Wasn’t Melissa a food critic in the past?? Didn’t think she cooked professionally.
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Matt Preston was a food critic before he joined MasterChef Australia in late 2008. In the past decade he published several cookbooks.
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Matt also started doing MasterClass in later years of MC, but yes your more humble, home-style recipes, which obviously appeal, not to dissimilar to Fast Ed.
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Jingle and mingle
Better Homes and Gardens celebrate Christmas with festive special
Australia’s most-watched lifestyle program, Better Homes and Gardens, is kicking off the festive season with a 90-minute Christmas extravaganza airing 7.00pm this Friday, 1 December on Channel 7 and 7plus.
In the cheerful episode, Johanna Griggs and the team prepare a festive celebration including prawn cocktail sliders and a Christmas stone fruit chutney, before enjoying their creations at a the magnificent Bella Vista Farm in Sydney.
The special marks the end of an era for much-loved presenter Fast Ed who bids farewell to Better Homes and Gardens after 20 years.
Don’t miss these cracking Christmas segments:
- Johanna Griggs catches up with Carols in the Domain star Dami Im and her son Harry, before being treated to sneak peek of her brand-new and original Christmas song
- Better Homes & Gardens ’ two resident Italians, Karen and Adam, team up to make some delicious seafood sliders
- Fast Ed makes a trip to QLD to visit a farm that grows plums and nectarines before creating some tasty chutney
- Adam and Charlie join forces to turn a disused side passage into pretty space with a bench seat and raised flower beds
- Graham shares ideas on how to add Christmas flower joy to your garden and pots that will really jazz them up with an instant burst of colour
- Juliet and Melissa join forces to transform a lack-lustre outdoor area, turning it into the ultimate Christmas entertaining space!
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Throwback to 2004… ‘Fast Ed’ is finishing up on Better Homes tonight after 20 seasons in a row, Noni Hazlehurst was still anchor! 
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Love the 2000s fashion.
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It’s not just Ed who is leaving the show. Johanna announced at the end of tonight’s episode that veteran cameraman Terry Cox is retiring after a 45-year career behind the lens, the last 20 years with BH&G.
As announced earlier, Ed has just opened his new bakery Avner’s in Surry Hills in inner Sydney. I will be in Sydney in January 2024 so I will visit the shop to try the bagel.
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That ending was fantastic, dedicating that time and the effort put in, the crew shout out was lovely too, just shows the love interally for the show, even if it’s not what it once was. Graham’s (OG since the first season in '95 - will celebrate 30 seasons next year and one of the network’s longest serving!) moment especially was heartwarming, 100% genuine and I reckon how that was delivered wasn’t scripted. A lot of shows like this, even bigger, wouldn’t get such treatment nor be allowed by some managements. Even the promo, running all week, was all about Ed. Hope to see more like this across FTA, they’re deserved.
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Countdown to Carols
Better Homes and Gardens set the stage for Carols in the Domain with festive special
Australia’s beloved lifestyle program Better Homes and Gardens prepares for the festive season with Countdown to Carols: a 30-minute special airing 7.00pm Saturday, 23 December on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Better Homes and Gardens : Countdown to Carols will lead into the 41st annual Woolworths Carols in the Domain, the nation’s largest and most iconic Christmas event, airing at 7.30pm and hosted by Sunrise’s Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington.
During the countdown, host Johanna Griggs meets Wes Poldan from Woolworths, who embodies the Christmas spirt of giving through his fundraising efforts with St. Giles: Tasmania’s largest charity for children with disabilities. Wes will also show Joh a mini-Woolworths that’s set-up to simulate the real deal and educate the children for future employment possibilities.
Better Homes and Gardens ’ two resident Italians, Adam Dovile and Karen Martini, get together to give the Christmas trifle their very own touch. Karen is using panettone, a delicious sweet Italian bread, plus lots of summer fruit to make a flavour-filled trifle that comes together in minutes with help – and possibly a little hindrance – from Adam along the way.
Graham Ross show you how to drought-proof your garden, from conserving water to improving plant health as we prepare for a dry summer.
In 2024, Adam and Melissa King will be setting sail on the South China Sea for a jam-packed tour of Asia, and they’re ending the year with a sneak peek of their epic adventure! Experiencing it all, Adam and Melissa will be island-hopping through the Philippines, including a stop at the idyllic Boracay Island. Plus, deep in Borneo’s wetlands, the pair will encounter one of the world’s most unique animals: the proboscis monkey. They’ll also visit a subterranean river park that’s recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of Nature and check out the stunning rural landscapes of Central Vietnam.
Settle in with the family for a night of feel-good festive fun, with the Better Homes and Gardens Countdown to Carols special at 7.00pm, followed by Woolworths Carols in the Domain at 7.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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Colin Fassnidge joins Better Homes and Gardens
Cheeky chef is the new ingredient in Australia’s favourite lifestyle show
Flavour meets fun when celebrated chef and MKR judge Colin Fassnidge joins the cast of Better Homes and Gardens to share his much-loved family recipes from Friday, 2 February 2024 on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Fresh to the long-admired team, the two-hatted chef joins the top-rating lifestyle program during its 30th anniversary year, becoming the latest ingredient in Australia’s favourite Friday night tradition.
Colin said: “Working on Better Homes and Gardens really feels like coming home. I’ve been friends with Johanna ever since I started at Channel 7, and the rest of the cast and I get on like a house on fire.
