SAS Australia 2023 has some very controversial contestants in the mix, including a convicted drug smuggler and an actor acquitted of assault charges.
So when it comes to the celebrity selection, how do casting producers decide who to invite to the show?
During an interview on Mediaweek and Chattr’sThe Entertainment Hotline Podcast, host Ant Middleton revealed that celebs with a troubled past are sought out, in the hope that they can receive a “platform to tell their story”.
“Trial by media is becoming worse and worse at the moment, and people are really pushing back against it. So there’s no better time than now to come on and tell your side of the story. Give us the true you,” Middleton said.
“Even if the media trial was right, want to find out who you are now and if you’ve changed.”
SAS Australia. Seven.
Ant Middleton said controversial celebrities should be held accountable
Middleton said that while some celebrities have the opportunity to clear their name on SAS Australia, the pendulum swings the other way for those who don’t come clean.
“We know if they’re lying,” he said. “It’s in their best interest to be completely honest and open and hold themselves accountable. Because if they don’t, then they’re in for a rude awakening, we will shred them to pieces.”
Middleton added that SAS Australia helps to teach the contestants some valuable emotional lessons.
“If they’re gonna lie to us then and they’re lying to themselves and they’re living a lie, then that needs also to be exposed.”
SAS Australia. Seven.
Ant Middleton on the celebrities who will make it to the end
Middleton dished about the kind of celebrities who tend to go further in SAS Australia – and it’s not who you’d typically think.
While Middleton touched on the importance of physical strength he stressed that mental resilience plays a massive part in whether someone can successfully complete the military course.
“It’s surprising the viewers I would say because we don’t judge,” he said, explaining that the strongest celebrities on SAS Australia 2023 won’t necessarily be the most successful.
“It’s the same in the actual selection process you get some of the biggest toughest soldiers in the world and you think you’re up against him, you think ‘oh, there’s one place gone already’. And they crumble within a couple of days, a couple of weeks and they’re gone,” he added.
“When you look at the end of selection where there’s only like 10 of you left. And we come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You got your six-foot-tall lanky geezer and you’ve got your little round tubby guy that you think has eaten all the pies.”
SAS Australia 2023 airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7.30 pm on 7 and 7Plus.
It’s episode 37 of The Block and time for the Kid’s room reveals. But before we could catch a glimpse of any of the renos, here’s what happened during the episode.
The Blockheads are in a frenzy, racing against the clock for some last-minute shopping before the big reveal of two magnificent kids’ rooms.
Steph, haunted by the past critique from the judges when she and Gian veered off the brief in the house decider challenge, has been plagued with doubts all week.
Meanwhile, Leslie and Liberty team up for a shopping spree, leaving Steph feeling a bit left out and ignored. Leslie then explains that she’s tired of what she perceives as a one-sided friendship with Steph.
Steph. Nine
Max and Charlie Cress, the kids of Julian Cress, the executive producer of The Block eagerly survey the kid’s rooms. There are some jaw-dropping statement pieces, like Leah and Ash’s epic rock climbing wall and Steph and Gian’s envy-inducing swinging chair.
Enter Scotty Cam, announcing “tools down.”
Despite their exhaustion, all five couples manage to unveil some truly stunning rooms.
As judging commences, Scott reveals another surprise: special guest judges Olive and Freddie Fox. Yup, Marty Fox’s kids.
The Fox family. Nine
Joining them in HQ is Marty Fox, who somehow manages to maintain an awkward presence while watching the contestants receive his feedback. Lel
Room Reveals
Kyle and Leslie – $16,743
Kyle and Leslie put in some serious elbow grease, but alas, not everyone was showering them with praise.
The judges had a bone to pick with their basketball-themed boy’s room, claiming it’s a bit “niche”.
In terms of the upstairs planning, there were headshakes all around.
Surprisingly, one of the kids’ rooms outshone the “master” bedroom and poor Leslie’s spirits took a beating as she was bombarded with more negative feedback.
It’s safe to say, she’s reached her breaking point.
Leah and Ash – 21,912
The judges loved the amazing kids’ rooms with Darren loving the bold style of the Grafico wallpaper.
Marty couldn’t resist the super cool climbing wall, a smash hit while the second room, complete with a disco ball and stage, was seriously impressive.
The only critique was the choice of a day bed. The judges were left scratching their heads, wondering why Leah and Ash didn’t go for a regular single bed.
But hey, overall the feedback was incredibly positive!
Kristy and Brett – $25,580
The Adelaide couple stirred up some controversy with their daring design choices.
The bold Gafico wallpaper in the second room was quite polarizing, but in the end, all three judges couldn’t resist its charm.
However, Brett’s paintwork could have used some improvement in certain areas but despite that, their overall performance was a success!
Steph and Gian – $25,580
Steph and Gian hit it out of the park with their incredible room designs!
The judges were blown away, giving them perfect 10s across the board.
Not only did they impress the judges, but they also raked in a whopping $40,000 in just one night.
Eliza and Liberty – $13,217
Eliza and Liberty knocked it out of the park with their show-stopping efforts!
The judges were blown away by their room designs, which were guaranteed to win over any buyer.
Marty couldn’t help but nitpick about the lighting in one room but all in all, a truly fantastic showcase of talent and creativity!
Scoring
Steph and Gian took out the win with a perfect score of 30!
Meanwhile, Leah and Ash were awarded a gnome for their favourite room by the kids.
Darren
Shaynna
Marty
Total
Kyle and Leslie
8.5
8
7.5
24
Leah and Ash
9.5
9.5
9
28
Kristy and Brett
9.5
9.5
8.5
27.5
Steph and Gian
10
10
10
30
Eliza and Liberty
9.5
9
8
26.5
Want more recaps? Check out our The Block 2023 recaps below!
It’s episode one of SAS Australia 2023 and because the DS love torture, 14 new celebrity recruits were sandblasted by a hovering Black Hawk helicopter on arrival before being buried alive for 45 minutes. Cool.
