During the premiere, Colin Fassnidge revealed he knew food stylist Jane before she joined the competition. As New Idea detailed, the disclosure surprised the other contestants and immediately sparked questions about whether Jane and husband Shane had an advantage.
“Never in all my time sitting in this position, have I had someone that I know at the table, and it’s not Manu,” Colin said during the first dinner party.
He described Jane as a “very good food stylist” he knew from a long time ago.
The MKR Cast Wanted Answers
Tiffany argued that Jane should have disclosed the connection because Colin was a judge. Angus also questioned why she had kept it to herself.
Alisha and Deanne took the concern further in their interview with New Idea. Deanne said she wondered whether there would be favouritism, while Alisha thought the connection could give Jane “a leg up” in the competition.
Colin shut down that idea at the table and insisted knowing Jane would not change his scoring. He even joked about how she would feel if he gave her a one.
There is no evidence that Jane received favourable treatment. The only confirmed connection aired in the episode is that she previously worked with Colin in her career as a food stylist.
Jane Was Already Dividing The Dinner Table
The history with Colin landed after Jane’s blunt reactions to the opening menu had already caught the cast’s attention.
Alisha and Deanne joked that a professional food stylist with Jane’s standards might be better suited to MasterChef. Viewers also began debating Jane and Shane’s comments online after the premiere, with some questioning their attitude to dessert and Jane’s description of herself as more of a taster than an eater.
Jane and Shane have not yet hosted their own Instant Restaurant, so the scrutiny will only grow when they finally have to swap commentary for cooking.
The couple entered the season with high expectations because of Jane’s professional background, a pressure Manu had already flagged in his pre-season teams to watch. Now they also have to prove that an old industry connection will not be the most memorable thing about their run.
