Farmer Wants a Wife fans were left scratching their heads last month when Sam Armytage suddenly took centre stage as host of the reality series instead of the show’s longtime beloved star, Natalie Gruzlewski.
Nat, who has been hosting FWAW from 2007 until 2012, before returning in 2020, had been running the show solo for years, and doing a darn good job of it. So, when Sam waltzed in as the new series co-host in 2023, fans were left wondering, ‘What the hay is going on here?’
Now, an insider has spilled the beans on what went down behind the scenes for the former Sunrise host to dust off her Akubra hat and return to the series as its main host.
Why Was Sam Armytage Brought Back As Co-Host?
Sam returned to the reality show as host in 2023, leading Nat to take on a more ‘scaled-back’ role on the program and paving the way for the former Sunrise star to step into the spotlight.
According to a FWAW insider, it all came down to contract negotiations and good old-fashioned ratings chasing.
“They had been using her on Farmer to burn her old Sunrise contract, but with Sam and the network being happy with the role in Farmer Wants A Wife, this is a renegotiation some said would never come,” the source revealed to Daily Mail.
Is Sam Armytage Here to Stay?
The insider also spilled that Sam has signed a shiny new two-year contract with Channel Seven, cementing her status as the queen of the crop.
“This new contract with Channel Seven marks a new era for her with the network,” they dished to the site. “With the show flying high, it was a great time to renegotiate, and Samantha is looking forward to getting back out into regional Australia and making new love stories.”
What’s Going to Happen to Nat Gruzlewski?
During last year’s season, Nat — who had been the sole host of the series from 2007 until 2012, before returning in 2020 — was joined by Sam, which was met with mixed reviews from viewers.
The unexpected pairing sparked a flurry of opinions among fans, igniting lively discussions about the direction of the beloved series.
But no need to worry, Nat fans – she’s not going anywhere. According to the insider, Natalie will continue in an “understudy” role as well as hosting her Nat’s Getaway segment on the reality series.
Meanwhile, it seems she has no bad blood about the show’s changes – in fact, she recently revealed enjoying a quieter existence and has returned to Queensland to be closer to her 11-year-old daughter, Olivia.
In a recent interview with the Courier Mail, Nat shared that despite the changes, the “authenticity of Farmer hasn’t changed” and it still creates “beautiful love stories.”
Will The Show’s Format Change?
The insider confirmed that the show’s format and hosting schedule will remain the same, so you can expect all the drama, romance, and farm-related puns you’ve come to know and love.
“There is no way the network will make any changes to the format next year. The numbers are up, and if anything, audiences can expect next year to be even more dramatic,” they teased.
“It is clear that wider audiences love the drama and the network will always chase the ratings.”
So there you have it, folks – the truth behind Samantha Armytage’s Farmer Wants A Wife takeover. While some fans may be mourning the loss of Nat’s solo hosting gig, it seems like Channel Seven is betting big on Sam’s star power to keep the ratings (and the romance) flowing on the farm.
Watch Farmer Wants a Wife Sunday-Tuesday on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
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