New recruit Cassie Sainsbury aka “Cocaine Cassie”was also traumatised for another reason as the exercise was a triggering reminder of prison life.
“You’re not in prison,” she repeated to herself, breaking down. “This is all so similar to jail.”
Sensing her distress, the DS called her in for questioning in the Mirror Room.
“I spent three years in a Columbian jail, and it’s all just very triggering,” she said. “I’m trying to deal with it as it comes. But it’s not easy. I feel like I’ve entered back into one of the yards there. Even the way that we eat food, and the way we sleep. The guards there are very much the same. They yell at us, we’re a number.”
Cassie then revealed she wanted to leave the “Cocaine Cassie” moniker behind now that the days of living in Colombia’s El Buen Pastor prison were behind her.
“I finished my sentence; I did my time. I paid the price. And I’m trying to move on with my life. I’m not the same person I was nearly seven years ago. I’m not Cocaine Cassie. I’m just Cassie.”
The First Task
Paired recruits boarded a moving train to recover a mission-essential item hidden inside a military cache. Once secured, they escaped the train to a designated extraction point. To pass the task, all had to be completed within three minutes.
After enduring day one on the course, AFL legend Jason Akermanis sought out the chief medic, Doctor Dan, complaining about his achy foot.
Following an examination, Dr Dan found no valid reason to grant a medical discharge; but even though he no longer had that option, Jason decided to voluntarily withdraw (VW).
“I’ve got out exactly what I would hope to get out of it. I didn’t leave injured, ah, that injured. I’m a bit sore but not that injured. And I don’t need to come on a course like this and prove anything else to anyone else”.
Jason Akermanis. Seven
Craig McLachlan’s interrogation
Actor Craig McLachlan found himself face-to-face with DS Ant Middleton and Jay Morton in the mirror room, ready to bare it all.
The duo grilled him about the 16 criminal charges that haunted him ever since his role as Dr Frankenfurter in the Rocky Horror Show back in 2014.
“As a performer, when you sign on for that show, you’re signing up for the fetish nature of it, the comedy,” he said. “During the rehearsal process, you’re in close quarters, you’re trying out new gags, you’re touching each other, not inappropriately, not within the parameters of what that show is.”
“I was found not guilty of any wrongful behaviour. It’s because I was f*cking innocent,” he yelled before being DS Ant told him to calm down.
“I’ve been profoundly hurt. So, you know there’s always going to be some residual anger.”
“People who only months before looked me in the eye and said ‘you create the most wonderful work environments imaginable’…abandonment, total abandonment. A tiny handful of courageous people I’ve had friendships with over thirty years were always there, but the vast majority, gone.”
SAS Australia 2023 continues on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7.30 pm on 7 and 7Plus.
It’s episode five of The Masked Singer and in a galactic twist, Space Fairy was revealed as a reality TV darling.
Despite an out-of-this-world performance of Meghan Trainor’sLips Are Movin’, the stunning green celestial creature’s identity was unmasked.
Before her unveiling, the alien had the guessing panel captivated; however, their guesses of Marcia Hines, Jesy Nelson, Joss Stone and Mary J Blige were off the mark.
“You’re telling me you think I was that good? I’ve never sung in front of anyone in my life!” Crosby said after taking off her mask.
In another twist, it turns out Crosby was meant to compete in 2023 before COVID-19 upended the entire world. On top of this, she was then relegated to spending a whole month in quarantine, which saw her relationship at the time end.
But, as fate would have it, it was all meant to be, because if it wasn’t for the show and that bloomin’ pandemic, she would never have ended up with her current partner, JakeAnkers and had their daughter Alba Jean. Ah-mazing!
“Everything got better from then. So, I’ve got to thank The Masked Singer – and COVID, really!”
Clues: I’m one of the big fish around here but when you look at the waters I swim in, they’re massive! Right now I’m probably not in my natural home, it’s a really big decision to break away from your pod but when you start the hunt as young as I did it’s something you have to do.
To an Orca, family is important… although growing up was a three-ring circus. Or was it five rings? That’s counting absolutely everybody.
Song:abc (nicer) – GAYLE
Guesses: Olympia Valance, Vanessa Amorosi, Jewel, Amy Shark
Photo from the past: A young Orca walking with soccer players, perhaps part of the team?
Clues: Last time I gave an otherworldly performance, the panel made some ghoulish guesses but do they have a hope in hell of unmasking me tonight?
Being the Grim Reaper is my own little empire. This job can get lonely, even with so many people around me. It’s funny, that’s why I get clay feet in the country. I know being Grim Reaper is an important job but I have dreamed of doing something else. But let’s get serious, it’s in my DNA and, in the end, this is what I do. I probably can’t start again.
Song:Oops!…I Did It Again – Britney Spears
Guesses: Jermaine Jackson, Darren Hayes, Luke Steele, Stan Walker
CLUES: Last time I put on a bloomin’ brilliant performance, the panel had a field day with their guesses.
I haven’t always wanted to be a Cow Girl, in a dream I would be a doctor. From an early age a Cow Girl wants to escape. Of course life doesn’t go where you want it to. I fell about 400 meters short. Never mind, that doesn’t mean you should be agro. Okay, I’m the first to say I’m no lady, but I’m no mean girl either, it’s the other girls who were mean to me on screen. I’m just happy to be who I am, and anyone else I choose to be.
SONG: Not Pretty Enough – Kasey Chambers
GUESSES: Courtney Act, Hilary Duff, Toni Pearen, Lindsay Lohan
Want more The Masked Singer Australia 2023 recaps? See below!
Former UK Special Forces soldier – and now TV host – Ant Middleton puts SAS Australia contestants through the paces, alongside his experienced team of directing staff.
Last year, Middleton was joined by directing staff Ollie Olerton, Client Emerson, and Dean Stott. However, this year only Ollerton will be returning with him, and newcomers Jamie “Jay” Morton and Anthony “Staz” Stazicker will be helping push the contestants to their limits.
