The Restaurant (UK Series 2) - Contestants

Contestants

The contestants that took part in the series were (in reverse order of elimination):

• Russell Clement & Michele English - a couple from Essex ran The Cheerful Soul in Northwood, Middlesex. They already run a buffet business but aspire to open their own restaurant.

• Alasdair Hooper & James Knight-Pacheco (2nd Place) - friends from Devon ran The Gallery, near Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Alasdair works for Pizza Express as a waiter and James is a former chef de partie at The Square and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's. They both aim to open a Michelin-starred restaurant. In 2010 James was working as a tutor at the Ashburton Cookery School.

• Tim & Lindsie Selby (3rd Place) - a married couple from Kent ran True Provenance in Brentford. Tim is a TGI Friday's operations manager and line cook who rose through the ranks to manage nine restaurants while Lindsie is an HR manager. They want to run an ethically sourced restaurant.

• Helen & Stephen Bryan (4th Place) - a married couple from Cambridgeshire ran Nel's in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. Helen used to work in marketing but has some experience working in professional kitchens. Stephen is an ex-naval officer. They think they could be the new "Fanny and Johnnie".
  Following the series Steven has become a hotel manager. Helen is working in local government.

• Peter Dong & Laura Scale (5th) - a couple from South Wales ran The Welsh Wok, in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. Peter is a team manager with a blue chip company and Laura is a service manager who has always wanted to work in the hospitality industry.

• Chris & Caroline Hanson (6th) - a married couple from South Yorkshire ran Ray White's in Weston-on-the-Green, Bicester, Oxfordshire. Chris has been a chef at a pub for the past nine years and Caroline is an extended schools worker. Their restaurant aims to celebrate the best of British food.
  Chris is now working the food festival circuit.

• Harriet & Mike Ashworth (7th) - a father and daughter pairing from Surrey ran The Blue Goose in Oxford. Mike is owner and director of two recruitment businesses and Harriet is an event planner who has worked as a Crown Court Clerk.
  Harriet currently runs the kitchen at Public House

• Scott Sheppard & Richard Hammond (8th) - a couple from Sussex ran Sorbet and Seasons in Surbiton. Scott trained as a chef 18 years ago, but is currently a manager in first and business class for an airline. Richard used to be an airline steward and is now the director of a soft drinks company.

• Annette Cockburn & Kashelle Taylor (9th - Weren't given a restaurant) - a mother and daughter team from South Yorkshire planned on opening Caribbean Delights but were eliminated without being given a restaurant. Annette is a care worker and Kashelle is a freelance actress.