My Kitchen Rules star Pete Evans quits Seven after 10 years with the network

Celebrity chef Pete Evans has parted ways with the Seven Network after 10 years, it has been confirmed, with the break-up said to have been amicable as the chef pursues other projects.

TV Blackbox broke the news on Friday and said the separation was an “amicable mutual decision after the network informed Evans it would not be proceeding with another season of MKR in the foreseeable future.” However, the show’s fate remains uncertain with a Channel Seven spokesperson advising that any plans regarding programming would be announced later in the year.

Since 2010, Evans has been a judge on Channel 7’s hugely successful My Kitchen Rules series, along with co-host Manu Feildel. However, in recent years MKR has struggled to maintain ratings, with rumours circling the show will not return for a twelfth season. Starts at 60 has contacted Evans for comment.

The news comes after Evans received a $25,000 fine from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) after he suggested that an AU$23,000 light machine could be used to treat Covid-19.

The celebrity chef received heavy criticism after he talked up the alleged health benefits of the BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform during a Facebook live video broadcast on April 9. During the video, Evans claimed the machine has several “recipes” designed to target the deadly virus, and, according to the product description, it is “proven to restore strength, stamina, coordination and mental clarity”.

As a result, the My Kitchen Rules star’s company — of which he is listed as the sole director — was hit with two infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, in relation to the comments.

“The TGA received a number of complaints about the promotion of a ‘BioCharger’ device that occurred during a Facebook live stream on 9 April 2020,” the TGA said in a statement last month.

“Mr Evans allegedly live-streamed on his Facebook page, which has more than 1.4 million followers, claims that the device could be used in relation to ‘Wuhan Coronavirus’ – a claim which has no apparent foundation, and which the TGA takes extremely seriously.”

The statement continued: “Any claim that references COVID-19 is a restricted representation under therapeutic goods legislation, and is of significant concern to the TGA given the heightened public concern about the pandemic. The TGA recently published a warning to advertisers and consumers about illegal advertising relating to COVID-19.”