Joel Creasy will be following in Bravo star Andy Cohen’s footsteps and hosting the Real Housewives of Sydney reunion special.
He will be joined by the fabulous RHOS cast Caroline Gaultier, Dr Kate Adams, Krissy Marsh, Nicole O’Neil, Sally Obermeder, Terry Biviano and Victoria Montano.
The one-hour special will see the housewives revisit some of the most dramatic moments of the season and those will most likely come hand in hand with some screaming matches. It will also look back at all the hilarious and memorable moments, as well as the extravagant, high-end fashion, that have kept audiences tuning into the popular series.
Joel Creasy. Binge.
Why Joel Creasy?
Of course, Joel Creasy is a hilarious Australian comedian who doesn’t hold back on digging for dirt when it comes to anything gossip-related. However, he actually had a specific connection to Real Housewives of Sydney.
Joel hosts a weekly podcast called Real Housewives of Sydney where he interviews the housewives about what went down on the latest episode of the show.
Since the season started, he’s chatted with Krissy, Caroline, Dr Kate, Victoria, and Sally. You can find all of the episodes here.
Is this the first ever Real Housewives of Sydney reunion?
No, season one of Real Housewives of Sydney, which aired back in 2017, had a reunion and it was hosted by Australian fashion designer Alex Perry.
Real Housewives of Sydney season one reunion. Bravo.
As per most Housewives reunions, the special bought the drama and it saw≈‘ Levendi and Victoria Rees go all out in a screaming war.
At the time, The Daily Telegraph reported that Athena had to be restrained after threatening to “f**king smash” Victoria after the cameras stopped rolling.
With tensions escalating between Terry and Krissy in recent episodes, one can only imagine the d-r-a-m-a that will ensue in the upcoming instalment.
Real Housewives of Sydney reunion special will air on Binge.
It’s been a chaotic and intense year on Home and Away and November 29’s triple ep finale is set to get your heart racing with one question on everyone’s lips. Does Remi (Adam Rowland) really die?
While Eden (Stephanie Panozzo) and Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) head off for what is seemingly an innocent camp getaway, back at the Bay, Bree (Juliet Godwin) tells her boyfie Remi that she wants to join Doctors Without Borders, asking him to come with her. While a tough decision, it’s clear Remi cannot let the love of his life go.
Cash and Eden. Seven
During an interview with TV Week, Rowland admitted that while they’ve been through so much already, “he knows she needs to do this for herself, regardless of whether he can go or not.”
Eden calls for Remi to pick her up
Torn, Remi feels he must talk to his friend Eden, who coincidentally calls him asking him to pick her up…on his motorbike. DUN DUN DUUUUN!
“I am done. Come pick me up. Now,” Eden tells him.
Meanwhile, Cash overhears the conversation and is, in no uncertain terms, pissed.
Heading to his friend’s aid — and with his own motivation to get clarity on the situation — Remi heads off on said bike, where he’s struck by a car.
The two unknown men behind the wheel have been distracted due to a fight, colliding with Remi before and the collision throws Remi off the bike, leaving him motionless on the ground.
Remi’s collision on Home and Away. Seven
What has Adam Rowland said?
So, does Remi live or die?
“After a collision like that, it would seem entirely likely no one would survive!” Rowland said during the same interview.
Well, R.I.P Remi…we think!
Watch the Home and Away triple episode finale on November 29 at 7.00 pm on 7 and 7Plus.
It’s episode 10 and the Grand Finale of Dessert Masters 2023 and the winner has been crowned!
After Kirsten Tibballs and Kay-Lene Tan were eliminated during episode nine, the final three were announced as Gareth Whitton, Reynold Poernomo and Jess Liemantara.
The three talented pastry chefs were vying for the coveted title of Dessert Master and a $100,000 prize — below a gantry filled with past contestants!
The Challenge
In the epic showdown, the contestants unleashed their top-notch pastry skills, each with a unique style and personal drive.
And the challenge? A demanding two-course dessert service for 15 diners, plus the judges.
The stakes were high with Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon awarding up to 40 points per contestant and at the end of the service, the top scorer would be crowned the inaugural champion of Dessert Masters, taking home the epic prize money and of course, bragging rights!
Reynold, Gareth and Jess. Ten
Here’s what they cooked…
Course One
Reynold
“Floral” – Feijoa, Jasmine and Elderflower
Mel “loved the visual” and the difference in colour invites you to “dig and investigate” the dish, meanwhile Amaury said it was “a bit cold” for him given all the elements was frozen.
“This is not his best,” he said.
Reynold’s first course. Ten
Gareth
Rhubarb Tart with Pepperberry Ice Cream
Amaury said the presentation was “very bistro style” but admitted it was his “type of dessert”. Mel said the cream on top was “luscious” and called it “smart and considered” cooking.
Gareth’s first course. Ten
Jess
“Not so strawberries and cream” – Coconut sorbet, strawberry and Balsamic Chiboust
Mel said there was a “little bit of haste” in the presentation but it smelled incredible and when it came to tasting, Amaury’s dish was missing the balsamic chiboust filling.
