TV’s new judging trio: Scott Pickett, Guillaume and Tom Parker Bowles. Source: Channel 9

Channel 9 is officially joining the reality TV cooking fray in the coming weeks, with fiery new series The Hot Plate kicking off.

The brand new series is expected to go head-to-head with Seven’s new cooking show Restaurant Revolution, and overnight Nine unveiled their secret weapon — Sydney’s triple hat threat Guillaume Brahimi. The French-born chef will appear as a special guest judge during all elimination episodes, alongside regular judges Tom Parker Bowles and Scott Pickett.

It’s the latest move by Nine to up the ante in the restaurant reality show battle, after Seven announced celebrity chef Neil Perry would be joining Restaurant Revolution.

Nine has plenty of star power of their own on The Hot Plate, Parker Bowles is one of the

UK’s top food critics (and son of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall), while Melbourne restaurateur Pickett is the chef/owner of three restaurants including hatted eateries Estelle Bistro and St Crispin.

Award winning Australian chef Neil Perry. Source: News Corp Australia

Sydney’s French-born chef Guillaume Brahimi. Source: Channel 9

Guillaume told news.com.au of his new TV gig: “The contestants on the Hot Plate impressed me a lot. It was really pleasing to see their enthusiasm and care in what they do and for their businesses.

“The Hot Plate for me was an enjoyable experience, I like the idea of supporting people in the industry already. It was like working with my peers and I was honoured to share my knowledge with them.”

Fellow judge Scotty Pickett, who clearly loves what he does, told news.com.au the contestants were inspirational.

“What I really do love about this show is that these people [on The Hot Plate] have either mortgaged their house, begged, borrowed … I know how hard it is.

“These aren’t the fine dining, top end, the glamour, the celebrity chefs. These are people that are hard working, that have things on the menu, not because they’re glamorous but because their customers like them and they sell.”

The show has seen him travel the country alongside Parker Bowles, sampling the best of what each state has to offer - a dream result for the man who said he felt ‘at home’ the first time he walked into a professional kitchen.

“It was like I’d found my calling. I’ve loved my stainless steel asylum since day one. Which is what it is, you’ve got four stainless steel walls, it;s full of energy, heat, battle, it’s a crazy environment and I just felt comfortable.

“I’m one of those fortunate people; I don’t go to work, I live my life. And my life is my restaurants and my food and my people and my family so I never struggle to get out of bed.”

The upcoming cooking show pits six established suburban restaurants against each other all striving for a leg up in the industry — and an extra $100,000 in the bank.

The Hot Plate had its official launch in Melbourne overnight. Parker Bowles flew in from London for the event, which was held at one of Pickett’s hatted eateries Estelle Bistro.

The Hotplate is set to kick off later this month.

Tom Parker Bowles and Scott Pickett have teamed up for Nine’s The Hot Plate. Source: Channel 9