Guess who nearly became a judge on MasterChef? In the end everything happens for a reason

Feildel got down to the final six after a number of auditions, and thought he had the job along with George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan.

At the last minute he was rung by the producers to say he had missed out on the gig, as they didn’t think Australia would relate to his French accent.

“It was devastating,” Feildel told Confidential.

“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?”

In the end George, Gary and Matt Preston got the MasterChef gig.

Feildel says everything happens for a reason, and in this case it is true — he got a phone call two weeks after missing the MasterChef gig from Channel 7 to shoot the pilot of My Kitchen Rules, and the rest is history.

“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.”

Feildel’s French accent nearly stopped him getting the gig at My Kitchen Rules, but his long time friend — and now co-host Pete Evans — fought for him to have the gig.

He went on to have elocution and actings lessons in the first couple of years of MKR to improve his delivery on television.

“I just learnt to relax and get rid of the stress,” he said.

“That is what happens, when you stress inside, the words don’t come out of your mouth properly.

“I feel comfortable now with myself, and comfortable to talk in front of 300 people or on television.

“It’s become a lot easier.”

TASTE - Salt-crust baked snapper3:01

My Kitchen Rules co-host Manu Feildel shows you how to cook his salt-crust baked snapper.

• April 19th 2011
• 6 years ago

TASTE - Salt-crust baked snapper