Ahead of the return of My Kitchen Rules, Fassnidge told TV Tonight that he had never claimed to be perfect and was focused on moving forward.
In March, the chef pleaded guilty in the NSW Local Court to driving with an illicit drug present in his blood. It was his second offence for driving with cocaine in his system. No conviction was recorded, and he was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.
Colin Fassnidge Responds To The Headlines
Fassnidge said the case had been blown out of proportion in the media and claimed he and his children were followed for four months. He did not deny his conduct, saying, “We all make mistakes, but it's how you move on.”
He also pointed to the time he had spent filming and working with charities, naming WNOW and OzHarvest, while describing how he was continuing to take life day by day.
When the conversation turned to Seven's response, Fassnidge said the network had been supportive. He joked that viewers had been sold a tough-talking, long-haired and whiskey-drinking Irish chef for years, only for everyone to be shocked when that image ran into real-life trouble.
His blunt summary was simple: “They built me up as the bad boy.”
Seven Keeps Colin Front And Centre
Fassnidge remains a major part of Seven's entertainment line-up. He is back beside Manu Feildel for MKR, appears in a second season of Off The Grid With Colin & Manu, and continues to work on Better Homes And Gardens. He also said he had privately funded another program, Food Diaries, with two partners.
The chef's comments arrive as MKR returns for its 2026 season, with six teams beginning in the Instant Restaurant round before three gatecrasher teams join the competition.
