Nigella just cannot wait to tuck in
ON THE eve of her return to Australian screens as the new co-host of My Kitchen Rules, celebrity cook Nigella Lawson has promised the reality show will return to its foodie roots.
Lawson replaces controversial chef Pete Evans, who had been Manu Feildel’s co-host for 11 seasons of the former mega-hit. But after concentrating on explosive arguments and salacious scandals, ratings dropped off. The reboot promises to be more about food.
“I can assure you that there’s nothing confected in MKR,” Lawson said.
“You just have to let it all unfold, however that may be. I absolutely agree with MKR’s decision to bring the focus back to the food, and that’s what made me so want to do it. But the contestants are humans, not automatons, so on occasion, of course, emotions will run high.”
Lawson said she was thrilled to be returning here after fearing she may not make it back to our shores during lockdowns. The queen of British cooking shows, dubbed the “Domestic Goddess” said: “I missed it terribly, so being there for MKR felt like a blossoming of life.
“I just feel so at home in Australia, and, at the same time, its beauty fills me with a sense of wonderment. Being in Australia feels like essential nourishment to me – speaking of which, I do have to say that one of the great joys of being in Australia for me is the fabulous food you have.”
Being a home cook and not a classically trained chef gives her a good understanding of what teams are going through, Lawson says. She also prefers home-style cooking to the sort of “fancy, fussy, frilly” fare in high-end restaurants.