MKR judges 'threaten to quit' as new stars tipped to join 2025 season

Channel Seven has officially confirmed that My Kitchen Rules will return in 2025, with applications for season 15 now open. While longtime stars Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge feature in promo images encouraging potential contestants to apply, it’s been reported that they might not be the only celebrity chefs on the judging panel next year.

Woman’s Day recently speculated that there are big changes in the works and producers are eyeing Curtis Stone and Gordon Ramsey “to stir the pot next year”. An insider told the publication earlier this week that a new judge will add some “spicy changes” to the competition and “completely disrupt” the dynamic between Manu and Colin, who have become “too nice”.

Now, a source close to the production tells Yahoo Lifestyle that Manu and Colin have “threatened to quit” the series if either Curtis or Gordon were to join MKR.

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“Rumours that Channel Seven are sourcing a new judge for next year has ruffled a few feathers with Manu and Colin. The news hasn’t gone down well at all,” they share.

“The decision won't be Manu or Colin’s, but the network is cautious of scaring them both away and needing to recast the whole lineup. Executives know the duo are very much loved and while they want to spice things up, they also cannot afford to lose them.”

What about Curtis' connection to MasterChef?

Curtis Stone has had a long-standing relationship with Network 10 and has appeared as a guest judge on every season of MasterChef Australia since 2009. While he recently told Yahoo Lifestyle he will appear on the reality show next year, sources are saying the chef is unhappy with how he was portrayed on the most recent season and is “open to changing networks”.

“The reactions to Curtis were not great and fans noticed he seemed a little too harsh in his interactions with the 2024 cast. He’s defended his role and said his tough love was ‘designed to push the competitors to showcase their talents’, but he had no idea it would land so badly,” our insider details.

“The result has seen him looking at other opportunities and ending his relationship with the long-running cooking show, although he does have lucrative endorsements that would need to be on board for this to work.”

Curtis’ jump to a full-time role on MKR wouldn't be too surprising as he has appeared as a guest judge on four seasons over the years. The Coles ambassador also served as a judge on the short-lived American version of the series in 2017 alongside Cat Cora, so he’s clearly familiar with the role.

Gordon Ramsey is a 'free agent' in Australia

Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsey has reportedly been dropped by Channel Nine after his series Gordon Ramsey’s Food Stars alongside Janine Allis wasn’t a hit in the ratings earlier this year.

Our source says the UK chef is now a “free agent” on Australian TV and could easily jump ship to Channel Seven, who feature his popular series Kitchen Nightmares on 7plus.

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“Gordon is a producer's dream when it comes to stirring things up,” they detail. “He would eat Manu and Colin for breakfast and everyone knows that he is a hired gun when it comes to ‘TV villains’.”

Channel Seven is expected to make an official announcement regarding the MKR judges for 2025 at their upcoming Upfront event this month.

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