“The changes freshen it up. It’s important that we kept it SAS instructors, it’s very important that we sort of keep that process because ultimately, we’re doing a version of Special Forces selection,” he told Chattr during an interview before the premiere of the show.
SAS Australia. Seven.
Middleton said that as the SAS team updates their procedures and training, it should be reflected on the show.
“The whole idea is: Do you possess the characteristics and attributes of a special forces operator? So it’s important that we kept sort of UK SF soldiers on board or at least tier-one soldiers.”
Who are the new directing staff?
Morton and Stazicker both have done extensive time in the military, and Middleton has worked alongside both.
“Jay and Staz. I’ve served with both. They’re the new generation, like myself, super current with combat experience of Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Middleton added that all of the directing staff on SAS Australia have experience serving in the Middle East, where this year’s season is filmed.
“We’ve got tonnes of experience there, and the desert is the main area of operations during the last couple of decades. It was just a perfect fit.”
SAS Australia. Seven.
Ant Middleton on his crossover from being in the military to a TV host
After spending more than a decade in the military, Middleton made his TV debut on the UK version of SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2015.
Since then, he went on to host SAS Australia since the show premiered in 2020. He’s also recently had a gig hosting Million Dollar Island Australia.
Looking back at the massive career change, Middleton said that he couldn’t have guessed that he’d end up on TV but thinks it makes sense.
“I always knew that I had a sort of story to tell. I realised from quite a young age in the military that I love mentoring, I love constructing. I love to bring in the best out of people,” he said.
SAS Australia. Seven.
“So when the show came up it was sort of like a natural progression into what I was passionate about anyway,” he added.
“I suppose this is something that hasn’t really shocked me but has always been something I’ve been passionate about so it fits.”
SAS Australia 2023 airs at 7:30pm on October 9 on 7 and 7Plus.
Between October 6 – 8, the halls of the Melbourne Convention Centre were abuzz as PAX Australia 2023, Australia’s biggest gaming convention, celebrated 10 years of games, panels, meet-and-greets and cosplay.
Chattr was on the ground at the event, testing out unreleased games, speaking to Aussie indie developers and pin-traded as no one has ever pin-traded before!
Here’s a rundown of what happened during the weekend.
The Nintendo Booth
Nintendo had a roaring presence at PAX AUS 2023, and with the biggest booth at the convention, it was hard to miss all the Mario paraphernalia that lined not only the booth on the ground but the roof above it as well.
Headlined by Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the brand-new 2D Mario game set to be released on October 20, gamers were treated to a demo.
While a delight to play, it wasn’t representative of how most people will likely play the game as the sneak peek held four players on one screen. Even though it was a great way to see how the new game would handle four-player co-op, unfortunately, it was chaos!
The Nintendo Booth. Chattr
Rest easy though, because while absolute chaos, it was an epic run with Mario characters flying all over the screen trying to jump to the new power-ups that turned all of the players into elephants!
Yes, elephants and these power-ups were a standout! Being able to attack goombas with your snout is objectively hilarious, and there were even some surprise power-ups such as a drill power-up that channelled the spirit of a mole trying not to get whacked.
Also, the changes in the actual levels through the new Wonder Flowers were a treat to see, with green pipes coming to life that you’ll have to ride like a wave to progress.
The demo showed how remarkable Nintendo is, still finding ways to keep the 2D Mario formula fresh, without losing the essence of the classic feel of past 2D Mario adventures.
Overall, it was a great taste of the full game that I’m sure long-time Nintendo and Mario fans will eat up.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Chattr
Ubisoft’s new Prince of Persia experience was also available to demo at the booth.
Sub-titled, “The Lost Crown”, it comes as the first new major instalment in the Prince of Persia franchise since 2010’s Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands.
A 2D side-scrolling game, this one was a bit different to your standard Mario adventure. The demo offered around 15 minutes of playtime, which was enough to get a grasp of what the full game would offer.
Right off the bat, the combat feels great for a platformer, with amazing combo chains available from a base sword attack that can be chained with a devastating bow attack that feels wholly satisfying. And speaking of satisfaction, the game also features a parry mechanic, which when timed correctly, deals a devastating blow to enemies.
It’s one to keep an eye out for when it launches in January 2024, especially if you’re a fan of Prince of Persia games of the past.
Skate Bums
Skate Bums Booth. Chattr
The PAX Rising section at the convention was designed specifically to create a platform for the best of the indie development scene locally and internationally, highlighting a selection of exciting independent games, some coming straight out of Melbourne itself.
Enter Skate Bums, developed by Lucky Last Studio. The studio consists of the two-man team of Jono Yuen, Creative Director and Danny Masalkovski, Lead Programmer.
Skate Bums is a skateboarding platformer that combines high-speed action with a quirky storyline. The game features very simple controls that reward players for their creativity and exploration, offering endless replayability.
The demo that was available to play was addictive, to say the least, channelling the frustratingly fun repetitiveness seen in titles such as Geometry Dash, Skate Bums allows players to create their own path through levels to find their flow, maximise combos, and discover secrets.
Speaking to Yeun and Masalkovski, they revealed that the title has been in development over the course of seven years, and it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.
“Since starting development on the game, I’ve had two kids in between then and now, it’s safe to say it’s been a long time,” Yuen said, while Masalkovski added: “Skate Bums has kind of been our side hustle for all this time, we both have full-time jobs and it’s just a super strong passion project for us both, we are super excited to now be so close to releasing in early 2024.”
The passion that oozes from the two-man development team is seen evidently in the game, with handcrafted, original artwork and contemporary gameplay mechanics, it was a beautiful thing to see and physically play something that had been worked on for close to a decade.
Skate Bums is set to release in early 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
Letters to Arralla
Letters to Arralla Booth. Chattr
Another home-grown indie, Letters to Arralla is a wholesome, exploration RPG set on a small fictional island off the coast of Victoria.
Players play as a newly recruited mail turnip delivering letters, parcels and packages to the island’s residents.
