Mimi Spencer is best known for co-authoring the best-selling The Fast Diet with Dr Michael Mosley, which introduced the concept of 5:2 intermittent fasting to the world. The Fast Diet has sold over a million copies worldwide, with translations into more than 30 languages. Mimi went on to write The Fast Diet Recipe Book and Fast Cook.

Mimi's background is in lifestyle and style journalism, with an early career as a fashion writer for Vogue, the Evening Standard and then as editor of ES Magazine. She has been a columnist for You Magazine (Mail on Sunday), Observer Food Monthly and Waitrose Kitchen, while also writing lifestyle, fashion and food features for The Times and many national magazines.

Sam Rice's career has taken her from management consultant and travel business owner, to sommelier, wine columnist and more recently, food writer.

Following the premature death of her youngest brother, who suffered from type 1 diabetes, she decided to overhaul her diet in the interests of living a longer and healthier life. She wrote about the process in her book The Happy Eater, 4 Weeks to a Better Relationship with Food, which was self-published in 2014.

Mimi, 49, lives in Brighton with her husband and two teenage children. Sam, 47, now lives in Bali with her husband and two children. They met at the school gates and have remained firm friends ever since. They have always wanted to work together and The Midlife Kitchen is the perfect collaboration based on their mutual interest in fantastic, healthy food.