My Kitchen Rules 2022 promo sparks judge speculation: 'Where is he?'

After a year off-air, My Kitchen Rules is officially heading back to the small screen in 2022 with a fresh new look and a rejigged judging panel.

Channel 7 announced that long-time MKR star Manu Feildel would return as a judge in a sneak peek promo for season 12 on Monday morning.

The French-born chef will be joined at the head of the table by a second mystery judge described as one of the 'world's biggest food stars'.

The promo appears to drop a hint as to the mystery judge's identity, showing a woman wearing a red dress and matching red high heels exiting a car.

Following two consecutive years of flagging ratings in 2019 and 2020, the show will ditch the dramatics and return to its 'original recipe'.

"It's state versus state as the beloved competition goes back to its original recipe – real people cooking real food, in their own homes, serving love on a plate to the judges and their fellow contestants," a statement from Channel 7 read.

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Over on Instagram, where the promo was shared, fans were thrilled to find out that their favourite program was coming back with Manu at the helm.

"This is the most amazing news of this year. So happy and waiting," one wrote.

"Awesome @manufeildelofficial is back can't wait to watch new season," another added.

Some fans had already begun throwing out guesses as to Manu's unnamed co-star, with several suggesting British cook and TV presenter Rachel Khoo.

Rachel has appeared on the show as a guest judge back in season seven.

'Where's Colin?'

Others were left wondering where a familiar MKR face had gone.

"No Colin Fassnidge?" asked a fan.

"Where is @cfassnidge," added another.

"@cfassnidge ?!? Please be here too with @manufeildelofficial and no drama," a third wrote.

Colin made his MKR debut as a guest judge in season four and has appeared in every season since including the most recent one, 'The Rivals' where he went head-to-head with Manu.

'The Rivals' was a ratings low point for the series and saw the departure of Manu's original judging partner, Pete Evans.

The network chose not to renew the series in 2020 sparking rumours that it would be scrapped altogether, however in October this year it was given the green light.

During a fiery radio interview in March 2020, Colin placed the blame for the program’s dire ratings squarely on the shoulders of Channel Seven.

He argued that while season 11 was the 'best ever' it had been sabotaged by Seven’s 'stupid decision' to pit it against ratings juggernauts Married At First Sight and the Australian Open.

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