Plate Of Origin: Channel 7 boss taking a ‘never say never’ approach with George Calombaris
Fans clamouring to see George Calombaris reunite with MasterChef mates Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan on Seven’s Plate Of Origin have been sent a message from the network’s top dog: “never say never”.
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Channel 7 boss James Warburton is taking a “never say never” approach to the prospect of George Calombaris reuniting with Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan on the network’s new cooking show, Plate Of Origin.
Former MasterChef judges Preston and Mehigan have defected to Seven to helm the new kitchen competition alongside My Kitchen Rules star Manu Feildel.
Calombaris, also a former MasterChef judge, and whose business empire was at the centre of a wages scandal earlier this year, was not signed by Seven.
Ten parted ways with the self-described “Three Musketeers” earlier this year over their desire to do different projects.
“George is signed to Channel 10 until July next year,” Mr Warburton told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“What I say about George is: ‘Never say never.’
“But for what we need to do in terms of production and timing, George couldn’t be a part of any particular show going forward, but I’m not opposed to it,” he added.
“It really depends where we’re up to in terms of formats, and how things have rated, but never say never.”
He said Seven is stoked to have Preston and Mehigan on its talent roster.
“We do a lot of research in terms of talent and Gary and Matt are literally at the top of the tree. For us, they’re absolute superstars. I’ve said openly I can’t believe Ten let them go.
“They’re extremely hard working. I had the fortune of working with them at Ten. They cared deeply. Plate Of Origin is probably the most important thing they’ll do, so they’ll work their bums off,” Mr Warburton said.
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But he said the combination of Preston Mehigan and Feildel will be strong.
“You put those three superstars together and it’s a pretty powerful connection,” Mr Warburton said. “Manu, Pete (Evans) and Colin (Fassnidge) on MKR is powerful, too.
At the recent Channel 7 program launch for 2020, Plate Of Origin executive producer David Dutton said the show will be like “the World Cup of cooking … a festival of food.”
Acknowledging their non-appearance at the launch due to contractual matters, he added: “We all know Matt and Gary are currently on gardening leave. They’re working on their herbs, but I’m here to tell you the deal is done, it has been signed. The kitchen opens soon.”
Feildel said he is looking forward to working with the former MasterChef stars.
Feildel said: “If they do what they did on Ten, enjoy themselves, and do it for the right reasons, I think it could work.”