Overall, Mel liked the insert because it had a “sweet and sour freshness” while Amaury wished his was complete so he could have the same experience as Mel.
Jess’ first course. Ten
Course Two
Gareth
Wattleseed and Chocolate Mousse with Pistachio, Apricot and Armagnac
Amaury said the layers were “well-defined” and he could see how much work had gone into the dish. Mel said it was a lot of combinations that go together and work well. Both agreed it was a “Dessert Masters dish”.
Gareth’s second course. Ten
Jess
“Pink Petal” – Berries, blackcurrant and tea sorbet
Amaury thought it was very good, saying the jam had “life”; however, the texture of the sorbet was too grainy.
“Is this the redemption dish?” Mel asked. “I think it is.”
Mel thought the mousse was delicious and thought the petals were perfect, even though there were only 20.
Jess’ second course. Ten
Reynold
“Milk and Honey”
Mel said there was “a lot to love” about the dessert but was looking for more of a gel-like texture, rather than a jube. Amaury was a lot less forgiving, saying it was “another frozen dessert”.
The Judging
Jess
Course 1
Mel – 6/10
Amaury – 6/10
Course 2
Mel – 8/10
Amaury – 7/10
Final Score: 27/40
Reynold
Course 1
Mel – 8/10
Amaury – 7/10
Course 2
Mel – 7/10
Amaury – 6/10
Final Score: 28/40
Gareth
Course 1
Mel – 9/10
Amaury – 8/10
Course 2
Mel – 9/10
Amaury – 9/10
Final Score: 35/40
The Verdict
Gareth was named the winner of Dessert Masters 2023 while Reynold was named runner-up!
Gareth Whitton, winner of Dessert Masters 2023, Ten
Bring on another season!
Want more Dessert Masters 2023 recaps? Clickbelow!
Ten of the best pastry chefs in the country have been whittled down to just three on Dessert Masters 2023. The Grand Finalists are Reynold Poernomo, Jess Liemantara and Gareth Whitton, who will battle it out for the winning crown.
Unlike its sister show MasterChef, the contestants on Dessert Masters aren’t home cooks but instead established chefs.
Ahead of the Dessert Masters 2023 Grand Final, find out a bit more about each chef’s background.
Jess Liemantara
Dessert Masters. Ten.
Jess was a contestant on seasons 10 and 12 of MasterChef Australia and came fourth and twelfth respectively.
Since being on the cooking show she’s racked up a huge social media following, where she’s known as ‘Jess Lemon’. She has over 240,000 followers on Instagram, who she shares photos and videos of her stunning dessert creations with.
Post-MasterChef, Jess Liemantara opened two establishments; a dessert shop named Esme and a Roti shop called Roarti. However, both are currently temporarily closed.
Jess received rave reviews in episode six from the judges for her Birds Nest creation.
Reynold Poernomo
Dessert Masters. Ten.
Like Jess, Reynold is also a MasterChef Australia alum; he was on seasons seven and twelve, and came fourth and third, respectively. Reynold was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, but moved to Sydney when he was four.
Out of the entire Dessert Master’s cast, Reynold is one of the most established when it comes to restaurants. He and his brothers Ronald and ArnoldPoernomo founded KOI Dessert Bar and have since opened KOI Experimental. They also own a small bar called Monkey’s Corner which sits in Sydney’s Chippendale and is a small restaurant/bar that focuses on Japanese-inspired dishes and serves quirky cocktails.
Reynold won the only immunity pin of the season back in episode one for his Monochrome dessert.
Gareth Whitton
Dessert Masters. Ten.
Gareth Whitton is one of the country’s most experienced and established chefs. He has worked at a 3 Michelin star restaurant and under one of the world’s most impressive chefs, Heston Blumenthal.
He owns Tarts Anon, which was launched amid Melbourne’s Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Word got out about his amazing home-cooked tarts, and they were quickly snapped up as soon as they were out of the oven. From there, Gareth went on to open Tarts Anon’s flagship location in Cremorne, Victoria with partner Catherine Way.
Though Gareth hasn’t been a MasterChef contestant, he has been on the show before. He set a Pressure Test during Season 14 – which tasked the contestants with recreating his Smoked Pecan and Butterscotch Tart.
In episode six of Dessert Masters, Gareth was the runner-up to Kirsten Tiballs for his Black Forrest Tart and just missed out on immunity.
Dessert Masters 2023 Grand Finale airs at 7.30 pm on November 28 on 10 and 10Play.
The Chocolate Queen Kirsten Tibballs was eliminated from Dessert Masters, leaving Jess Liemantara, Reynold Poernomo and Gareth Whitton to battle it out in the Grand Final.
During a post-elimination interview withChattr, Kirsten reflected on her weaknesses in the cooking competition and said that those same qualities gave Jess and Reynold an advantage.
“Reynold and Jess being very familiar with the way MasterChef runs and the kitchen and the facilities, that is a big advantage,” she said.
Reynold competed on seasons 7 and 12 of MasterChef Australia, while Jess was part of seasons 10 and 12.
Dessert Masters. Ten.
