The French-born chef, Manu Feildel, nursed a bruised ego after losing out on one of the judging roles in MasterChef, he has disclosed.
But he quickly turned the setback around and within months had been named judge to My Kitchen Rules, the rival reality television juggernaut.
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Trailer: My Kitchen Rules: Meet Tyson
Chefs Manu Feildel and Pete Evans search Australia to find the best home cooks who can successfully transform their home into instant restaurants for one pressure-cooker night.
Feildel told the Herald Sun that he reached the final six during auditions which eventually selected restaurateurs George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan and food critic Matt Preston as the show's trio of judges eight years ago.
Calombaris and Feildel were co-owners of the Melbourne eatery Le Grand Cirque before it abruptly closed four months after its 2014 opening because of low diner numbers.
Feildel says he was overlooked for MasterChef because of his French accent.
"It was devastating," he was quoted. "I thought it was going to be my big break at the time. I was talking to Gary and George on the phone while the auditions were happening and I was quite excited about the prospect of hosting a brand new show.
"I was upset for a short while, because at the time, you think, what have I done wrong?"
Two weeks later Channel 7 rang and asked him to shoot the pilot of My Kitchen Rules. He took elocution and acting lessons so he could be more clearly understood and present.
"Everything happens for a reason, that has been my motto the past few years, when there have been some ups and downs in my life," he said.
"If is not happening, there is something better happening around the corner."
The Ten Network might be wringing their hands with regret now, though.
MasterChef's ratings have tanked over the years while Fieldel has helped shepherd My Kitchen Rules to become a ratings juggernaut.