Experimental cook Nina Gaskell served up cucumbers stuffed with corned beef when the Come Dine With Me cameras came to her dinner party.

The grandmother is one of five contestants from Medway who will be appearing on our screens from tonight, Monday, when the hit Channel 4 series returns.

Nina, 67, is going head-to-head with barmaid Laura Leibo, police worker Esther Kennedy, mortgage adviser Michael Dodsworth and art graduate Patrick Fysh.

Tonight we will see Nina’s unusual dishes, which also include coconut flavoured gravy, fail to impress. There is a genuine sense of fear when Nina’s cucumber arrives at the table, and the guests are even more baffled by her choice of palate cleansers.

The show continues every night this week. Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be the turn of barmaid Laura. She struggles with her recipes and decides to make them up as she goes along.

Police communications officer Esther plans a sophisticated evening on Wednesday, while youngest contestant Patrick Fish tries some dishes inspired by Heston Blumenthal on Thursday.

The competition comes to a close on Friday, when mortgage adviser Michael hopes encouraging lots of party games and jokes will help him secure the £1,000 prize.

n Tune into Channel 4 at 5.30pm today.