Colin Fassnidge has revealed the one missing ingredient that he has brought back to My Kitchen Rules, something he felt had been lacking over the course of the show’s previous 12 seasons.
Speaking on Mediaweek and Chattr’s The Entertainment Hotline Podcast, the 50-year-old admitted that the series “had lost its way” halfway through its run and he was now ready to bring back the “fun”.
“When it first started, when I started on MKR, it was so much fun,” he said. “And then a little bit in the middle, it sort of lost its way because it got a bit drama and people, even my kids, didn’t want to watch that and Australia didn’t obviously want to watch that either because they said it. And now they’ve sort of come back the last few years, [and now] it’s about heart.”
In addition to this, Fassnidge said that Aussies weren’t keen on just hearing people complain.
“I don’t want to sit around the table with people complaining, I’ve got that at home,” he said. “I’ve got that with my teenagers. So when I’m away, I want to have fun.”
This year, Fassnidge joins Manu Feildel as a “top dog” (as he likes to refer to it), with the pair deciding to rejuvenate the show to bring back the joy.
“I think me and Manu directed it that way, that’s what we want. If you’re here for your 15 minutes of fame, or if you’re here to be grumpy, we don’t want to talk to you… so we’re back to basics on this one.”
Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge. Seven
Now that he’s sitting at the head of the table, Fassnidge feels privileged to be working alongside Feildel, whom he affectionately calls “Frenchy”.
“I used to say to Pete [Evans] years ago, ‘I want your job’ and I said, ‘One day I’m gonna have it.’ And it’s good because I love MKR and I love hanging out with Manu. And I realised that we’re in a very great spot in our lives to do this job and to have a show that people want to watch.”
Colin Fassnidge on the My Kitchen Rules 2023 cast
This year, six brand-new teams will be inviting Fassnidge and Feildel into their homes, and as usual, they are a mix of everyday Aussies who would never sit around a dinner table together.
“I don’t know where they find these people,” Fassnidge said. “But I love it because they are people that I would hang out with.”
In particular, the TV chef made note of Claudine and Anthony.
“Ooft, get ready for this!” he said. “Claudine is a whirlwind of a lady. I love her. We had so much back chat with each other, that we would just stop and be going at each other. Not in a bad way, but in a fun way. So I really appreciated her being there.
“It’s just a good mix of people and it’s different demos. You’re just like, ‘What is going on?’ sometimes.”
My Kitchen Rules 2023 cast. Seven
Colin Fassnidge on Nigella Lawson
TV legend Nigella Lawson will also return as a guest judge during finale week and like the rest of the world, Fassnidge has a “huge crush” on her.
“She’s the boss,” Fassnidge admitted. “I was the top dog until she turned up…I’ve had a crush on Nigella since she started on TV, and they always say, ‘Don’t meet your heroes because you might be disappointed’. I met Nigella and I was just like, ‘I love you’. I’ve even told my wife that she is my crush.
Feildel, Nigella Lawson and Fassnidge. Seven
“And they [production team] said to me, ‘When you go on set, don’t be Colin because Nigella’s royalty and like, you’re a bit loose.'” So, I was like being all mannerly and watching my p’s and q’s and then at one stage, Frenchy stopped the shoot and he’s like, ‘Look at Colin. He’s got his mouth open.’ I was in awe of Nigella.
“So, when I got to meet her, it was an honour. She is royalty. And when she speaks and does her critiques, it’s like she swallowed the dictionary.”
Listen to the full chat with Colin Fassnidge on The Entertainment Hotline Podcast.
My Kitchen Rules 2023 premieres on Monday, September 4 at 7.30 pm on 7 and 7Plus.