Sophia and Scott: Our secret is out!

The spunky personal trainer comes clean about his relationship with the show’s notorious super villain.

When Scott Gooding applied to compete in My Kitchen Rules he had a clear goal in his mind. “I signed up primarily just to raise my profile,” he admits. “I’m a personal trainer. I’m doing well but I think there’s a ceiling. You can only go so far if you’re not in the public eye.” What he didn’t expect was to find himself the subject of the reality-TV relationship rumour mill.

No sooner had the personable English-born gourmand confirmed his split from long-term girlfriend Theresa Ulvessund, than he was forced to hose down talk he’s romantically involved with fellow MKR contestant Sophia Pou, one half of the controversial gatecrashing duo from Cabramatta in Sydney’s west. “No, there’s zero truth to that,” Scott tells Woman’s Day exclusively. “Look, she’s a great girl, but no, not at all… that didn’t happen. Flattering as it may seem.” For weeks, the unlikely friendship between easy-going Bondi boys Luke Hines and Scott and polarising best friends Ashlee Pham and Sophia, has left fans gobsmacked.

“Noticed again Bondi boys sitting with Ashlee and Sophia,” TV blogger Emma Ashton posted on her site. Eliminated contestants Angela Kennedy and Milena Bagnato are just as surprised by the apparent closeness of the teams. “It’s a very strange combination, that people as positive as Scott and Luke would associate on such a friendly basis with Ashlee and Sophia,” Angela says. “I could never understand the connection that they had.”

During filming, on-set spies and fellow contestants say Scott and Sophia’s chemistry was undeniable. “They were laughing and giggling 24/7 together,” Angela says. “Sophia was all over Scott – couldn’t flirt enough.”