Manu Feildel: Bio, Net Worth, MKR, and Friendship with Colin

Anyone who’s tuned into My Kitchen Rules knows the distinct French accent of Manu Feildel. Since 2010, he’s been a fixture on the show as a judge (PerthNow (Australian news outlet)). But beyond the screen, the chef has built a life that spans restaurants, cookware, and a growing family — and he’s busier than ever in 2025.

Age: 50 · Height: 1.83 m · Known for: Judge on My Kitchen Rules · Nationality: French (IMDb (industry database))

Five key facts from public records and media reports:

Data sourced from IMDb (industry database).

What is Manu Feildel doing now?

Manu Feildel isn’t slowing down. While he remains a staple on My Kitchen Rules, his plate is full with new restaurants, a food brand, and a fresh TV series alongside his longtime co-judge Colin Fassnidge.

What is Manu from MKR doing now?

• Judging on My Kitchen Rules Australia and New Zealand (2024–2025 season) (PerthNow)
• Launching a restaurant at The Red Lion Hotel in Rozelle, Sydney (PerthNow)
• Growing his food brand and product line (The B-Side (podcast interview))

Feildel’s TV presence extends beyond MKR. In 2025, he is set to appear in Off the Grid with Colin and Manu, a new series that he also executive produces (Now To Love NZ). The show follows the duo as they take on challenges — and it’s already generating buzz among fans of their on-screen chemistry.

What are Manu Feildel’s current TV projects?

Aside from MKR, Feildel is developing a separate television project for a New Zealand audience, though details remain under wraps (PerthNow). Meanwhile, his wife Clarissa Feildel has stepped into the TV spotlight as a food presenter on Better Homes and Gardens, debuting in April 2024 (The West Australian).

The pattern: Feildel is leveraging his MKR fame into a multi-platform food empire — TV, restaurants, and retail — while keeping his partnership with Colin front and centre.

How rich is Manu Feildel?

Manu Feildel’s net worth is a topic of frequent curiosity. While exact figures are not publicly confirmed, his income streams are visible.

What is Manu Feildel’s net worth?

Various sources estimate his net worth in the range of $5 million to $10 million, though no official figure has been released. His wealth comes from his long-running role on MKR, his restaurants in Australia and New Zealand, cookbook sales, a cookware line, and brand endorsements (New Idea (Australian magazine)).

How does Manu Feildel make money?

• TV judging and hosting fees for MKR and other projects
• Restaurant ownership (venues in Sydney, Melbourne, and New Zealand)
• Cookware line and kitchen products
• Cookbook royalties
• Public appearances and endorsements

His restaurant portfolio includes the acclaimed L’Étoile in Sydney’s The Galeries and Manu Feildel’s at the Red Lion Hotel. He also launched La Botanique, a studio space in Botany, Sydney (The B-Side). For comparison, fellow Australian media personality Mark Bouris: Biography, Net Worth, Career & Personal Life also built a brand across TV and business.

The catch: Without a public financial disclosure, guesses remain guesses. But the visible assets — multiple restaurants, TV contracts, and a product line — point to a comfortable multimillion-dollar portfolio.

Who was Manu Feildel’s first wife?

Feildel’s personal life has seen changes over the years. He was previously married, but details about his first wife are scarce in public sources.

How old is Manu Feildel’s wife?

Feildel’s current wife, Clarissa Weerasena, does not have a publicly disclosed age. The couple married in January 2018, according to records (New Idea). Clarissa, now known as Clarissa Feildel, has built her own media career as a food presenter on Better Homes and Gardens.

Is Manu Feildel currently married?

Yes, Manu Feildel is married to Clarissa Weerasena (now Clarissa Feildel) as of 2018 (New Idea). Together they have a daughter, Charlee, and Clarissa has a son, Jonti, from a previous relationship (New Idea). The family splits time between Sydney and work commitments.

The implication: While Feildel keeps his personal life relatively private, the public record shows a stable second marriage and a blended family that supports each other’s careers.

Are Manu and Colin friends in real life?

One of the most endearing aspects of My Kitchen Rules is the chemistry between judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge. Viewers often wonder if the banter is scripted. According to both, it’s real.

Do Manu and Colin get along?

In interviews, both chefs describe a genuine friendship. “We have a great banter, and he’s a good mate,” Feildel told TV Week (Now To Love NZ). Colin returned the sentiment, noting that their off-screen relationship fuels their on-air dynamic.

Why can’t Colin drive in NZ?

A running joke on MKR is that Colin is not allowed to drive in New Zealand. The origin? Colin himself explained in a behind-the-scenes clip: “I’m not allowed to drive there after a little mishap” (Now To Love NZ). The ban is a frequent source of humour between the two, with Manu often playing the chauffeur.

Why this matters: The genuine friendship translates to entertaining television and has spawned a spin-off series, Off the Grid with Colin and Manu, capitalising on their rapport.

Where does Manu Feildel live now?

Feildel has called Australia home for over two decades. He currently resides in Sydney, but his work often takes him across the ditch.

Where does Manu live now?

Manu Feildel lives in Sydney, New South Wales, with his wife and children. He maintains a home in the city’s inner west, close to his restaurant ventures (PerthNow).

Does Manu Feildel live in Australia or France?

While born in France, Feildel has been based in Australia since the early 2000s. He visits France for family but his professional life is anchored in Australia and New Zealand. He also spends considerable time in New Zealand for MKR filming. Like fellow Australian TV chef Matt Moran: Chef, Restaurateur, and Fourth-Generation Farmer, Feildel has leveraged his culinary fame into a broader media presence.

The trade-off: Living between two countries allows Feildel to maintain a strong presence on both sides of the Tasman, but it means a packed travel schedule.

Timeline: Manu Feildel’s career milestones

• 1974: Born in France (IMDb)
• 2010: Begins role as judge on My Kitchen Rules Australia (IMDb)
• 2018: Marries Clarissa Weerasena (New Idea)
• 2024: Announces new restaurant at The Red Lion Hotel, Rozelle (PerthNow)
• 2025: New TV series Off the Grid with Colin and Manu (Now To Love NZ)

The pattern: Feildel’s career has evolved from French kitchen training to Australian TV stardom, with steady expansion into entrepreneurship.

Quotes: The Manu–Colin dynamic

“We have a great banter, and he’s a good mate.”

Manu Feildel, in an interview with Now To Love NZ

“I’m not allowed to drive there after a little mishap.”

Colin Fassnidge, on his driving ban in New Zealand

These quotes underscore that the chemistry on screen is not an act. The pair’s friendship has become a signature element of MKR’s appeal.

Manu Feildel has carved a unique space in Australian food culture — a French chef who became a household name. For MKR fans, the next few years promise more of his sharp critiques and playful jabs with Colin. For aspiring restaurateurs, his trajectory offers a lesson in diversification: TV, cookware, cookbooks, and bricks-and-mortar. The takeaway? Keep your personality front and center, and never stop cooking.

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