Will Australia’s next MasterChef be our next PM too? From the press release:

In an ABC Television coup, both party leaders will show off their culinary skills in a Kitchen Cabinet two-part special to air on ABC1 leading up to the election.

The two half-hour episodes, featuring Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, will air on ABC1 in the campaign’s final week.

Both leaders have agreed to submit themselves for ultimate whisk assessment. They are cooking for Kitchen Cabinet host Annabel Crabb in return for a bring-a-plate dessert and a cheeky glass of wine; these terms were swiftly accepted by ABC Television.

The Kitchen Cabinet two-part special will show Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott cooking for Annabel in their homes, and sharing their experiences of life in politics.

Series three of Kitchen Cabinet was incredibly popular with viewers this year, with a series average of 753,000.**

Head of Entertainment Jennifer Collins said “Annabel Crabb has discovered that the best way to get to know a leader outside of campaign rhetoric is to sit down and have dinner with them. This election, viewers will decide who can deliver the goods in the kitchen.”

Annabel Crabb said she was grateful for the opportunity to talk to both men at length about their lives and motivations in politics.

“Election campaigns are such frenetic events. Everything operates at such an incredible pace, and it’s a real luxury in the middle of all that to be able to change gear and talk to these two leaders over a meal, in their own homes,” Annabel said.

“Both Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott have led extraordinary lives and collectively have spent almost three and a half decades in politics. I have always wanted to ferret about in their kitchens, and I’m so pleased they’ve consented.”

Part One will feature Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and will air on Wednesday, 4 September at 8pm on ABC1.

Part two will feature Prime Minster Rudd and will air on Thursday, 5 September at 8pm on ABC1.

Annabel Crabb is a Walkley Award winning and Logie-nominated political journalist and presenter who also took Second Prize, Mixed Biscuit in the 2002 Queanbeyan Show.

She has cooked with an array of fascinating political figures this season, including: Jenny Macklin, Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy, Sussan Ley and Bill Heffernan, Craig Emerson, Nick Xenophon and Doug Cameron.

Produced by ABC TV. Series Producer is Madeleine Hawcroft. Executive Producer is Sophia Zachariou.

**Oztam metro daily