When Terry and Theresa Pollard said they were selling their house to set up a cafe business, their friends couldn't believe their ears.

It wasn't that the couple weren't hardworking or didn't have good business sense - but neither had a clue about cooking.

Still none the wiser they are due to open their own cafe, called Two T's, within the next fortnight.

They have already spent £70,000 refurbishing the premises in Queen's Road, Hastings.

Terry, 48, said: "We are not experienced caterers in any way. It's a big adventure. It's our whole life now and we have put everything into it.

"We can make basic food. I do it at home but usually all in one pan because it's easier washing up. I just bung the sausage, bacon and tomatoes all in together. It probably wouldn't look too good on a plate."

Desperate for some professional advice, the Pollards will appear on a new BBC show called Chef SOS next week.

The audience will be asked to choose the most deserving of three hopeless cookery cases to send away for some extra advice.

If Terry and Theresa win, they will go to Ireland to learn the art of the fry-up en masse.

Theresa, 42, said: "I've got a vision. I can see myself standing behind the counter even though it's not there yet.

"I'm just worried about getting large amounts of food out quickly enough. We are right next to a bus stop, so people are going to be popping in for a speedy meal or snack."

Terry thinks his experience as emergency calls co-ordinator at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings will help.

He said: "The pressures of catering can be intense, but so can working in a hospital, dealing with all the problems.

"Theresa and I are both very hard workers and we are prepared for what lies ahead.

"Hopefully when people who watch the show vote, they will go for the one they pity the most. It should be us."

The couple, married 17 years, have already signed contracts to supply workers from two nearby firms with food.

They aim to stick to simple English food like all-day breakfasts and fry-ups. Even so, it's still a huge gamble.

Theresa said: "Our colleagues couldn't believe it when we said we were doing this.

"When we handed in our notice they were gobsmacked but a lot of people said we were good for breaking the norm.

"We actually met in a Hastings nightclub when I was cooking there. All I had to do was microwave food for customers, so even there I didn't get experience of proper catering.

"We will probably learn from experience but it would be very nice if we had some expert knowledge before we open.

"It's not a mid-life crisis, more a mid-life reunion with ourselves. We want to be our own bosses, whatever we do."

A spokeswoman for Chef SOS said: "We have picked out cooks who are in a terrible situation. I'm sure the viewers will enjoy it."

Chef SOS is on BBC1 on August 10 at 8.30pm.