Seven confirmed Feildel’s return this weekend, adding that he will be joined by “one of the world’s biggest food stars”.Commenting on the announcement, Feildel admitted he’s “sad” former co-host Pete Evans, whose many controversies have seen him slink away from the spotlight this year, won’t be sitting next to him at the instant restaurants.The 47-year-old told The Daily Telegraph: “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.”Manu went on to say he doesn’t know who his fellow judge will be, but huge stars including Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal, Nigella Lawson and Marco Pierre White have been speculated, according to Media Week.Feildel’s friend and former colleague Evans parted ways with Seven after a decade on MKR.The decision to relinquish Pete from his $800,000 contract was reportedly a cost-cutting measure, according to The Australian, but it came amid a tumultuous time for the former restaurateur.Evans’ fall from grace has been swift since making headlines at the height pandemic for posting incessant anti-vax conspiracies. He went on to be dropped from dozens of sponsorships, have his cookbooks stripped from shelves, and lose a spot on the I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! cast after sharing a neo-Nazi meme on Facebook.He was subsequently booted off Facebook and Instagram for sharing misinformation in December, and copped $25,000 in fines from spruiking a $15,000 BioCharger.Evans, who now resides in Pottsville near Byron Bay in northern NSW, faced his second investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) this year and copped another $79,920 fine.In May, Evans resurfaced online sporting a new, much scruffier look.Once polished and squeaky clean, he looked like a shadow of his former self in a photo of himself and his mother, Joy, taking a stroll through the wilderness.In the selfie, uploaded to Telegram, the 48-year-old sported deep wrinkles around his eyes and on his forehead, alongside a grey-tinged beard and weathered complexion.Evans, who has frequently advocated against wearing SPF sunscreen, wrote in the caption that he’d just finished hosting a wellness retreat in Byron Bay, NSW.“Great weekend at the evolve sanctuary for our third retreat. Our beautiful Mum (Joy) came along to experience it also,” the former MKR judge said. Seven confirmed MKR’s surprise return at their 2022 Upfront presentation in October.It came after ratings for the once uber popular show took a dramatic nosedive in 2020 — with Channel 7 CEO James Warburton telling news.com.au he’s confident the revival will be hit.“It was dominant for a decade, people loved it. So we’re bringing it back with a short, sharp run. We’ve shown what we can do with The Voice so we’re confident it will work,” he said last month.Commenting on why it sunk so far — even being declared “dead” by one TV commentator — Mr Warburton said the narrative had shifted too far from the food.“It just chased a certain direction in my personal view. I sort of came on board as the last two seasons were going to air, but it chased villains and gossip and bitchiness and all that kind of stuff. (It had) really extended dinner parties, we’d blown it up to 60 episodes so it was a massive commitment.“(Next year) it’s back to what people like which is six couples, cooking in their own kitchens, intimate dinner parties like you’d have on a Saturday night and back to unbelievable food.Contestant applications are open now at www.MyKitchenRulesCasting.com.au
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