Nigella Lawson has replaced controversial judge Pete Evans on Channel 7 show, My Kitchen Rules and fans have said her appointment is a ‘massive upgrade.’
The British food writer, 62, has joined Manu Feildel as a judge for the first time during the premiere of the reboot on Sunday night and she was incredibly well-received.
One fan called her ‘the vital ingredient this show has been missing.’
‘She is the vital ingredient this show has been missing’: Nigella Lawson replaced controversial judge Pete Evans on My Kitchen Rules on Sunday’s show
Pals: Manu (left) recently revealed that he is still good friends with chef Pete Evans (right) – who was sacked from his $800,000 contract in May 2020 – he claimed Covid was a hoax
Other fans wrote: ‘Not only is she a bona fide food-lover & relatable to all us home cooks but it’s her personable nature, positive energy, insightfulness & unique way with words that makes her so endearing.’
‘Nigella is certainly a massive upgrade on the previous judge!’
Meanwhile, another fan put it bluntly: ‘I wonder if Pete Evans is tuning into the new session of @mykitchenrules? @Nigella_Lawson you are waaay better than Pete!’
However, some fans weren’t happy that Pete had been replaced by the television cook.
One fan said: ‘I wonder if Pete Evans is tuning into the new session of @mykitchenrules? @Nigella_Lawson you are waaay better than Pete!’
Another said: ‘Nigella is certainly a massive upgrade on the previous judge!’
You can’t please them all: However, some fans weren’t happy that Pete had been replaced by the television cook
All change: Nigella (pictured withManu Feildel ) replaced disgraced former judge Pete Evans for this year’s season
‘Wife asked if I wanted to watch new season of #MKR But apparently Pete Evans isn’t a judge anymore. So I’m not watching.’
Other fans predict that Nigella’s appearance on the struggling TV show will help bring it back on her feet.
‘Nigella will single-handedly save this show,’ a viewer tweeted, while another added, ‘I’m giving #MKR another chance-I hope the love really is back. Also, Nigella.’
Several viewers took to social media to praise Nigella, as well as the show, saying her stint is ‘a massive upgrade’
Other fans predict that Nigella’s appearance on the struggling TV show will help bring it back on her feet
Global home-cooking sensation Nigella replaced Pete Evans, who was axed from the Seven network in 2020 amidst the show’s falling ratings in its then eleventh year of production
Another fan put it bluntly: ‘I wonder if Pete Evans is tuning into the new session of @mykitchenrules? @Nigella_Lawson you are waaay better than Pete!’
However, some fans weren’t happy that Pete had been replaced by the television cook
Nigella has previously spoken about her excitement about starring on the series.
‘When you think about the food you love, it’s nearly always home cooking,’ she said.
‘I’m a home cook and it’s the food that I want to eat. I’ve eaten 17,000 kilometers to find Australia’s best home cooks.’
Just days before the new season’s premiere, Manu revealed he is still good friends with controversial chef Pete.
More to come: Nigella (centre) has previously spoken about her excitement about starring on the series, saying, ‘I’m a home cook and it’s the food that I want to eat. I’ve eaten 17,000 kilometers to find Australia’s best home cooks.’
‘We still chat once a month and every now and then,’ he told The Daily Telegraph last Thursday.
‘Look things have changed for everyone. Pete is happy with his life and there’s no awkwardness there.’
Manu and Pete co-hosted My Kitchen Rules for a decade before Evans was sacked from his $800,000 contract in May 2020.
Before: Manu and Pete co-hosted My Kitchen Rules for a decade before Evans, (right), was sacked from his $800,000 contract in May 2020
The pair were often the subject of rumors they didn’t like each other, with a source revealing in 2017 that Manu thought Pete was ‘stranger than strange’.
Pete previously claimed COVID-19 was a ‘f**king hoax’ and that the pandemic ‘doesn’t compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale’.
Among his false claims about the pandemic, Pete previously declared he’s immune to coronavirus, and blamed the health crisis on 5G technology.
Shock: Pete (pictured) previously claimed COVID-19 was a ‘f**king hoax’ and that the pandemic ‘doesn’t compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale’
He also endorsed fellow conspiracy theorist David Icke, a Holocaust denier who was denied entry to Australia after protests from the Jewish community.
Pete was dropped by 15 sponsors and companies in the space of 48 hours in November 2020.
MKR had once been a juggernaut ratings for Seven, but its popularity nosedived in recent years as viewers flocked to Channel Nine’s Married At First Sight instead.
In April, it was announced that home-cooking sensation Nigella would replace Pete as a judge on a revamped new season.
My Kitchen Rules continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven
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