My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge has opened up about his relationship with disgraced former host Pete Evans.
The celebrity chef, 49, was discussing the reality show’s current season with Benjamin Norris on his TV Reload podcast when the topic of the controversial chef came up.
The pair were discussing fan debate over the shorter length of the Channel Seven show’s previous season when Benjamin brought up the embattled gourmand.
‘I think it’s because [fans] are comparing it to back in the day when Pete Evans and everyone was there,’ he said.
Feigning ignorance, Colin replied with a flippant: ‘Who?’
Benjamin rebutted by saying: ‘I know you still talk to him,’ before Colin revealed his true feelings about his former co-star.
‘Nah, Pete’s a friend of mine,’ Colin admitted. ‘He’s good.’
Elsewhere in the interview, Colin revealed that he approaches each season of the long-running series as if it were his last.
My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge (pictured) has opened up about his relationship with disgraced former host Pete Evans
‘Do you ever think, “This will be my last season”?’ Benjamin asked.
Colin admitted he understood the fickle nature of television.
‘Every year I think that because TV is one of those worlds you’re in and then you’re not in, so every year I do it I say: “how lucky am I to get to do this?”‘
”And then you ask for more money,’ Benjamin joked.
Laughing, Colin replied: ‘There’s no more money, bro. Not in this day and age.’
The celebrity chef, 49, was discussing the reality show’s current season with Benjamin Norris on his TV Reload podcast when the topic of the controversial chef came up. Pictured with Pete Evans (right)
Pete Evans has faced a string of controversies over the past few years for his controversial views about Covid-19 and bizarre conspiracy theories.
The once-popular TV star attracted scrutiny for peddling anti-vaccine conspiracies and was fined $25,000 for spruiking a light machine he claimed helped cure Covid.
In May 2020, it was announced that Pete had parted ways with Channel Seven after ten years as a judge on My Kitchen Rules alongside Manu Feildel and guest judge Colin Fassnidge.
It effectively marked his break from the mainstream after years of flirting with off-the-wall ideas during his tenure at the network.
Evans has faced a string of controversies over the past few years for his controversial views about Covid-19 and bizarre conspiracy theories
Free from the contractual constraints of mainstream network television, he began spouting his non-scientific beliefs about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic on social media.
In July 2020, Pete sparked outrage when he falsely claimed Covid-19 was a ‘f***ing hoax’ and that the pandemic ‘doesn’t compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale’.
In May 2021, he was slapped with a $80,000 fine for trying to cash in again on Covid by flogging more fake treatments online.
It was the second time he ran foul of authorities after previously being fined $25,000 for trying to sell his so-called BioCharger for $15,000 apiece on Facebook.
The one-time celebrity chef recently found a buyer for his secluded bushland wellness retreat.
Evans and his wife Nicola announced they were putting the lavish spread on the market nine months ago.
Located in rainforest at Byrrill Creek, 62km from Byron Bay, the couple bought the 7.9hectare boutique retreat in 2020 for $1million.
The buyer and the sales price have not been released ahead of Evans signing off on the deal, The Daily Telegraph reported.
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