Jess and Reynold’s other advantages going into the Dessert Masters final
Kirsten explained that she wasn’t used to the time restraints of completing a dish on MasterChef or Dessert Masters, and believed this worked as a disadvantage for her.
“I’m very much about technique, precision, and not cutting corners. But I think there are certain times in the kitchen where you have to say to yourself, ‘I’m going to have to let go of the fact that I need to check the bricks of the sorbet base with a refractometer before I can share because I simply don’t have the time’. I believe that Jess and Reynold would have had an understanding of that.”
Kirsten added that another advantage she thinks Jess and Reynold have is their young age.
“They were a lot younger than me,” she said. “They’ve probably got a lot more energy than me, be faster, and maybe have better memory going to the pantry.”
“I’m not a spring chicken anymore. On one recipe I use 72 ingredients, so to not only try and carry that from the pantry but to try to remember it! I lost seven kilos during the filming and a portion of that was due to running back and forth,” she laughed.
Dessert Masters. Ten.
On her disappointment about her bird cage crumbling
In the final five challenge, Kirsten built a beautiful birdcage made out of chocolate. However, in the final moments as she went to serve it up, the entire thing crumbled, which ultimately led to her elimination.
Looking back at the moment, Kristen described it as “pure devastation.”
“As soon as it smashed, I knew with the time left there was physically nothing I could do,” she recalled. “It was the devastation that when you get into the semifinals, and I was comfortable with the way I was going throughout the cook, you start to think about the Finale. So there was that as well, that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to compete in the finale coming this far that had ended.”
Dessert Masters 2023 Grand Finale airs at 7.30 pm on November 28 on 10 and 10Play.
The Artful Dodger is the Australian-based follow-up to Charles Dickens’s “Oliver Twist” and is one of Disney+’s most hotly anticipated releases.
Set in the 1850s and filmed in Sydney, the cast is made up of a mix of massive international and local names. Among the three main characters is Australian actor Maia Mitchell, who is already being touted as the next big Aussie star to become a household name internationally.
Ahead of the release of the eight-episode series, check out the actors who make up the cast of The Artful Dodger.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Artful Dodger. Disney+.
If you’re not already familiar with Thomas Brodie-Sangster, then he probably looks familiar – and for good reason. The 33-year-old has been in a number of popular films and shows, including Love Actually, The Queens Gambit and the Maze Runner series, and was even nominated for an Emmy. He plays the main character of Jack Dawkins.
As for his personal life, the English actor is engaged to actress Talulah Riley whom he met while filming Pistol. Riley has previously been married to Elon Musk twice; once in 2010 and then again in 2013. They last split in 2016.
David Thelis (Landscapers, Fargo) as Fagin;
Artful Dodger. Disney+.
David Thelis plays Fagin in The Artful Dodger, and he too has a pretty stacked resume. He played Remin Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise, and was in Wonder Woman and Black Beauty, amongst many other popular titles. He’s been nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two BAFTA’s.
Thelis is married to French designer and artist Hermine Poitou and has one daughter Gracie with his ex Anna Friel.
Maia Mitchell
Maia Mitchell. Instagram.
Maia Mitchell plays Lady Belle Fox and is a home-grown Aussie who boasts a very impressive 10.1 million followers on Instagram.
She broke into the international scene with her role as Callie Adams Foster in the drama The Fosters, which is available to stream on Disney+.
When The Fosters ended, Mitchell and her co-star Cierra Ramirez starred in a spin-off called Good Trouble which has run for five seasons so far.
Mitchell dated actor Rudy Mancuso for six years, however, the couple called it quits earlier this year.
Other cast members
The cast also has a number of Australian actors in smaller roles including:
Damon Herriman
Damon Herriman. Instagram.
Miranda Tapsell
Miranda Tapsell. Instagram.
Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin. Instagram.
Susie Porter
Susie Porter. Instagram.
The Artful Dodger premieres on November 29 on Disney+.
Some of the best cooks in the country are battling it out for the winning title on Dessert Masters 2023, but who will reign victorious?
Well, betting odds on Sportsbet are suggesting that one of the remaining contestants will win by a landslide. Owner of Tarts Anon Gareth Whitton has a return of just $1.72 to take out the win.
Koi Dessert Bar owner and social media sensation Reynold Poernomo is expected to take second place with a return of $2.00, Jess Liemantara is a long way behind with a return of $8.50.
Dessert Masters. Ten.
How do betting odds work?
Betting odds are based on dollar value. If someone bets $1, they’d receive back the amount the contestant was listed at. For example, if a punter bets $1 on Gareth they’d receive a $1.72 return if she won. This corresponds with the amount deposited, so $10 would turn into $17.20, $100 would turn into $172, and so on.
Dessert Masters. Ten.
Do betting odds correctly guess the winner?
No, not necessarily. Insider trading is strictly prohibited however, betting odds can often be a good indicator of who will win a show.
Most recently, betting odds suggested that Steph and Gian would win The Block 2023, which they well and truly did, with a profit of $1.65 million, plus $100,000 in prize money.