The game is super laid-back, designed to play without much worry, and was born out of the perils of COVID lockdowns. As players meet the interesting townsfolk, they will begin to inadvertently help and heal them through the process of kindness, friendship and express delivery.
Letters to Arralla received investment from Vicscreen, Victoria’s creative and economic screen development agency.
Vicscreen has invested in digital games for more than 25 years, backing Victorian developers in their ambition to push boundaries and create some of Australia’s most well-known games.
Their variety of programs supports projects, businesses and talent to grow their capability and capacity, as well as build sustainable and globally competitive businesses.
Director/Lead 3D Artist, Chantel Eagle revealed that the investment from Vicscreen really boosted their team’s capacity to continue development of the game as well as gave the team motivation.
“Without the investment from Vicscreen, the team and I would never be where we are now. Their help in getting our vision off the ground has been critical,” she said.
“Although our team is small, this game comes from a place of true passion from all of us. Development started in 2021 when most of our team was finishing uni and looking to put their creative minds into something that wasn’t COVID-related, and from that, our game was born.”
Eagle stressed that the game is still quite not ready to be released but she hopes to get the game out sometime in 2025.
Killbug
Samurai Punk Booth. Chattr
Developed by Melbourne-based studio, Samurai Punk, Killbug is a fast-paced, first-person movement shooter set in an endless arena. Players slash and shoot their way through hordes of ravenous insects, and master fluid aerial movement mechanics to fight for a place on the leaderboards. It’s a great play, and quite challenging the further you get.
It’s available on Steam now.
Diets and Deities
Diets and Deities Booth. Chattr
Diets and Deities combines music and recipes from diverse cultures as players dodge to the beat and uncover the flavours of the universe.
Developed by Larrikin Interactive in Darwin, NT, the game is a unique rhythm-cooking game that guides players to discover recipes from different Deities, different cultures and mythologies around the world, with every recipe made in the game also available to make in your own kitchen.
Featuring original music and recipes from Australian Indigenous musicians and chefs and the same from Balinese culture, the game is a wholly unique experience and one that is supremely original.
Within a 24-hour period, Tarryn Stokes was crowned the winner of The Voice Australia 2023 and her brand spanking new single Nobody shot straight to the top of the iTunes charts.
During an interview withChattr, Tarryn revealed that one of the songwriters of Nobody is behind Christina Augileria’s 1999 hit Genie in a Bottle.
The mum of two said that she was presented with the song during the finals, and fell in love with it straight away.
“I hadn’t even gone off the stage from the semifinals and one of the ladies from Universal said, ‘Hi, we’d love to like show you some songs,'” she explained.
“I was ready to be like, ‘Look, I can change this and that’, because as a songwriter you want to have input. But I listened to it and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is awesome. This is great’.
“After that, I realised that the songwriters are well-accomplished songwriters and one of them wrote Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera… And one of them is a Grammy Award-winning writer!”
Why did Tarryn Stokes choose Nobody as a single?
Tarryn is married with two kids and her happy family unit played out on The Voice Australia 2023. So, her decision to choose a breakup song for her first single appears to be a little out of left field. However, she explained that the meaning behind the song runs much deeper.
“Even though it [Nobody] is a breakup song, it actually means so much more. I’m in a happy marriage, so it’s definitely not like that.
“But there’s so many things in life that I’ve walked away from and have chosen to find my own voice and say no to people and say no to things that don’t serve me well. So I’m really relating to it in that way and so I feel like everyone can kind of connect with that.”
The Complete Collection from Tarryn Stokes is out now and available to download/stream here.
Stream all episodes of The Voice Australia 2023 on 7Plus.
The military training course contestants are put through on SAS Australia2023 is nothing short of brutal, so it makes sense that the show is set in harsh conditions.
The show’s host Ant Middleton teased that the filming location for this year’s season will pose a physical obstacle to the recruits.
“What’s so good about the desert is that you’re fighting the isolation. No one can hear you screaming in a desert. When you look around, it’s just mountains,” he said in an interview with Chattr.
Ant added that the environmental conditions teamed with the pressure from the DS and the uncertainty of not knowing the other contestants created the perfect storm.
“The desert, the DS, the tasks, and each other… If you don’t get it right, it could be a recipe for disaster, and it was certainly something that we went hell for leather with.”
SAS Australia. Seven.
Where is SAS Australia 2023 filmed?
Season four of SAS is set a long way from home, in Jordan in The Middle East.
The recruits are put through their paces at a secret base in the Wadi Rum Desert of Jordan, where they’ll stay for ten nights.
The production crew went all out on SAS Australia and collaborated with the Jordanian Armed Forces and Royal Air Force to secure weapons, vehicles and personnel for each of the missions.
SAS Australia. Seven.
Where was the previous season of SAS Australia filmed?
SAS Australia 2023 is the first season to film overseas. The first season, which aired back in 2020, was set to film in Queenstown, New Zealand but had to be relocated to Jindabyne in NSW when the pandemic-related travel restrictions were implemented.
Season two was filmed in Capertee Valley near the Blue Mountains and season three took place at an abandoned coal mine outside of Dapto, which is a few hours south of Sydney.
SAS Australia. Seven.
Who’s competing in SAS Australia 2023?
This year’s recruits range from the lead of a dating reality TV show to a former criminal and include TimRobards, Cassie Sainsbury and Anthony Mundine. You can check out the full cast list here.
SAS Australia 2023 airs at 7:30pm on October 9 on 7 and 7Plus.
Former MAFS bride and current Love Triangle host Ella Ding has asked fans to be mindful when speaking about reality TV contestants online.
Ding told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia that viewers shouldn’t feel as though they have the right to troll people who sign up for reality TV.
“People on the media pages, or the gossip pages, they always say ‘you went on the show, you chose to be trolled, basically like, you chose to get bullied’,” she said.
Love Triangle. Stan.
