Manu Feildel

**Manu Feildel** is a character performed by Zachary Ruane. He was also briefly performed by Broden on episode 62. He is based on the chef Emmanuel "Manu" Feildel.

Manu is a French-Australian chef, restaurateur and television presenter. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of many things including scrotums, perineal raphes, locked-in syndrome, incest, and editing. He can run a marathon, and does not see the world through gender. Instead, he sees it through delicious French fare.

Manu designed a Magnum and hosted a show on Channel 7 as well as on Channel 10 between 2005 and 2008, and was a contestant on *Ready Steady Cook*. He worked on a rip-off of *Come Dine with Me*. All of his restaurants have now shut down due to negative reviews, including one he and George Calombaris opened in South Yarra that served French food with an industrial circus theme.

He is a very controversial character, as his history includes Holocaust denial and taking responsibility for the September 11 attacks as well as being the alleged chief counsel to Donald Trump.

## Biography

### Childhood

Manu grew up in Somme and frequently listened to Ja Rule. He had a stroke when he was 4 years old. When he was little, he realised his dreams of being a chef.

### The Voice and podcast takeover

He first appeared when his disguise, the racially ambiguous The Voice Judge, was uncovered. Mark recognised him first, but he was still wearing a fake moustache and claimed he was not Manu. He said he could also be Ricky Martin, and continued to claim he was not Manu while he was disguised with two moustaches, despite accurately explaining his own life story. He read the Wikipedia page for scrotum. When he was caught out, he killed all of Aunty Donna and was subsequently joined by Curtis Stone and Heston Blumenthal. He helped Curtis describe what a perineal raphe was to Heston. (*Podcast EP 2*)

### Knowledge on locked-in syndrome

He returned to the podcast when he heard the boys wanted an explanation of what locked-in syndrome was. He then read the Wikipedia page for it and left. (*Podcast EP 3 Feat. BEN RUSSELL*)

### September 11 conspiracy

Manu appeared again so he could read out the Wikipedia article for 'editing', but was told to leave and started crying. He said that last year he started a restaurant with George Calombaris in South Yarra which shut down because he was doing traditional French fare in an industrial circus-themed restaurant. He said that, like 9/11, the reason it fell was because of the steel beams.

Manu acted suspicious when Broden asked where he was on 9/11, and said he was smoking cones with his friend Gerrard at the time. He then admitted he was responsible for the attack, later clarifying that he conspired with other Sydney celebrity chefs from the early 2000s including Kylie Kwong, the guy that made Rock Pool, Neil Perry and Matt Moran. He said that he was the mastermind of the operation, and had done it because he had been called by George Bush who wanted oil. He also said he had watched the movie *The Nice Guys*. (*Podcast EP 4*)

### Knowledge on the medical definition of incest

Manu visited the Aunty Donna boys after Broden explained the difference between incest and incense. Broden excitedly shared with him some hot cocoa, which Manu described as very heavy. Mark served him course two, beef tartar. Manu found it 'disgustingly rich'. Broden tried to present Manu with a big bowl of apple strudel, but Manu became angry and attempted to sicc his robot Pete Evans onto Broden. Manu then explained the medical definition of incest. Broden told Manu he needed to work on his French accent, to his offense. Manu discussed podcast structure and hung around as Ja Rule called in, asking questions about his creative process and expressing his appreciation for his music. He left as he was bored, going to the shops to buy some honey chicken and asking if anyone else wanted anything. He rapped with Ja Rule producing, and left. (*Podcast EP 7*)

### Knowledge on plane flaps

Pilot Mr. Big Balls in My Mouth summoned Manu to explain the definition of plane flaps. He ran down the air strip as the plane was about to take off to quickly hop on. He said he had worked on his French accent. He tried to read the definition of plane flaps but slipped into French both times he tried to read it. He was introduced to Mrs Mr Mirror by Mark playing modern day Cupid, setting them up as they both had [beep] on their chest. (*Podcast EP 13*)

### Summoned by 9/11 discussion

After 9/11 was mentioned, Manu appeared to hang out with Daniel Sloss. He used to tune in between lunch and dinner service to The Adventures of Daniel. (*Podcast Ep 37 - cucklyf Feat. DANIEL SLOSS*)

### London visit and *Ready Steady Cook* episode

Frogman went on the podcast disguised as Manu while in London. Frogman claimed many things, including not doing 9/11, being chief counsel to Donald Trump (who he'd met on *Ready Steady Cook*), being able to run a marathon and meeting Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Fergus Henderson as well as Heston. Unfortunately, none of this can be confirmed as it was Frogman in disguise.

They decided to do their own *Ready Steady Cook* episode with Frogman Manu and another Toilet Attendant as contestants, and another Manu as the host. They uncovered that host Manu was Pete Evans in disguise, but this was the real Manu disguising himself as Pete. Frogman revealed his disguise also, and the real Manu confirmed that he had worked for Trump. He met Mr Bull in the toilets. (*Podcast Ep 62 LIVE FROM SOHO THEATRE LONDON*)

### Inception

In Mark's dream and four layers into Broden's dreams, Manu pretended to be Marion Cotillard using a wig. He did a sexy 1860s style dance where he showed his ankles. He and Broden then incepted Mark's dreams to make him believe that his new fencing business Any Old Time was a poor investment, and that he should instead invest in La Cirque. However, Mark woke up early. His totem for the inception was a little bucket of free popcorn, which was the Word of the Day. They shot Mark and went back up through the levels of the dream. Donald Trump fired him from La Cirque, Ready Steady Cook, his Magnum deal, and his line of food for Hoyts Lux cinema. (*Podcast Ep 117 - Paradise Pier Hotel's References*)

## Appearances

* Podcast EP 2 (Zach)
* Podcast EP 3 Feat. BEN RUSSELL (Zach)
* Podcast EP 4 (Zach)
* Podcast EP 7 (Zach)
* Podcast EP 13 (Zach)
* Podcast Ep 37 - cucklyf Feat. DANIEL SLOSS (Zach)
* Podcast Ep 52 - Recorded Live @ The Factory Theatre Sydney Feat. GUY MONTGOMERY Part 2 (Zach)
* Podcast Ep 53 Feat. JARED JEKKYL (Zach)
* Podcast Ep 62 LIVE FROM SOHO THEATRE LONDON (Zach, Broden)
* Podcast Ep 66 Feat. DEMI LARDNER (referenced)
* Podcast EP 79 Feat. BEN RUSSELL (Zach)
* Podcast Ep 107 - Oceans 14 Part 2 Feat BEN RUSSELL (Zach)
* Podcast Ep 117 - Paradise Pier Hotel's References (Zach)

## Trivia

* The real Manu Feildel is aware of the character and feels it is a bad impression.
* Manu often arrives simply by saying "hello", and is often met by "Oh, it's Manu!"