“You see one side on the TV.”

Michael hasn’t shied away from ruffling a few feathers on My Kitchen Rules (MKR) 2025, but following his and Rielli’s elimination, fellow contestants Danielle and Marko have revealed their softer side.

Michael and Rielli were sent to the elimination challenge, where they competed against Danielle and Marko, and were sent home after losing by one point. Perhaps one of the most detrimental moments of the cook was when Michael dropped a tray of ribs.

In an interview with Chattr, Danielle said she had a mixed reaction when she saw Michael make the monumental slip.

“When Michael dropped the tray of ribs, like, there was a part of it that felt bad for them, like, obviously not a nice feeling. But then at the same time, I guess him dropping it brought us a little bit closer to possibly getting ahead of them,” she said.
Michael picking up the tray of ribs. Image: Seven.
Marko said that while Michael and Rielli were often made out to look like villains on TV, they weren’t really that way in real life.

“They definitely have that different side to them. Obviously, you see one side on the TV and that sort of stuff, but both of them are actually really good people,” he said.

Danielle added: “We got on really well with Michael and Riley, and they definitely have a softer side. I think they just didn’t want to go home. And also, like they’re really proud of what they do as well, they didn’t want to embarrass themselves.”

While Marko and Danielle were sad to see Michael and Rielli go, they admitted it was better than the alternative — being sent home themselves.

“It was bittersweet when Michael and Rielli were eliminated, to be honest. We both felt happy that one more team is eliminated, which means we’re getting closer to winning, but sad as sharing the MKR experience with Michael and Rielli was super fun and they definitely made things interesting to say the least.

How Marko and Danielle feel about the third round of MKR Instant Restaurants

At the end of Monday night’s episode, Colin and Manu revealed that the remaining contestants will be touring around Australia once again for the Ultimate Instant Restaurant round.

Speaking to Chattr, Danielle and Marko said they were thrilled by the news, especially given how well their first Instant Restaurant went.
Marko and Danielle at the first Instant Restaurant. Image: Seven.
“To be honest, we actually were delighted! Clearly, we seem to thrive better in that environment, so we’re looking forward to proving ourselves again at the Ultimate Instant Restaurant,” Danielle said.

“Our strategy is to replicate as much as possible what we did in our first Instant Restaurant. That means aiming to accomplish as much as possible during preparation time before things get too hectic,” she added.