“I think that everyone just needs to remember that they’re also just people in an intense experience. They’ve never done it before most of the time, [and] you’re in a controlled environment when you’re making TV.”
Ding said that she believes that fans should avoid online platforms to gossip about the contestants.
“It’s really intense,” Ding said of social media users who troll contestants. “Maybe they can all go and try doing it too and seeing, you know, how it goes down!”
“Think before you type,” she said. “I don’t know, let’s just chill! Let’s just watch it, enjoy it, and that’s it. [Let’s] not tear people down and spread all the rumours and the lies, there’s so much of it online.”
Will Ella Ding be on Love Triangle?
Ding is narrating season two of the Stan Original series, however, fans have been wondering if they’ll see her on camera later down the line.
Unfortunately for them, the former MAFS bride has confirmed that she won’t be in front of the camera.
“It’s a different role — I’m not the cast, I’m not amongst the drama or the experience. You won’t be seeing me physically in the show,” she said. “I’m just the voice of God apparently!”
MAFS. Nine.
How can I watch Love Triangle?
Stan Original Dating Series, Love Triangle is exclusively available on the streaming platform. The first two episodes dropped on November on Thursday, October 5 and subsequent episodes are released each Thursday.
It’s episode 17 of The Voice Australia 2023 and time to crown the winner!
In case you missed it, Ezra Williams, Tarryn Stokes, Charlie Pittman and Ethan Beckton competed to win $100,000 in prize money and a recording contract with Universal Music Australia.
Before their own solo performances, each contestant performed with their Superstar Coach, Guy Sebastian, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo and Jessica Mauboy in what was truly a spectacular show.
Here’s what happened during the episode.
Ezra Williams
Tarryn Stokes
Charlie Pittman
Ethan Beckton
The winner is crowned
After Australia voted, former backup singer and mum-of-two Tarryn was crowned the winner of The Voice Australia 2023.
The 40-year-old powerhouse was shocked after host Sonia Kruger announced the life-changing result.
Tarryn said: “It feels amazing, going from The Blinds to being in the Grand Finale and somehow believing that I can do this, it’s just thanks to Rita for believing in me.”
Thrilled, Coach Rita replied: “Are you kidding me? You did this. You did this! It’s just incredible, you’re incredible, please answer my phone calls once in a while and just remember this is just the start. I’m so happy for you, well done Australia; thank you so much.”
Tarryn Stokes. Seven
After the announcement, Tarryn performed her new single Nobody as her family, husband Paul and kids Archie, 4, and Quinn, 2, watched on.
It’s giving Love Island Australia without the villa! Big Brother Australia is back in 2023 and this time, the house features “hot sexy singles” who are not only ready to win the prize money but to also find love.
During The Voice Australia 2023Grand Finale on October 8, Seven released a first-look promo, giving us a glimpse into what we can expect from the contestants who are putting it all on the line for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Pipped to be the “spiciest season yet”, fifteen single housemates will be invited to the Big Brother house for a shot at getting their hands on the $100,000 prize… and each other.
As with every year, the selected cast will be locked away in a custom-built house with every hook-up, break-up and dancing doona recorded by more than eighty cameras and microphones.
With so much love, lust and jealousy all under one roof, how will our housemates cope as they are cut off from the outside world?
According to Seven, fans will witness a whole new set of rules, new rooms, new tasks, jaw-dropping twists, turns and heart-stopping challenges in what promises to be the most explosive series ever!
But rest easy, Big Brother 2.0 is back and so is host, Sonia Kruger!
The Housemates
While their names haven’t been released, we’ve been treated to a whole host of Housemates we’re sure to love to hate!
Big Brother Australia 2023 Housemates. SevenBig Brother Australia 2023 Housemates. Seven
When is Big Brother Australia 2023 airing?
At the time of publication, no air date has been released; however, we’re betting it premieres the week following SAS Australia 2023’s Finale.
First-Look Trailer
Check out the first look trailer below and get ready to spice up your life with Big Brother Australia 2023!
Big Brother Australia coming soon to Channel 7 and 7plus.
Viewers were left shocked when Grant Denyer collapsed and started convulsing multiple times during episode two of The Amazing RaceAustralia, before having an ambulance called.
While the finishing credits shared that Grant had “made a full recovery” after the show, during an interview with Chattr, the Gold Logie winner revealed that it was a long road to get there.
“For a good seven weeks or so afterwards, I was pretty much completely bedridden,” Grant said.
The Amazing Race. Ten.
“It sparked a chronic fatigue style immune response. We’ve had a lot of medical appointments and been trying to get him better and, thankfully, he’s back to normal now,” his wife Chezzi Denyer added.
“It was really difficult and not being able to talk about it also compounded the whole feeling.”
Grant said that they were worried that the collapse had ignited a condition that was irreparable.
“We didn’t know if it was permanent damage. But, we worked through with a number of specialists to find the causes and then worked on them. I’m up and about now, back to 100%.”
The Amazing Race. Ten.
Grant Denyer thinks his severe mould allergy sparked the collapse
While Grant’s collapse looked to be heat-related on The Amazing Race Australia, he said that his mould allergy also likely played a big part.
“I’m highly allergic to mould,” he said. “The cow poo challenge was right before it. There was a lot of mould probably sitting in that ton of cow poo, which was baking in the sun.”
“So, I wonder potentially whether the mould exposure paired together with the heat combined to create this perfect storm which knocked me out.”
The Amazing Race. Ten.
Chezzi revealed that Grant struggled with some severe ongoing health complications after the collapse.
“We took him to see an integrative doctor and she treated him for the mould exposure, and also tried to correct his immune response. It’s called Heatstroke fatigue.
“For a little while, after we got back, he couldn’t handle bright light and couldn’t handle extreme temperatures. He had to be a certain temperature the whole time, he was almost like a Dracula character,” she said.
How did Grant Denyer feel before he collapsed?
Grant said that apart from feeling like he wasn’t “enjoying himself” he didn’t really notice many symptoms before his health quickly deteriorated.