Similarly, Brent Draper had the best odds to win MasterChef Australia 2023, and he was, in fact, crowned the winner. Plus, last year’s betting odds indicated that Reggie Bird would win Big Brother Back To The Future, which she did.
Watch Dessert Masters Sunday – Tuesday night on 10 and 10Play.
Stan Original Series Bump is back for season four (if you can believe it) and once again, we’ve jumped forward two more years!
Oly’s the brand new breadwinner; Santi’s the unhappy stay-at-home dad, and the endless interventions from their big mess of a family are going to make or break them.
Here’s everything we know!
Nathalie Morris, Bump. Stan
Official Synopsis for Bump Season 4
Oly (Nathalie Morris) and Santi (Carlos Sanson Jr) are back together, having finally stabilised their small family unit with their challenging seven-year-old Jacinda.
Angie (Claudia Karvan) has moved out of the Chalmers-Davis house into a protest camp, focusing on environmental activism and the climate crisis in part as a useful distraction from her recent heartbreak.
Dom (Angus Sampson) is happily re-living his share-house years with his best mate Tim, while Reema (Safia Arain) and Vince (Ioane Sa’ula) begin to reckon with the fact that their relationship may not have a viable future.
Ava Cannon. Bump, Stan
A somewhat lost Bowie (Christian Byers) is struggling through his Saturn return and has big questions about the direction his life should take.
As the chaos of life shows no signs of settling down, our characters look for ways to find joy in life’s many curveballs.
When will Bump Season 4 be released?
The brand new season of Bump will premiere on Boxing Day a.k.a December 26, 2023.
Who is in the cast?
Along with Stan Original Bump series regulars MorrisandSanson Jr, the entire Chalmers-Davis family is returning including Karvan (Spirited), Angus Sampson (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Byers(Stan Original Series Year Of).
Dylan Alcott AO, Nathalie Morris and Claudia Karvan, Bump. Stan
Sa’ula (Preppers), Arain (The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race), Paula Garcia (Thirteen Lives),Ava Cannon and Claudia de Giusti will also be back.
In the greatest news ever, season four will also introduce a fresh and exciting cast including award-winning, critically acclaimed stand-up comedian Steph Tisdell (Class of 07) and Dylan Alcott AO, Australian tennis player, Australian of the Year 2022 and Paralympian. So cool!
Steph Tisdell and Morris. Bump, Stan
Is there a trailer?
You bet! On November 28, Stan released a brand-new trailer for season four of Bump. You can watch it below.
The brand new season of the Stan Original Series Bump will premiere on Boxing Day. Every episode of Seasons 1, 2 and 3 are now streaming, only on Stan.
It’s episode nine of Dessert Masters 2023 a.k.a the Semi-Final and a nature-inspired challenge saw two powerhouse chefs “leaf” the competition!
Upon entering the kitchen, the contestants were surrounded by a mesmerising forest scene.
With only three hours on the clock, they were tasked with creating a delectable sweet dish that drew inspiration from the natural beauty around them.
A lot was at stake given the challenge would determine the three grand finalists who would advance further in the competition and with such talented chefs left, it was anyone’s game.
Here’s what they baked.
The Creations
Reynold Poernomo
Reynold made the daring decision to craft a chocolate log amidst a lush rainforest; however, his challenge lay in harmonising the aromas he was experimenting with.
Undeterred by prior setbacks, he fearlessly reimagined the sugar tuille from the Martin Benn pressure test, which had led to his departure from the semi-final in MasterChef season 12.
During the tasting, AmauryGuichon acknowledged that Reynold successfully met the criteria in terms of both appearance and taste with Mel Leong saying that this could very well be his first Grand Finale of his MC career.
Reynold’s dessert. Ten
Jess Liemantara
Jess’s creation was an intricately crafted bonsai tree, adorned with flavours that evoked the essence of Japan: matcha, yuzu, and black sesame.
The judges commended the delicately airy sponge, accentuated by the interplay of textures from the black sesame and yuzu mousse.
Jess’ dessert. Ten
Gareth Whitton
Gareth took a bold approach when he crafted a riverbed scene adorned with stones, twigs, and soil.
He merged the distinct flavours of truffle and Jerusalem artichoke and although Amaury wasn’t entirely convinced by the combination, Gareth believed that the sweeter elements would counterbalance the earthiness.
Amaury loved the presentation; however, he, along with Mel, expressed concerns about its savoriness, putting Gareth at risk of elimination.
Gareth’s dish. Ten
Kay-Lene Tan
Kay-Lene crafted a dish inspired by the evocative imagery of the changing seasons, incorporating the concept of melting white snow.
However, upon tasting it, Amaury found that while visually stunning, it looked at tasted dry.
Kay-Lene’s dessert, Ten
Kirsten Tibballs
Kirsten embarked on her most ambitious culinary creation yet – a decadent chocolate and passionfruit entremet encased within an intricate chocolate birdcage sculpture.
With only 30 seconds remaining, she carefully positioned her masterpiece onto the plate, only to have it collide with the edge of the bench, collapsing in front of everyone’s eyes.
