It’s easy to forget Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge are chefs and not comedians.
As the hosts of My Kitchen Rules, they bring the laughs while the contestants serve up the dishes.
WHO caught up with the Frenchman and his Irish counterpart to discuss the upcoming 14th season and their undeniable chemistry.
Congratulations on another season. What can you tell us about it?
Fassnidge: From the first episode, within five minutes, all of us were like, “Wow!” It was on fire. Everyone was firing and the energy was next level. Usually [contestants] are a bit subdued to start, but this was next level and real positive energy.
Feildel: There are a lot of competitive people this year – more than usual. So it’s very interesting. I know we say this all the time, but we’ve got amazing food this year. One dish reached the biggest score ever in 14 years – incredible food.
What’s the worst dish you’ve ever tasted on MKR?
Fassnidge: A lamb and squid dish. The squid was half-cooked.
Feildel: The worst one for me was from this series, so I can’t talk about it (laughs).
Fassnidge: Yeah, you went hard.
Feildel: I did go hard, but you’ll have to wait to hear my critique!
Fassnidge: I’m the one who’s known for going hard. But this year, mate, Manu left the table!
What do you guys do if you’re served an absolutely terrible meal and you’re still hungry? Do you pack snacks?
Fassnidge: Manu, tell them what I bring.
Feildel: Colin always brings some kind of stew in a takeaway container or a vegetable soup.
Fassnidge: I always have a plan B ready. There’s nothing worse than being hangry at a dinner party, right?
Feildel: The thing is, when you’re hungry you’d eat anything.
Fassnidge: I’m like his wife. I feed him, I listen to his problems.
Feildel: I like the way you said “wife” instead of “husband” (laughs).
You guys do seem like really good mates.
Fassnidge: The show wouldn’t work if we didn’t get on. We’re quite lucky. And it does come across that we are friends because you can’t fake that.
Feildel: We are friends on the outside as well as on-screen and that’s what makes it easy for us. We sometimes don’t even call this job work because we’re having so much fun.
Do you have a favourite dish you cook for each other?
Feildel: Some dishes I really love from Colin – like, first is his roast chicken on sourdough, which is full of chicken fat and deliciousness. His colcannon is to die for, because it has French butter in it. And lastly, his green sauce.
Fassnidge: Nah, he’s being funny, because when he comes to my house, I make this sauce with all the herbs and he hates it. He complains every time I give it to him.
Feildel: No, let me explain this to you. I don’t hate it, it’s always there – that’s the problem.
What score would you give it, Manu?
Feildel: The sauce is definitely an eight out of 10, but it’s the fact it’s always there.
And what about you, Colin? What’s a dish of Manu’s you love?
Fassnidge: He cooked a beautiful steak when we were in Perth with a hollandaise and potatoes. That was a great meal. Then the next morning he made me breakfast!
He really is your work wife!
Feildel: (laughs)
Fassnidge: He’s the wife without the sex!
Feildel: Is that not all wives?
Fassnidge: I didn’t say that!
(My Kitchen Rules S14 airs Mon.-Wed. at 7.30pm from Sep. 9 on Channel 7)
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