The My Kitchen Rules judge has defended the eliminated contestant, while explaining how their years of crossing paths in the food industry affected his approach to judging her.

“I find Jane quite nice, to be perfectly honest,” he told TV WEEK.

Colin felt Jane struggled outside her comfort zone, particularly when Alisha and Deanne challenged her at the table. In his view, she became more withdrawn under that pressure.

How Colin Knew Jane Before MKR

Jane's existing connection to Colin raised eyebrows among the other contestants early in the competition.

He estimates they have known each other for around 15 years through the industry and mutual contacts. Jane works as a food stylist, a distinction Colin was keen to make clear.

“But she's not actually a chef,” he said.

Colin explained that producers initially told him a contestant would be someone who called him “Fass”. That nickname was enough for him to realise they would know him reasonably well.

Once he learned it was Jane, he wanted their connection disclosed. He said she quickly understood she would be judged on the same basis as everybody else.

The Pigeon Was The Problem

Jane and Shane's Instant Restaurant gave the table plenty to discuss, but their food did not deliver the result they needed.

An undercooked duck egg chawanmushi and overcooked master stock pigeon left them in trouble. Their tomato sour dessert earned praise, but could not rescue their overall score or prevent their elimination.

Colin said the exit surprised him. And while the pigeon's presentation, complete with heads and feet, drew attention, he had no objection to eating those parts.

His criticism was about the cooking method: he felt braising was the wrong approach for such a lean piece of meat.

So Jane may have a defender in Colin when it comes to her personality, but that sympathy did not extend to what landed on his plate.