My Kitchen Rules 2026 wasted absolutely no time serving up drama, with Queensland mother-daughter duo Krysten and Lucy hosting the season’s first Instant Restaurant and NSW couple Jane and Shane quickly emerging as the controversial couple to watch this year.
Krysten and Lucy dished up beef tartare, paella and a mango and coconut dessert, eventually scoring 72 out of 110 after mixed feedback from judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.
But while the food was being judged, so were the couples sitting around the dinner table.
Jane, a food stylist with experience around chefs and fine-dining restaurants, made it very clear she had high standards. She closely analysed the dishes and didn’t exactly win over South Australian best friends Alisha and Deanne, who wondered whether there were already ‘food snobs’ at the table.
Jane also admitted she was “more of a taster than an eater” after barely touching some dishes, before revealing during dessert that she wasn’t much of a sweets person either and would rather just eat cheese.
That comment really raised eyebrows, with Alisha questioning why Jane would sign up for MKR if she wasn’t interested in dessert.
Between Jane’s blunt assessments and Shane sitting firmly alongside her, the pair already look set to bring plenty of tension to the dinner table this season — and MKR viewers have a lot of opinions.
My Kitchen Rules viewers react to Jane and Shane
On Instagram, viewers have made their views on this controversial couple known, especially taking issue with the couple saying they don’t enjoy desserts. “WTF are Shane and Jane on the show if they don’t like dessert? See you later S&J,” wrote one viewer.
Other viewers have said Jane was acting ‘rude’ at the dinner table, and questioned whether the couple were cast to be the season’s villains. “How rude, she’s a taster not an eater,” wrote one.
“This show doesn’t need villains, it’s a cooking show,” added another.
One disgruntled viewer went as far as to hope the couple is heading to an early elimination. “The sooner Jane and Shane get eliminated, the better,” they said.
On X, the couple — and especially Jane — were just as divisive.
I do not see the purpose of Jane’s existence in this competition! #MKR
— ð”»ð•’ð•« ðŸ¯ðŸ… (@dcpchiu) September 28, 2026
“Jane might be a food stylist – but that doesn’t mean she can pull off an edible three course meal in three hours, so maybe they should just chill out a bit,” posted one viewer on X.
As another questioned Shane saying it was “empowering to leave food on a plate” in the premiere, adding “What an absolute crock, Shane.”
Of course, we are a mere one episode into My Kitchen Rules, so there’s plenty of time for Jane and Shane to turn viewers around — or get them even more riled up.
My Kitchen Rules airs on Channel 7 and streams on 7Plus.
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