As the judges tasted the entremet, they praised the flawless glaze and impeccably layered presentation.
While the flavours were balanced, and given the demanding three-hour challenge, the absence of the birdcage meant she had not met the brief.
Emalia plays the character of Izzy James in the new Paramount+ drama Paper Dolls and the Aussie actress and artist is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Having already made her mark on the music industry, Emalia is now tackling the acting world, and the new role is likely to catapult her into a household name.
The 26-year-old goes purely by her first name and made the move from her hometown of Bowral NSW, to Sydney to focus on her career.
Her part in the upcoming drama is tipped to make her a breakout star. She plays one of five young women who form a female musical group through a reality TV show. The series follows the women’s lives and touches on the dark side of fame.
Paper Dolls. Paramount+.
What did Emalia do before Paper Dolls?
While Paper Dolls is Emalia’s first mainstream acting gig, she’s been involved in the entertainment scene for a while.
Back in 2020, Emalia released a song titled ‘Suga Rush’ which was released via Sony Music Entertainment Australiaand produced by the ARIA award-winning One Above.
“Suga Rush is about a toxic love you just keep coming back to. It’s sexy, it’s addictive, it’s affecting you in all the wrong ways just as much as it is the right ways; it’s the epitome of dangerous temptation,” Emalia told The Local Frequency at the time.
Emalia. Instagram.
Emalia has just released a new single called Stacks
Coinciding with the promo for Paper Dolls, Emalia has dropped a brand new single called Stacks. It’s her first independent release since parting ways from her label in 2021.
The musician lists Kehlani, Summer Walker, SZA Kiana Lede, Mahalia, Snoh Aalegra and Tinashe among her musical influences.
Emalia cried when she read the script of Paper Dolls
As soon as Emalia got her hands on the script of the Aussie drama, she knew that she wanted to play the part of Izzy.
“I just knew I had to be a part of it,” she told the Daily Telegraph.
She explained that the script resonated with her because of her experience in the music industry, and offered some advice for other people looking to follow in her footsteps.
“Make sure you are passionate about it, that it is what you really want to do, develop a thick skin. A good piece of advice I received was to subject yourself to rejection and failure and come out the other side because the more you go through it, the stronger you become,” she said.
“And make sure you have people around you that you know you can trust because there are a lot of sharks in this industry and it can be very tumultuous so having a strong support network is important.”
Paper Dolls airs on Paramount+ Australia from Sunday, 3 December.
We’ve finally been treated to a full-length trailer and air date for Trent Dalton’s debut iconic Australian novel, Boy Swallows Universe, and it has us even more excited for the release.
The new Aussie drama series stars Simon Baker and Phoebe Tonkin and the trailer has a healthy dose of Aussie nostalgia. There are mullets plenty, country fairs and broad Aussie accents.
The eight-part mini-series will be available to stream from January 11, 2024 on Netflix.
Boy Swallows Universe. Netflix.
The show is an adaptation of Trent Dalton’s international bestseller of the same name and is set in beautiful Brisbane.
The coming-of-age story loosely follows Dalton’s upbringing and experiences in the 1980s through the character Eli Bell and explores love, crime and the challenges of entering adulthood.
Boy Swallows Universe. Netflix.
Who’s in Boy Swallows Universe?
The cast is stacked with very well-known Australian actors, including Baker and Tonkin, as well as Anthony LaPaglia, Travis Fimmel, Felix Cameron and Bryan Brown.
The adaptation also stars Lee Tiger Halley, Sophie Wilde, Christopher James Baker, HaiHa Le, Deborah Mailman, Ben O’Toole, Zachary Wan, Millie Donaldson and Eloise Rothfield
Boy Swallows Universe. Netflix.
What is it about?
Set in 1980s Brisbane, Boy Swallows Universe combines the enchantment and naivety of youth with the harshness of the adult world.
With a missing father, a silent brother, a mother on the path to recovery, a stepfather involved in heroin dealing, and a notorious criminal as his caretaker, Eli Bell strives to follow his heart and decipher the true essence of being a decent individual.
However, destiny continuously hijacks his plans and throws numerous challenges his way.
Boy Swallows Universe. Netflix.
When does it come out?
There’s no release date just yet, but Boy Swallows Universe will be available to stream exclusively on Netflix.
How many episodes will there be?
Boy Swallows Universe is an eight-part limited series that will screen globally on Netflix.
Where can I watch the trailer?
Right here!
You can also watch the teaser trailer below.
Boy Swallows Universe will be available to stream on Netflix.
Australian Idol is returning in 2024 for its second revamped season, and one of the show’s original judges will be heading out the panel.
Marcia Hines, who was a judge on Australian Idol from 2003-2009 will be reprising her role in 2024. While Hines was a guest judge in last year’s reboot of the series, she will be a permanent fixture on the upcoming season.
Alongside Marcia will be returnee judges Amy Shark and Kyle Sandilands, both of whom were Australian Idol judges last season.
The new season will premiere on Monday, 29 January 2024 on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Who is hosting Australian Idol 2024?
