Not many shows get a launch event at all these days, yet so important is My Kitchen Rules to the Seven schedule the program stages launch events nationally every season.
MORE: Behind the scenes of MKR season eight wit co-creator Rikkie Proost and EP Joe Herdman
Working the room beautifully again this year at the Sydney event were hosts and judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans plus regular judge Colin Fassnidge. Last week the show was also launched in Perth and Brisbane – Melbourne and Adelaide have launches this week. The new series launches tonight on Seven.
Fassnidge spent the first couple of weeks of 2017 renovating his Surry Hills, Sydney restaurant 4Fourteen, and Seven’s guests were the first people allowed inside to sample the decor and the food with staff putting the finishing touches to the renos earlier that day. The restaurant opened to the public the day after the launch event.
Despite tabloid reports about their dislike for each other, Feildel and Evans hosted the event looking like best friends. They joked about both wearing white and then referenced media claims of a guest blacklist when they apologised if any of the invites had gone missing!
Both judges promised much of the food on offer this season was the best ever and Evans thanked Seven for the opportunity to be part of the #1 TV program in Australia, now up to season eight. Evans also thanked the production team for its tireless work. He added: “I get to work with two of my best mates, Colin and Manu.”
The guest list included around 80 media, clients and Seven staff including:
Adam Dovile – Better Homes and Gardens, Alex Cullen – Sunday Night, Edwina Bartholomew – Sunrise, Emma Leonard (Tracey) – 800 Words, Michael Usher – Murder Uncovered, Michelle Langstone (Fiona) – 800 Words, Natalie Barr – Sunrise, Penny McNamee (Tori) – Home and Away, Ray Meagher (Alf) – Home and Away and Sam Mac – Sunrise.
Celebrating with their sons were Manu Feildel’s mum Evelyne Wuckelt (and Manu’s stepfather Michel Wuckelt who are holidaying here from France) and Pete Evans’ mum Joy Evans.
Seven executives attending were Angus Ross – Seven’s Director of Network Programming, Bruce McWilliam – Seven’s Commercial Director, Joe Herdman – Executive Producer, MKR and Lisa Squillace – Seven’s Sponsorship and Digital Channels Sales Director.