Samantha Armytage lands major reality TV hosting role: 'Centrestage'

Just a few months after making her return to TV as a special guest advisor on Farmer Wants A Wife, it’s been announced that Samantha Armytage will step up and become the new host of the Channel Seven dating show in 2023.

Meanwhile, longtime host Natalie Gruzlewski - who has hosted 11 of the show's 12 seasons since its premiere in 2007 - will scale back her duties and become a co-host this year.

Brook Hall, Seven’s Director of Content Scheduling, told TV Tonight on Sunday that the two presenters have essentially swapped roles.

“They’re both in the show still. (Previously) Nat was front and centre and Sam was advising on dates,” he said.

“But if I’m being honest, they’ve kind of slightly flipped. Nat has ‘Nat’s Getaway’ so she’ll be co-host, she’ll be opening the start. It’s more blended, with one front and one appearing. But yes, Samantha Armytage is taking more centrestage.”

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While last year’s season aired in September, it’s believed Seven is keen to air the show’s thirteenth season much sooner as all of the new farmers have found love.

“As it stands at the moment, they’re all still together,” Brook Hall told TV Tonight last month. “It’s quite amazing. When you look at a lot of these shows, it can be hard. People are cynical about these things. But there’s five couples and the show finished filming three months ago!

“Farmer is our play in the dating space. Everyone says, ‘There’s so much dating’… there’s a lot of Love Island, MAFS, Bachelor and they’re all amping it up. We’re always pulling Farmer back to keep it true to its nature and that’s been a directive in this one.”

'Watch this space'

Sam Armytage’s new role comes shortly after she announced on social media that she would no longer be hosting her popular podcast Something To Talk About.

The former Sunrise host announced on Instagram last month that while she will continue writing her monthly column for Stellar Magazine, the publication’s editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand will take over as host of the weekly podcast.

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“A little ‘news’ from me for 2023; I’ve made a decision to farewell the Something to Talk About podcast this year,” she wrote.

“I’ve chatted and interviewed my way through the past 2 years and loved every minute. THANK YOU to all you lovely people who tuned in weekly & to all you fabulous interviewees!!!

“I’m still writing my monthly column for @stellarmag - which I LOVE. Now it’s time for other challenges and side hustles: watch this space.”

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