Ricki Lee Coulter, who came seven on the second season of Australian Idol back in 2009, will be one of the hosts. Coulter hosted the show in 2008 and 2009, and returned again last year for the reboot.
She’ll be joined by Scott Tweedie, who was also a host in 2023.
Australian Idol. Seven.
What careers did Australian Idol launch?
Perhaps the most recognisable names from the Australian Idol franchise are Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll, who came first and second respectively on season one.
Anthony Calea, Jess Mauboy and Matt Corby were all runners-up on the original format of Australian Idol before the show’s hiatus in 2009.
This year, Royston Sagigi-Baira took out the singing competition and he scored a record contract with Sony.
Australian Idol. Seven.
What does the winner of Australian Idol get?
The winner of Australian Idol 2024 will receive $100,000 prize money as well as a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
How is the upcoming season different?
During an interview with Mediaweek, Seven’s head of entertainment, Majella Hay, revealed that Australian Idol 2024 will have. top 30 instead of a top 50.
“The 30 who make it into that group have got to work harder to get there, and have to impress our judges to get that golden ticket,” she said.
“Because of our new format, we can slightly shorten the audition run of getting the people through the door to see who has the potential to be an idol.
“There will be people who viewers will love from the get-go in the top 30, and they will follow just those 30 voices as they start their journey to become an Australian Idol.”
Australian Idol premieres on Monday, 29 January 2024 on Channel 7 and 7plus..
Some of the Big Brother Australia 2023 housemates have already won the prize of love, but which one will take home the winning title and the $100,000 cash prize?
Betting odds have one contestant as the clear front-runner to win Big Brother Australia 2023, suggesting that the result could have already leaked.
When a contestant has winning betting odds, it means that the most amount of people have bet money that that person will win.
BB master mind Louis has the best odds of taking out the completion, with a return of $2.25. Gracie May is sitting closely behind with $3.00, while Tay and Ari are in third place with $3.50.
Big Brother. Seven.
How do betting odds work?
Betting odds are based on dollar value. If someone bets $1, they’d receive back the amount the housemate was listed at. For example, if a punter bets $1 on Louise they’d receive a $2.25 return if he won. This corresponds with the amount deposited, so $10 would turn into $22.50, $100 would turn into $225, and so on.
Big Brother. Seven.
Do betting odds correctly guess the winner?
Not always, however, betting odds can often be a good indicator of who will win a show.
Most recently, betting odds suggested that Steph and Gian would win The Block 2023, which they well and truly did, with a profit of $1.65 million, plus $100,000 in prize money.
Similarly, Brent Draper had the best odds to win MasterChef Australia 2023, and he was, in fact, crowned the winner. Plus, last year’s betting odds indicated that Liz Parnov would win Survivor Australia, which she did.
Big Brother Australia airs Monday to Thursday at 8:30 pm on 7 and 7Plus.
It’s episode eight of Dessert Masters 2023 and in a festive twist, the contestants stepped into the kitchen to discover a Christmas wonderland.
Greeted by Mel Leong and Amaury Guichon, their excitement was heightened as Curtis Stone made a grand entrance, bearing a sack of presents.
Assuming the role of Santa, Curtis bestowed upon each contestant a fruit that must serve as a centrepiece in their Christmas-inspired creation.
With only two hours on the clock, the two least impressive dishes would send their makers home.
Mel Leong, Amaury Guichon and Curtis Stone. Dessert Masters, Ten
The Creations
Kay-Lene Tan
Kay-Lene received a gift of bananas and courageously ventured outside her comfort zone to bake a cake.
Despite a nail-biting moment when the cake teetered on the brink of collapse, Amaury praised her culinary masterpiece for beautifully capturing the spirit of Christmas, commending her exceptional speed and skill.
Curtis acknowledged the challenging task of incorporating bananas into a holiday dessert, appreciating the level of difficulty tackled by Kay-Lene.
Kay-Lene’s dessert. Ten
Reynold Poernomo
Reynold was challenged to showcase passionfruit and began to create a Christmas bauble that called for a flawlessly crafted sugar glass sphere with the fate of his entire dish hinging on the success of this element.
Despite two failed attempts, the third emerged beautifully. He then proceeded to enrobe the sphere with a luscious coat of chocolate and commenced filling it with cream. However, the cream proved excessively thick, causing the sphere to split into two.
Not allowing his pride to cloud his judgment, in the final moments of the cook, he swiftly took off his Immunity Pin and retreated to the safety of the gantry.
Andy took on a grand undertaking with gifted strawberries, crafting a family-sized traditional trifle that encapsulated the true essence of Christmas. However, the challenge lay in the presentation, or rather lack thereof.
Amaury urged Andy to showcase mastery across multiple skill sets, yet Andy chose to adhere to the traditional trifle presentation.
Upon tasting, Mel observed that the dish exuded a festive aura, yet amidst the other desserts, Andy’s creation ranked among the lower tier.
Andy’s dessert. Ten
Anna Polyviou
Anna aimed to showcase her tender side to the judges by crafting a trifle with a Greek twist, featuring luscious blackberries.
