French chef and former My Kitchen Rules host Manu Feildel had a get-out-of SAS card which allowed him to quit the show after only two days – and still get paid.
Feildel, 47, had barely got his boots wet when he decided he’d had enough of the porridge and the show itself, throwing in the towel after just two days.
Which it seems possibly was the plan all along.
Still raking it in: French chef and former My Kitchen Rules host Manu Feildel had a get-out-of SAS card which allowed him to quit the show after only two days – and still get paid
Today it can be revealed that Feildel was only ever required to spend two days on the show to fulfil the obligations of the network contract he has had with Channel 7 since 2010.
‘Two days. That was it. Two unmemorable days for Manu. Just enough time to complain about the food,’ said a fellow recruit, who claimed Feildel was ‘posturing’ about his network deal and the fact he only had to stay for two days.
‘He was saying “I don’t need this shit”. I have a great life. Why would I put myself through this torture.’
In promotional videos prior to the show airing, Feildel was certainly talking himself up as a contender, but viewers now know this was probably just for the cameras.
I’m out: Feildel had barely got his boots wet when he decided he’d had enough of the porridge and the show itself, throwing in the towel after just two days
The father-of-two claimed he had what it took to succeed and wanted to prove to his children that anything was possible.
One recruit said it was clear from the outset his heart wasn’t in it. ‘He pretty much failed at everything and you could tell he didn’t want to be there,’ they said.
‘He has bad knees but he wasn’t really in shape either so he was struggling. He will be happier at home, I’m sure.’
Manu became the third recruit to voluntarily quit SAS Australia on Wednesday night’s episode.
Coming home: Moments later, Manu was seen in a private room on a video call with his wife Clarissa Weerasena and their daughter Charlee, where he broke down in tears as he announced he was coming home
He dramatically handed in his number to chief instructor Ant Middleton while surrounded by his fellow recruits – before a challenge had even started.
‘I came on this course to prove something to myself, and I just realised I don’t need to prove anything,’ Manu boldly said to the camera shortly after his exit.
‘I’ve got a f**king good life. I’ve got a f**king good life, and I want it back,’ he added.
Ant had been explaining the challenge to recruits moments before Manu made his decision to bolt.
It involved the celebrities being seated in a vehicle which was then plunged into water – with the recruits being forced to hold their breath until they were given instructions to swim away.
‘If you f**k this up, we will be dragging your carcasses out of the water and f**king pumping the water out of your lungs,’ Ant warned.
‘Once you get into that vehicle and the directing staff (DS) puts that seatbelt on you, that whole process will not stop. If you panic, you’re going to stay under there a lot longer.’
‘Two days. That was it. Two unmemorable days for Manu. Just enough time to complain about the food,’ said a fellow recruit, who claimed Feildel was ‘posturing’ about his network deal and the fact he only had to stay for two days
The warning saw Manu immediately stand up without hesitation, holding his number to Ant who stared back at him in disbelief.
‘You haven’t even tried it number six, have you? Can you hold your breath?’ he asked.
But having clearly made up his mind, Manu simply responded: ‘I’m giving you my number, staff.’
Moments later, Manu was seen in a private room on a video call with his wife Clarissa Weerasena and their daughter Charlee, where he broke down in tears as he announced he was coming home.
‘Listen, I’m done. I don’t need to be here anymore,’ he said. ‘I want to come home. I miss you more than this.’
When his wife asked how he was feeling, he simply responded: ‘I am fabulous.’
Tune in: SAS Australia returns on Sunday night at 7.30pm