Gatecrashers Aaron and Chris are coming across as one of the most competitive teams on My Kitchen Rules – and this week, Aaron confirms that impression when he admits he’d be prepared to score strategically to remain in the competition.
But the truth is, the barbecue champions are both devoted dads who wouldn’t have left their families behind if they weren’t committed to winning.
The MKR barbecue champions are both devoted dads.
(Image: Supplied) (Credit: (Image: Supplied))Chris, from NSW, became a father when his twin boys Nicolas and Adrian were born prematurely at 25 weeks.
“My son Nicolas passed away after eight days,” Chris, 47, tells TV WEEK, “and Adrian was in the neonatal intensive care unit for about four months.”
Chris and his wife Mayleen gave up work for two years, and when she went back to work, Chris became Adrian’s primary carer after he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and needed regular therapy.
Their hoping to have winner “bragging rights.”
(Image: Supplied) (Credit: (Image: Supplied))“I regard it as a blessing that I was able to be there for my family to give them the support everyone needed,” Chris says. “Obviously, it was a defining moment in my life. I got a whole lot more perspective on what’s important and what’s not.”
Adrian is now six and started kindergarten this year.
“Actually, my sons were identical at birth, so every time we look at Adrian, we see Nicolas,” Chris says.
South Australian Aaron has two sons, Kaleb, six, and three-year-old Kody. The former butcher describes himself as “super-competitive”, but adds that there’s a lot more to the cooking competition that winning the $100,000 prize money.
“It’s the opportunity, the experience, being an MKR grand finalist and having winner’s bragging rights,” the 33-year-old says.
“And overall, to just show my boys you can do anything you set your mind to and get out of your comfort zone and achieve your dreams.”