“I can’t wait to get out on the road and travel around this beautiful country, cooking with some of the best and freshest produce in the world,” he said.
“I’ll be bringing my passion, humour and cheeky Irish flair as I whip up my favourite simple, quick and affordable recipes that everyone can make and enjoy at home.”
Better Homes and Gardens Executive Producer Russell Palmer said: “We are excited to welcome Colin to Better Homes and Gardens and mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in 2024. He’s a talented and well-respected chef and brings his own charm and innovation, which is sure to inspire our audience.”
Colin will continue to co-host Seven’s home cooking hit MKR with Manu Feildel in 2024.
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I thought they’d go with someone relatively unknown, though Colin is very popular and will be a good addition to the show.
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There is a 1.5 page exclusive interview with Colin in The Sunday Telegraph today.
Colin said he would be filming five shows in a year, including BH&G, both Australian and NZ versions of MKR, his new show Food Diary, plus Off the Grid with Manu Feildel.
After filming (first season of Food Diary) in Mongolia and Christmas with the family, Fassnidge has taken January off before shooting Better Homes in February and March.
Then he’ll be on the road for three months with MKR, and then he’s off to Laos for a second season of Food Diary, and then he’s off to shoot Off the Grid in New Zealand, which is him and Manu in a caravan.
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He won’t last on majority of them. It’ll only take so long before he’s burnt out.
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Colin is on the front cover of this week’s issue of TV Week.
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Returns on Friday 2 February at 7pm.
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This year, Better Homes and Gardens is back for its 30th year, with loads of fresh ideas, more of everything you love and even a new chef! From great design to clever crafts, brilliant gardening ideas and outstanding recipes, plus loads of cute pets and more, join the team as they kick off 2024 with a load of smart budget projects and ideas to ease you into the year.
Stories in Episode 1
2 February 7pm
ADAM + JULIET – THE CHEAPEST KITCHEN POSSIBLE
It’s the most expensive room in the house to renovate, but also the highest in demand for day to day living needs. Yep, it’s the Kitchen. So how do you renovate or, in this case, build a kitchen with very little cash? Adam and Juliet set out to create a kitchen with op shop to free finds, and super cheap old furniture online. The result is mind blowing. Even if you’re not up for doing a full kitchen, there will be projects in this one that will inspire you to give at least a little bit of it a go.
COLIN LAMB KOFTA & PITA BREAD
There’s been much chat about who the new chef on BHG will be and this week you get to meet the newest member of our team, Colin Fassnidge. You’d already know him from MKR and Kitchen Nightmares, where he’s judging other people’s cooking. But now he gets to share his delicious recipes with you. They’re easy to do and budget conscious and he’s kicking it off with a super tasty and simple Lamb Kofta and pita bread. Just what you’d expect from an Irishman!
DR HARRY – PROTECTING LITTLE PENGUINS
Everyone loves a parade… especially the parade of cute Little Penguins on Victoria’s spectacular Phillip Island! Dr Harry gets an up close and personal view of this magical parade, but discovers the real magic is the conservation efforts that have allowed it to thrive. As he discovers, it’s the tireless work of rangers and researchers that that have allowed the penguin population to grow over the last few decades, becoming the biggest colony of Little Penguins in the world.
JOHANNA – THE PLANET & BUDGET-FRIENDLY BUILD
Renovating can be rewarding… it can also be wasteful. In the heart of the Hunter Valley’s wine country, Johanna discovers a couple of homes that are a step in the right direction for sustainability and carbon neutral building. However, planet friendly construction isn’t always cheap – happily, these homes also aim to be more affordable, as well as being award-winning, designed by one of Australia’s top architects!
GRAHAM – THE TEMPERANCE HOTEL GARDEN
Castlemaine, in Victoria, is an old gold-mining town rich in history and beautiful old buildings. Graham’s visiting an historic hotel, but he’s not there to admire the building, it’s the garden out the back he’s there to see. Transformed from a bland carpark into a beautifully planned kitchen garden using raised beds and a bio-diverse, naturalistic style, the designer’s created a beautiful and very practical garden that is blooming with fabulous ideas that might just work at your place.
CHARLIE – NOT JUST A PAVING PAD
Tonight, Charlie’s adding a bit more dare to a backyard paved area that’s a little bit bland and uninviting. So, he’s fashioning a garden that will pop straight out of the paved area, creating a cozy place to relax and enjoy a drink. With some clever plant solutions and a new tree to provide shade, this cost-effective makeover proves the garden you always wanted might be the garden you’ve already got, just with a few tweaks.
MELISSA – SIMPLE STRAWBERRY PLANTER
They’re sweet, delicious and the kids love them. The humble strawberry is a versatile fruit that can be used for all sorts of dishes. If you don’t have much space, but still want to grow these little gems, Melissa’s got a great idea that will let you grow them in just about any sunny spot. Based on a laundry basket, this planter will not only save you space, but money too.
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Karen Martini has quit the show. She has some pre-filmed episodes which will continue to air in 2024.
Chef and restaurateur Karen Martini will be stepping back from the series to focus on her new restaurants and her teenage daughters.
However, Better Homes fans can rest assured that Martini is not leaving the program, she simply will not be a weekly regular, instead planning to make fewer appearances as she balances her commitments.
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