My Kitchen Rules to return in 2022 — without judge Pete Evans

MKR judge Manu Feildel has made his feelings clear about the drama-filled recent seasons of the show, promising next year will go back to basics, with ‘no bitching, no stabbing in the back’.

My Kitchen Rules is back on the television menu but it will be minus one previously essential ingredient — original judge Pete Evans.

Judge Manu Feildel will return for the reheated reality show, but apparently his former right-hand man doesn’t know it yet.

Manu Feildel says the next season of MKR will focus on food, not drama. Picture: Tim Hunter

“I’m sure when he finds out, because I haven’t told him yet, but when he finds out I have signed on for the show again, he will be very happy for me,” an optimistic Manu Feildel told Sunday Confidential.

“He is that guy. He won’t hold a grudge.

“He probably will want to still watch me, for sure.”

Feildel remains close to self-proclaimed health guru Evans, who was dumped by the Seven network in 2020, bringing to an end a decade-long working relationship and a rumoured $1 million contract.

The pair are still friends and keep in touch.

“I am a little sad I suppose,” Feildel said, when asked how he felt about starring on MKR without his former co-judge.

“Pete and I are great mates and nothing has changed there.

“We have worked together for a very long time and I love the guy. The fact he won’t be sitting next to me is not my choice.

“I am not sure yet who will be joining me. There have been some international names floating around.”

MKR’s two original judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans. Evans will not be returning for the 2022 season.

The program lost viewers in recent years after it drifted too far from its roots as a cooking challenge and focused more on the manufactured drama between contestants than their culinary skills.

Last year, just 498,000 tuned in for the first episode of what used to be a ratings juggernaut for Seven. That compared with 1.891 million viewers during its fifth season in 2014.

“What happened over the last few seasons is we lost the kids watching it and we lost the older generations watching us because it became too crazy for some,” Feildel said.

“After 12 years of MKR we have seen the ups and downs and we’ve figured out what does work and what doesn’t work.

The French chef said when the long-running program returns to our screens in 2022, viewers can expect more old-school MKR and less Married At First Sight.

“We are going to go back to basics and great food and no bitching and stabbing in the back and no fighting around the table any more,” he said.

“We are going to re-jig the whole thing and revamp it and get back on track.

“We want to go back to what MKR was all about at the beginning.

“Not less drama, no drama.

“There will be a lot of humour, a lot of fun, a lot of great food.

“When we judge we will be honest, but it will be nice to be judging good food instead of people who are just there to be on TV.”

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