When the My Kitchen Rules judges were told the new-season format would see them going head-to-head in the kitchen, no-one was more excited than Colin Fassnidge.
Although Colin and colleague Manu Feildel are long-time mates, they’re friendly rivals too – and Colin will do whatever it takes to beat him.
“Oh, the rivalry is always there,” the 46-year-old tells TV WEEK with a laugh. “Manu’s problem is he knows I’m the better chef. He has better hair, but I’m the better cook.”
In MKR’s 11th season, Manu will mentor the Faves group, which includes former show winners and contestants, while Colin will mentor the Fans, a group of fresh-faced chefs new to the show.
“Channel Seven gave me the group that has never cooked before – because they know I’m capable – and gave the more experienced group to Manu because he can’t teach them anything,” Colin jokes.
Meanwhile, Pete Evans will act as a deciding judge by tasting and critiquing all the teams’ dishes. However, MKR fans shouldn’t expect to see Pete sitting on the fence.
“People think he’s Switzerland, but he’s not at all,” Colin says. “I called him the bus driver, because he kept throwing me under it! [Laughs]. But the great thing about the season is there’s more on the line for all of us; it’s possibly the best season we’ve ever done.”
Supplied: Pete keeps the rival judges honest during the competition.
Having worked in kitchens around the world, Colin has learnt to thrive under pressure – something he hopes to pass on to his group. Whether or not it’s applied in MKR is yet to be seen, as Colin teases about the “worst dish” of the series.
“You have to take criticism on the chin and move on with some humility,” he says of his lessons in the hospitality industry. “We’re in an era where people can’t say anything anymore, but sometimes you have to tell it how it is.
“This season, I’m served the worst dish I’ve ever had in MKR history, and I said so at the table. You just have to be honest!”
On the other side of the MKR table, Manu Feildel doesn’t seem the least bit worried about going head-to-head with his fellow MKR judge Colin Fassnidge in the show’s new format. Then again, he may just be THAT confident.
“There’s a friendly rivalry between us,” Manu, 45, tells TV WEEK. “We’re both very competitive, but we’re also good friends. It’s a lot of fun.”
After a decade on the popular cooking competition, Manu is excited by the show’s change-up and believes fans will be too.
“The new format has been amazing to work on,” he says. “I think everyone will really love it.
“After 10 years, I think it was getting a bit rusty – and we were as well. We wanted to do something a bit different to excite everyone again – and excite us.”
While competition between Manu and Colin may be fierce – maybe more so from Colin’s side – what the celebrity chef and TV personality has loved most is getting into the kitchen with his teams.
“It was brilliant,” Manu says. “I felt like I was in my element.
“For me, it was being able to spend time in the kitchen and mentor my teams, and to prove to the public that not only can we talk about it [food], but can actually cook and make it happen.”
