Come Dine With Me Kent guests Setting the benchmark in Kent is Sri Lankan petrol station supremo, Tanya Jay. With a doting husband, four obedient children and her very own driver, this pampered princess is more used to being served than serving up. But what Tanya wants, Tanya gets and right now, she wants cold, hard cash.

Self-appointed joker-of-the-week Trevor Smith planned a fool-proof feast for his Come Dine With Me Kent guests. Well, he tried 52 year old Trevor Smith loves music, Arsenal and Hawaiian shirts. He also loves red wine and after necking bottles of the stuff at Tanya's dinner party, he's battling a hangover as he prepares for his turn playing host.

International businessman Allen Brockington, showed his culinary skills on night three of Come Dine With Me in Kent He might be an international businessman but gentle giant, Allen, is all about the home comforts. He likes gardening, painting and happily for his guests, cooking. He's planning a laid back evening with nice food, nice presentation and nice wine. Sounds nice.

Zoe Mortlock used her psychological profiling powers to pitch for victory in Come Dine With Me Kent Zoe Mortlock is qualitative research executive. Know what that means? Nope, neither do we. Whatever it is, she reckons she can use her work skills to play a 'sly game'. We don't know what that means either.

Dental technician and wannabe DJ, Steven Parks think's his culinary class makes him the man to beat in Come Dine With Me Kent Steven's been bitching about his rivals' efforts all week but thanks to Tanya's constant cob-on, no-one appears to have noticed. Except us. So what does the dining diva have up his sleeve? "I won't put on my high heels to entertain people," he scoffs - that is a disappointment