Despite its visually pleasing presentation and the judges’ appreciation for the olive oil sorbet’s flavour, the frozen gel aspect failed to impress any of them.
Furthermore, Anna’s lacklustre offering of a single champagne glass of dessert to be shared among the three judges fell short of their expectations for a generous and consistent dining experience.
Anna’s dessert. Ten
The other cooks
Jess Liemantara
Jess’ dessert. Ten
Kirsten Tibballs
Kirsten’s dessert. Ten
Gareth Whitton
Gareth’s dessert. Ten
The Result
Both Anna and Andy failed to impress the judges with their trifles and were sent home.
Want more Dessert Masters 2023 recaps? Clickbelow!
In Australia, our Christmases are in the peak of summer, but just because it’s not cold, doesn’t mean we can’t snuggle up on the couch with a cute Chrissy movie to get into the festive spirit.
Of course, there are Christmas movies aplenty on every streaming platform, but which ones are the best?
We’ve got you sorted with some top picks from Stan, Netflix, Prime, Paramount, Binge and Disney. So, grab yourself a cold one, set your AC to 16 degrees and settle in with one of these epic Christmas movies.
Hot tip: If you’re in the mood for a movie marathon then Paramount+ has a truckload of Christmas movies to see you through (probably)until the festive season next year.
With over 40 Hallmark Christmas movies now available to stream, as well as more festive flicks to choose from including 12 Days Of Giving, The Christmas Chalet, A Family For The Holidays, Merry And Bright, The Santa Squad, Twinkle All The Way and Miss Me This Christmas, there’s a holiday-themed film for everyone in this merry mix.
NCIS Sydney has become a verrrry popular iteration of the popular US franchise and with such a picturesque backdrop, some are wondering whether the series is actually filmed in Sydney, Australia.
Well, we’re pleased to tell you that a) it is 100% filmed in the Aussie city and b) we actually got to go to the set and see it for ourselves!
Speaking to Chattr prior to the start of season one, series lead Todd Lasance revealed that even he was blown away by the filming locations.
“I’ve never seen Sydney the way that they’re showing [in NCIS Sydney],” he said. “The locations that we went to, I was like, ‘Where are we?’ It was beautiful.”
The cast of NCIS Sydney. Paramount+
Adding that he’d “heard people talk about how there’s a green screen with the explosions and some of the special effects”, he wanted to remind everyone, that “there are none in our backdrops, none in our locations.”
“There’s no green screen in any of our photos or the press release stuff in front of the bridge.”
As an added bonus, the cast including Lasance, Olivia Swann (who plays Mackey), MavourneeHazel and William McInnes all visited the AFP for their roles with Lasance saying it was a thrill to work with the Australian Navy.
“Working with the Navy on their battleships, and aircraft carriers, you actually got to go on the battleships with their flight crews and were in a Seahawk helicopter on the deck of their aircraft,” Lasance said.
The bombs keep dropping on Love Island Australia 2023, and there’s been an influx of new Islanders who’ve joined the OG’s.
If you’re having trouble keeping up with who’s in the villa, then you’re in luck because we’ve hooked you up with a handy little cheat sheet that includes their photo, name, and some other brief facts about them.
Amongst the cast is a few reality TV alum. There (was) Kirra Schofield, who’s best known as the sister of 2023 MAFS bride Bronte Schofield. Kirra appeared in multiple episodes of Married At First Sight season ten and basically ripped Bronte’s TV husband, Harrison Boon, a new one during a family dinner.
Plus, both of the first two women who entered the villa as bombshells have also been on reality TV. Abby Miller was on The Bachelors 2023 and was one of the women who was in the running to win Jed McIntosh‘s heart. On top of that, she has a MAFS crossover; she was Boon’s ‘secret girlfriend’ who Bronte found out about at her televised ‘wedding’.
Meanwhile, bombshell Lucinda Strafford is actually a Love Island alum. She was on season seven of Love Island UK and entered the villa on day nine. During her time on the show, she coupled with Brad McClelland, Danny Bibby and Aaron Francis.
You can check out the full cast list for Love Island Australia 2023 below.
Bombshells
Andy
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
Age: 27
Occupation: Professional Baseball Player
Georgia
Location: NSW
Age: 21
Occupation: Retail and student
Ryan
Location: Wollongong, NSW
Age: 27
Occupation: Coal miner
Aidan
Location: Sydney
Age: 29
Occupation: Trade assistant
Lucinda
Location: Brighton, UK
Age: 23
Occupation: Influencer and online boutique owner
Tagline: “This time I want someone to be obsessed with me, and me only.”
Reid
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
Age: 26
Occupation: Personal trainer and model
Tagline: “I may have slept with some of my personal training clients before… maybe.”
Kale
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
Age: 24
Occupation: Sales
Tagline: “I look like a bad boy, but I am actually the best boyfriend. I like taking girls out for dates and doing fun spontaneous stuff.”
Abby
Location: Sydney, NSW
Age: 22
Occupation: Makeup artist
Tagline: “My longest relationship was a year and a half. But they all cheated, so not much luck. Maybe it’s because I’ve gone for men over 30, and I need to change that.