“I had no idea it was coming,” he said. “I dropped to the deck and started convulsing and dropping in and out of consciousness.”
“It took a long time to stabilize my vitals and I remember them sort of shaking me and slapping me and saying, ‘stay with me, stay with me’. I was dropping in and out of consciousness.
“It was very clear very early on that it was extremely serious.”
The Amazing Race. Ten.
Chezzi stressed just how critical Grant’s health issues were.
“It could have been could have been fatal. There was 100 people who died in India in those three days during that Heatwave, even around the area that we were racing, so it’s extremely serious. And we’re very fortunate that he’s still here.”
The Amazing Race Australia airs on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights on Channel 10 & 10Play at 7.30pm.
We’re down to the wire and it’s almost time to crown the winner of The Voice Australia 2023.
Coaches Rita Ora, Jessica Mauboy, Guy Sebastian and Jason Derulo have slowly eliminated contestants from their teams and are left with just one each.
In The Voice Australia 2023 Grand Final, Charlie Pittman, Ethan Beckton, Ezra Williams and Tarryn Stokes will battle it out to be named the winner of the singing competition, and take home $100,000 as well as a contract with Universal Music Australia.
If you’re keen to watch all of the action unfold, read on to find out how to watch it.
When is The Voice Australia 2023 Grand Final on?
The final kicks off at 7.00pm on Sunday, 8 October on Channel 7 and 7Plus. It can also be streamed on 7Play.
The Voice. Seven.
The finalists on what winning means to them
Charlie Pittman
Team: Guy Sebastian
“I know my dad would want me to give this everything I’ve got and really make him proud; I really want to win more than anything.”
The Voice. Seven.
Ethan Beckton
Team: Jason Derulo
“I didn’t think in a million years I would ever be here. To win The Voice would be a dream come true.”
The Voice. Seven.
Ezra Williams
Team: Jess Mauboy
“Winning The Voice would change my life completely.”
The Voice. Seven.
Tarryn Stokes
Team: Rita
“I want people to know that they can still pursue their dreams as parents. I really want to win.”
The Voice. Seven.
What do the coaches have to say about their finalists?
When one of the four finalists is crowned champion, the coach behind them will also be a winner of sorts.
Last year, Rita’s contestant Lachie Gill took out the comp. Will she have a back-to-back win, or will one of the other coaches take their singer to victory? The coach seems to think so.
“Tarryn’s sacrificed time with her kids to make her dream come true. She is undoubtedly one of the best singers I’ve seen on a show like this.” Rita said.
The Voice. Seven.
However, Guy believes that Charlie has what it takes.
“Charlie inspires me as an artist. He has tenderness, he’s got power, he’s such a great storyteller,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jess thinks Ezra has the X factor, while Jason is obviously backing Ethan.
Ezra has a way of engaging and getting through to people’s hearts but also making them want to leap out of their chairs. It’s a magical quality,” Jess said.
“Ethan has something you can’t teach…He has the it factor and an amazing future ahead of him,” Jason said.
The Voice Australia 2023 Grand Finale airs at 7.00pm Sunday, October 8 on 7 and 7Plus.
It’s episode two of The Amazing RaceAustralia 2023 and we’re already down one pair of celebrities, with another on the chopping block.
The celebrities headed to the city of love, Agra, India, and braved scorching heat paired with a sudden downpour in a fierce competition to win $100,000 for their chosen charities.
However, it was Grant Denyer’s unexpected medical emergency that left Australia in shock during tonight’s emotional episode of The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition.
The Amazing Race. Ten.
Challenge one and detours
After a bus ride from New Delhi, the teams were tasked with delivering office workers their traditional chai tea. With no access to Google Maps, the celebrities had to rely on the assistance of the locals. However, some locals were overly enthusiastic to help, even though they had no clue about where to send them.
At the Detour, the teams had to choose between washing laundry in the Yamuna River or creating fire bricks using an abundant natural resource – cow dung.
George Mladenov’s younger sister Pam struggled with the poo task, to say the least, and George didn’t let her off the hook easily. The Survivor all-star stressed that she needed to get the task over and done with so that they wouldn’t be sent home.
The Amazing Race. Ten.
Meanwhile, germaphobe sisters Bec Judd and Kate Twigley struggled when they had to make a decision between doing laundry or dealing with cow dung without gloves.
Grant hoped his Gold Logie would exempt him from the unpleasant task, but unfortunately, he had to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty.
At the washing station, which was located by the river, a sudden downpour made the task even harder.
Alli and Angie Simpson finished their washing first but had to go back to retrieve their bags from the tea shop, where they accidentally left them. Jana Pitman, a mother of six, passed the challenge effortlessly, thanks to her expertise in stain removal.
Challenge Two
At the Intersection, two teams paired up to tackle a complex Bollywood dance routine. Harry Jowsey and Teddy Briggs were concerned about the lack of WD40 to loosen their hips, but that became the least of their worries when 16-year-old Cor Pitman failed on the dancing front time and time again.
The Amazing Race. Ten.
Alli and Angie were ecstatic when former Wiggle members Emma Watkins and her sister Hayley joined them and they formed the all-girl dance troupe, Masala Spice Girls. Mastering it on their first try, the Masala Spice Girls took the lead.
After numerous attempts, Jana used her nurturing powers to calm Cor down, finally completing the challenge, much to the delight of Harry and Teddy.
George, Pam, Bec, and Kate arrived at the challenge in last place and realized their lack of coordination was a hindrance, so strategist George convinced the others that taking a time penalty would be a better choice.
The heat took its toll
Despite his two victories on Dancing With The Stars, Grant had never faced the challenge of performing in scorching 45-degree heat.
Though he managed to successfully complete his dance routine, shortly after, he was overcome by the extreme temperature and required immediate medical assistance. Chezzi Denyer was really worried about him but Grant maintained his sense of humour, introducing himself to the medic as Larry Emdur.
The Amazing Race. Ten.
