'Stupid decision': MKR judge blames dire ratings on Channel 7

Gillian Wolski
·Lifestyle & Entertainment Producer
Updated ·2-min read

It’s no secret that My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals is struggling to whet the appetites of Aussie viewers, with the once-popular cooking show barely managing to attract half of the eyeballs it did the same time last year.

And now, judge Colin Fassnidge has placed the blame for the program’s dire ratings squarely on the shoulders of Channel Seven.

The Irish-born chef pulled no punches while chatting with 2GB’s Chris Smith on Monday, admitting that while this season is the ‘best ever’ it’s been sabotaged by Seven’s programming choices.

MKR judge Colin Fassnidge
MKR judge Colin Fassnidge has blamed the show's dire ratings on Channel 7. Photo: Channel 7.

“This year was the best one we’ve done but not everyone’s watching it, at the moment, cause we’ve got some people in Channel 7 who don’t know how to program a show,” he said.

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“But what do I know? I’m only a cook!” he laughed.

He went on to roast his home network for their ‘stupid decision’ to pit MKR against ratings juggernauts Married At First Sight and the Australian Open.

MKR judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans and Colin Fassnidge.
Colin with his fellow MKR stars, Manu Feildel and Pete Evans. Photo: Channel 7.

“A lot of work went into this and then some stupid decisions were made to go up against the tennis and Married [At First Sight], we should have started a week early,” Colin said.

He spruiked this Sunday night’s episode as the ‘funniest ever’ and issued a plea to viewers.

“It’s not too late to tune in,” he said.

Amanda and Tash, the Married At First Sight's first same-sex couple
MAFS' Amanda and Tash, the Aussie show's first same-sex couple. Photo: Channel Nine.

MAFS steamrolls MKR

It’s still early days but Married At First Sight is already a clear winner when it comes to TV ratings, consistently taking out the top spot every single episode (bar one) since it launched in early February.

MAFS’s drama-packed 2020 season premiere attracted a whopping 1,154,000 viewers, beating out rival reality shows MKR and Survivor as well as heavy hitters Seven and Nine news.

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The debut episode of Channel 10’s Survivor: All Stars - which sees previous contestants battle it out - placed tenth in the top 20 programs with 624,000 viewers.

Channel Seven’s revamped My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals trailed behind at number 16 with a measly 517,000.

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