Spy: MKR New Zealand's sizzling new season

Ben Bayly and Gareth Stewart, front. With Grace Ramirez, Liz Egan, Nadia Lim and Robert Oliver. Photo / Supplied

The temperature is set to be turned up tomorrow in the battle for reality TV ratings. The new-look My Kitchen Rules NZ will launch on TV2 at 7.30pm, the same time as TV3's big-budget The Block NZ.

This year, TVNZ has switched My Kitchen Rules NZ from TV One to TV2 and in the revamped series duos will go head-to-head with teams from other regions around New Zealand.

The mix of contestants is spot on and judges Ben Bayly, from The Grove and Baduzzi, and Gareth Stewart, of Euro and the Nourish Group, are ready to cement their place as the celebrity chefs of the moment. Spy understands their Aussie compatriot, Pete Evans, will make an early-season cameo.

This season, My Kitchen Rules Australia judge Liz Egan will also be a fixture on the blind-tasting panel, along with Grace Ramirez, Nadia Lim and Robert Oliver.

On Thursday, Bayly and Stewart hosted Egan at The Grove. Spy also caught up with some of the judges on Friday, hours before the show's launch with the full cast at Baduzzi that night.

An excited Egan said: "I wasn't sure what to expect from the New Zealand teams, although I'd heard so many wonderful things about New Zealand produce and ingredients. So I was hoping the teams would showcase these and they did! I was blown away ... the food easily matched anything the teams in Australia produce."

Bayly said filming of the new series had been a blast.

"Travelling with the crew is like a road trip with your besties for three months. I always miss them when it's over."

Added Stewart: "I feel like the show is bigger and better and we fit the part. The fun that Ben and I have along with the crew keeps us going. There is a lot of fun going on behind the scenes."