OG Contestants
Tyra
Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD
Age: 23
Occupation: Accounts
Tagline: “I work in accounts, but trust me I’m not boring, totally not boring.”
Nakia
Location: SA
Age: 21
Occupation: Store worker
Tagline: “I’ve always been a horse rider, so I do know a thing or two about how to ride.”
Kirra
Location: WA
Age: 26
Occupation: Early Childhood Educator
Tagline: “Naturally when people meet me they might think I’m a massive b**ch. I have a horrendous RBF, resting b**ch face for those who don’t know.
Tia
Location: Canberra, ACT
Age: 24
Occupation: Real Estate
Tagline: “In my last relationship I got heart broken and it’s taken me four years to get over it, but I’m ready.”
Savanah
Location: Adelaide, SA
Age: 26
Occupation: Law Graduate
Tagline: “People do describe me as a hot mess but I have selective hearing, so I only hear hot.”
Nate
Location: Sydney, NSW
Age: 24
Occupation: Personal Trainer
Tagline: “The sexiest thing about me is my charisma, you can definitely say I have big d**k energy.”
Zac
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Age: 25
Occupation: Student
Tagline: “I was a sparky for five years, but I decided I was too pretty to be a trade.”
Ben
Location: Sydney, NSW
Age: 22
Occupation: Videographer and content creator
Tagline: “I love fashion. If the clothes don’t make you feel like dancing, don’t buy it straight up.”
Ollie
Location: Perth, WA
Age: 24
Occupation: FIFO mining technician
Tagline: “My glasses are fake, my teeth are fake, but everything else is real, baby.”
Trent
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Age: 25
Occupation: Tower crane operator
Tagline: “Usually the girls I pick have expensive tastes, they cost a lot to run.”
Love Island Australia premieres on October 30 at 6pm AEDT on 9Now.
NCIS: Sydney won’t be following the tried and tested storyline of romance between the two leads, with Todd Lasance confirming that his character JD and Olivia Swann’s Mackey do not get it on.
During an interview with Chattr, Lasance explained that Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey and Michelle Mackey have a purely platonic working relationship.
He said that the idea of including a relationship between the two leads was discussed, but it was ultimately decided against.
“We had a direct conversation with the writers, producers and CBS. And they didn’t want [romance] because the series could potentially go forever,” he said. “It’d be this it’d be the cliche.”
NCIS: Sydney. Paramount+.
Romantic storylines are complex and would add another hurdle for Michelle and JD to tackle if the show continues for multiple seasons and they were to stay in the same jobs.
Lasance explained that if there was a romance between them, their character’s attention could be focussed on that, rather than the job at hand.
“The character dynamics are so impressively written. But it’s great because you don’t need to play that [romantic] undertone. They work together as like this killer duo and they don’t tap into any of that.”
Todd Lasance on the pressure of starring on NCIS: Sydney
With five different versions and over 980 episodes of NCIS, taking on a role in the franchise is a pretty big deal.
Naturally, Lasance felt the pressure of stepping into the starring role of the new iteration, but said he came out confident that the show would be a success after filming finished.
“Now that we’ve wrapped, I feel a bit of the pressure that I hope that everyone loves the show and connects to it,” he said.
NCIS: Sydney. Paramount+.
“But also, there’s pride because I feel like we’ve got something really unique here, too. It’s in the NCIS world, it’s in the franchise tone. It’s got that light, hard element. It’s got the procedural element to it, too. But, man, we’ve got some juice coming in this season.”
Olivia Frazer made headlines when she joined OnlyFans shortly after finishing up on MAFS2023 – and it appears that her new career is still thriving.
Ahead of the new season of Married At First Sight, Frazer appeared on the Back To Reality podcast to share some tidbits about the weirdest OnlyFans request she’s ever recieved.
“A guy was like, ”I subscribed to you because you look like my sister, can I send you her clothes and can you send me some photos?'” She recalled.
“I was just like, ”No thank you, that’s too much for me.'”
Frazer told hosts Selina Chhaur and Taku Chimwaza that she doesn’t open her messages on the platform anymore because it gives her “anxiety”.
“I get some pretty hectic messages,” she said.
Olivia Frazer. Instagram.
Olivia Frazer has cut all ties with MAFS
Olivia is one of the most recognisable faces from MAFS 2023, and that’s largely due to the villain role she played on the show.
Her polarising personality gained her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, and, of course, played a part in the huge audience who were shelling out money for her OnlyFans.
However, despite the opportunities – and financial gain – that MAFS gave her, the reality star has completely disassociated herself from the show.
Married at First Sight. Nine.
On an Instagram Q&A, a follower asked her if she’d put the MAFS photos back up on Instagram that she’d removed, and the former bride scoffed.
“Probably not. I hate the entire thing (I’m grateful for the friends I made and the platform it gave me). But I’m not proud of it,” she began.
“I don’t want to be associated with it. The first thing I did when I got my account back was remove Channel Nine and EndemolShine Australia.
“I removed the ‘experts’ as followers and MAFS season nine participant from my bio. Bye.”