The medical team stressed that rest was important for Grant, and advised that he didn’t continue on the race until he’d had adequate downtime. Although the Family Feud host knew that they’d been well and truly left behind by the other contestants, he was determined to finish.
The Pit Stop
Emma and Hayley were the first team to arrive, with Alli and Angie closely behind them. Each team slowly filtered in, and despite their time penalty, George and Pam and Bec and Kate both managed to overtake Peter Rowsthorn and daughter Frankie.
After all the teams had arrived at the check point and Grant and Chezzi were still missing, host Beau Ryan went to find them.
It was a tearful farewell when Grant and Chezzi arrived last. Amid laughter and tears, Grant collapsed in worry and had to be taken to the hospital. However, he made a complete recovery, and he no longer thinks he is Larry Emdur.
The Amazing Race Australia airs on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights on Channel 10 & 10Play at 7.30pm
It’s episode 35 of The Block 2023 and three days until our Blockheads have to deliver not one, but two kids’ rooms in a busy week on Charming Street.
Over the past few weeks, Kyle and Leslie have been criticised for their lack of spatial planning skills; but despite this, they want to put up a nib wall back in their open-plan living and dining space. Their builders think it will be another planning disaster, but whether they listen to them is a whole other problem…
Leslie. Nine
During the weekly walk around, ScottyCam and Shelley Craft visit all the houses and are very impressed with how everyone is tracking… mostly because they’re actually getting on with building and not b**ching at each other…today.
Meanwhile, Eliza and Liberty have some serious connections and enlist the help of Lego Masters’ Brickman to build a toy cheetah for one of their rooms. When Scotty hears about this, he says nothing is free when it comes to The Block, meaning they must pay him for the work.
Given the Melbourne sisters have been the target of a conspiracy theory that they are a Channel 9 plant, they narrowly avoid a cheating scandal, understanding if they don’t pay Brickman the conspiracy will live on.
Eliza and Brickman. Nine
Weber BBQ Challenge
Since Scotty is hungry, he hosts another BBQ challenge thanks to Weber.
The Blockheads are tasked with cooking him a meal, and after five tastings a winner is announced!
Once again, BBQ king Brett takes out the win — his second Weber challenge win on The Block and he and Kristy take home $15,000, which is perfect timing since their budget is, well, cooked!
Want more recaps? Check out our The Block 2023 recaps below!
There are some polarising contestants looking for love on Love Triangle season 2, however, none more so than confident businessman Sam Fisher.
The 35-year-old owns his own auto parts business in Broome and outrightly claims that he’s looking for his “baby mama”.
“Dating in Broome has been alright. It’s a great spot. You just get a lot of drifters. I have spent a lot of time over the last ten years living in Perth,” he told PerthNow. “I had a long-term relationship in Perth a few years back and then dabbled in Broome.”
Love Triangle. Stan.
Why did Sam go on Love Triangle?
“We’re here to try yet another avenue,” Sam said of taking part in Love Triangle.
However, Sam didn’t actually audition to be on the show.
“It’s my first time on TV,” he told the publication.
“[Producers] came to me. I never applied. It’s not really my style for this sort of show. They came to me in January and said ‘Sam we’ve had a look at your Instagram and we’d like to have a chat with you’, I gave them a call.”
Given that Sam only has 1,100 followers on Instagram, the idea that he was scouted seems surprising. However, his sister Kristin Fisher is a well-known Sydney socialite.
Kristin Fisher. Instagram.
Despite his high-profile sibling, Sam claims that he joined the show to find love.
“I am after the real thing, I’m after something sustainable. I’m after something conventional,” he said in his intro video.
Sam admits that he’s “extremely” picky with women
While Sam is adamant that he came on the show to find fame love, he acknowledges that he has very high standards when it comes to finding a romantic partner.
“I’ve been brought up around a certain calibre of women,” he said. “My ideal type might be a little brunette, somewhere south of 5’9″, I’m only 5’9″ myself.”
Stan Original Series premieres on Thursday, October 5 on Stan.
Could it be a case of third-time lucky for exes Tina Provis and Mitch Hibberd who are both competing in Love Island Games?
After (at least) two break-ups – and as many stints on Love Island Australia – the reality TV veterans are joining a slew of international Islanders in the new spin-off series.
From the Australian camp, Callum Hole and Jessica Losurdo, who both starred in season four of the series, are taking part as well. Both Islanders were rumoured to be invovled, and have now been confirmed.
They’ll battle against some of the franchise’s most recognisable names, including Cely Vazquez, Scott Van-der Sluis and Megan Barton-Hanson. The cast is made up of all-stars from the US, UK, Australian, German, Swedish, and French versions of Love Island.
Check out the full cast list for Love Island Games.
Australian Islanders
Callum Hole
Love Island Australia Season 4
Mitch Hibberd
Love Island Australia Season 3 (winner) and Season 4
Tina Provis
Love Island Australia Season 3 (winner) and Season 4
Stan’s rollercoaster of a reality TV dating show Love Triangle is back for season two.
From the producers of Married at First SightAustralia, the controversial series aims to help the contestants question and correct their ingrained dating behaviour.
Season two is narrated by MAFS fan favourite Ella Ding and vows to include a shocking new twist that will “rock the singles to their core”.
In season one of Love Triangle, hopeful singles were connected to two potential suitors but were only able to communicate with them via text and phone calls. After getting to know both people, the single had to choose which they’d like to pursue.
However, after a short time of one-on-one time, the third single (who wasn’t originally chosen) arrived to move in with the happy couple.
Here’s who’s starring in Love Triangle season two.
Alan
32, Electrician, VIC
Jacinta
28, Model, VIC
Nellie
25, Comedian, TAS
Sam
35, Business Owner, WA
Sulei
28, Social Worker, QLD
Tamera
26, Content Creator/Model, NSW
Stan Original Series premieres on Thursday, October 5 on Stan.
