Celebrity chefs Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge are reuniting for a new travel series, Manu and Colin’s Kiwi Road Trip, which follows the duo as they explore New Zealand’s culinary landscape. Produced for TVNZ, the show marks a shift from their traditional competitive kitchen environment to a documentary-style travel format.
What is the premise of the show?
The series features the My Kitchen Rules judges traveling across New Zealand to sample local produce and engage with regional food culture. According to TVNZ, the program focuses on the camaraderie between the two chefs as they visit various locations, moving away from the high-pressure studio setting of their long-running reality competition show. The format emphasizes their off-screen friendship, which has developed over years of working together on the Seven Network’s flagship cooking series.
How does this compare to their previous work?
While Feildel and Fassnidge are primarily known to audiences as judges on My Kitchen Rules, this project represents a departure in both tone and production style.
| Feature | My Kitchen Rules | Manu and Colin’s Kiwi Road Trip |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Controlled studio kitchen | Outdoor/On-location |
| Format | Competitive reality | Travel/Documentary |
| Objective | Judging contestant dishes | Exploring regional food culture |
The shift reflects a broader trend in television where established reality personalities are moved into travel-focused content to build brand loyalty outside of a competition structure. Unlike the rigid scoring system of their competition show, this series relies on the unscripted interaction between the two hosts as they navigate different terrains.
Why are they filming in New Zealand?
The choice of New Zealand as a backdrop aligns with a move by regional broadcasters to showcase local tourism and gastronomy. By highlighting specific New Zealand ingredients and regional specialties, the show serves as both entertainment and a travelogue. The production utilizes the natural geography of the North and South Islands to provide a visual contrast to the industrial kitchens where the pair typically film.
What can viewers expect?
The series is designed to highlight the personalities of the two chefs rather than their technical judging skills. Because the show is unscripted, the focus remains on their banter and reaction to local environments. According to the NZ Herald, the series captures the "bromance" between the two, providing a more relaxed look at their professional relationship.
The program is currently slated for release in the New Zealand market, with its distribution strategy focusing on the integration of travel and lifestyle content. It remains a significant project for both chefs, as it tests their appeal in a format that lacks the built-in drama of a cooking contest.
Worth a look