Stan Original Series Love Triangle is back for a second season in 2023 and if you’re wondering how real the show actually is, we know the answer — and straight from the producer’s mouths!
Speaking to Chattr ahead of the October 5 premiere, executive producers Tara McWilliams and John Walsh (ya know, the team behind Married at First Sight) admitted that they don’t create the drama, the drama comes to them!
“Contrary to popular belief we’re not in the business of going, ‘Oh, this needs to happen’,” McWilliams said. “No, we’re not driving the car, we’re not steering it in any particular direction.”
“We’re watching, we’re observing and we’re actually pouncing on anything that could be a storyline, but it comes from there and so we’re at the mercy of the cast.”
Tamera. Love Triangle 2023. Stan
Adding to this, Walsh admitted that there’s a huge twist, but then “something” happened within the “twist” that wasn’t accounted for.
“There’s a twist that was planned and then there’s a bombshell within the twist that we hadn’t anticipated,” he said before McWilliams joked: “You basically have to watch with a calculator!”
“In the first series, the twist was that the second the rejected person comes in and forms a triangle,” she said. “Obviously, that’s no longer a surprise to them coming into this series, so we’ve brought in a new twist, something that would challenge them even further.
“It’s not a twist. It’s like a twist. It’s something that we felt organically that fits really well. It’s an extension of what we’ve already done and it really had very quite controversial results.”
Sam and Nellie. Love Triangle 2023. Stan
The Love Triangle 2023 cast had a shake-up
Speaking of the cast, McWilliams said “you have to cast it really bloody well to ensure that you are going to get interesting content.”
“We found that some of last year’s] cast was maybe a little bit introverted,” she said, “And so many other couples had to do more of the heavy lifting, whereas this year, we needed people that were going to be straight up from the very beginning. They were going to embrace it and going to wear their heart on their sleeve, be themselves and be authentic. We see that from day one.
“They may have some regrets about that but it’s great because that is what modern dating is about.”
Stan Original Series launches on Thursday, October 5 on Stan.
It’s episode one of The Amazing RaceAustralia 2023 and eleven celebrities kicked off the race with their nearest and dearest, swapping five-star luxury for hectic conditions.
In case you missed it, the likes of Bec Judd, Jana Pittman, Grant and Chezzi Denyer, Harry Jowsey and Ben and Jackie Gillies laced up their joggers in a race to win $100k for their chosen charity.
Our celebs and their loved ones met host Beau Ryan, who began the race in the HOT and chaotic streets of New Delhi.
Challenge One and Detours
In the first challenge, teams embarked on an exhilarating ride in Tuk Tuks, racing through the vibrant city. Subsequently, they ventured into the maze-like markets, where they were tasked to acquire various local goods.
Additionally, teams faced a Detour, presented with two distinct challenges, each offering their own advantages and disadvantages.
Teams that selected Wedding Wish had the challenge of memorising intricate wedding outfits without the assistance of a stylist. For this Detour, they needed excellent memory and attention to detail.
The alternative option, the Chicken Dish, involved purchasing five ingredients from a bustling market using a shopping list, requiring exceptional navigation and adept carrying skills!
Darren McMullen and Tristan. The Amazing Race Australia 2023. Ten
Heat causes havoc on the contestants
In case it wasn’t already made clear, it was damn hot in India and right from the start, Darren McMullen was living in chaos. Meanwhile, King George was understandably wary of overly enthusiastic street vendors and Bec Judd? She just wanted an iced latte! LOL.
George and his sister, Pam, quickly formed an alliance with Olympian Jana Pittman and her 16-year-old son, Cor, the youngest racer in the history of The Amazing Race Australia. However, in a surprising turn of events, Jana unexpectedly abandoned George and simultaneously acquired herself a nemesis.
The Wedding Wish challenge appeared deceptively simple with Silverchair drummer, Ben Gillies and wife RHOM star Jackie, discovering that when it comes to Indian accessories, less is not more. Despite several failed attempts, they persevered.
Meanwhile, Pam suffered from heat stroke after completing the Detour. Thankfully, with some harsh yet motivating words from her brother George, she found the strength to push forward.
Pam and George. The Amazing Race Australia 2023. Ten
Reality TV stars Harry Jowsey and Teddy Briggs showcased their culinary skills in the Chicken Dish Detour and swiftly took the lead.
Former Wiggle, Emma Watkins, along with her sister Hayley, faced an unavoidable task as they skillfully handled tomatoes during the race while Bec and her sister Kate Twigley had to interrupt their shopping spree due to Kate’s struggle with the scorching 40-degree heat.
Comedian Dane Simpson and his father, Bow, the oldest participant in the history of the show, battled against both the heat and the weight of their grocery load; however, their bond spurred them on to persevere.
Challenge Two
During the next challenge, teams departed from the bustling market to spend some time with some children at a local pool, attempting to grasp the local language.
Alli and Angie Simpson. The Amazing Race Australia 2023. Ten
Alli Simpson seized the chance to admire Harry, much to the encouragement of her mother Angie.
Harry and Teddy were the first to conquer the phrase challenge, while stand-up comedian PeterRowsthorn and his daughter Frankie saw it as a golden opportunity to discuss cricket with the locals.
Then, using the phrase they just learnt, teams had to then direct their Tuk Tuk driver to a holy site where Beau was waiting.
The Pit Stop
Due to a long Tuk Tuk ride, race leaders Harry and Teddy slipped to second place, allowing Darren and his nephew Tristan to secure first position.
Meanwhile, Dane had hoped for a challenge involving beer and horse betting, a task at which his dad Bow would excel. However, disappointingly, that wasn’t on the agenda and they arrived last at the Pit Stop, resulting in their elimination from the race.
As the next day approached, the majestic Taj Mahal loomed near, and our celebrities must prepare for a demanding endeavour.
Exhaustion, scorching heat, chaotic conditions, and even an upcoming monsoon event will test their resilience and determination!
The Amazing RaceAustralia: Celebrity Edition airs on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on 10 and 10Play.
