Channel 10’s masterstroke decision to sign Robert Irwin could be the key to turning around the struggling network’s fortunes, and bosses were reportedly more than willing to pay up.
The 19-year-old Aussie conservationist was unveiled as the new co-host of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! on Tuesday, opposite veteran comedian Julia Morris.
Irwin might be green when it comes to prime time TV hosting, but after pulling off an incredible audition earlier in the year, he’s rumoured to have been offered a $500,000 deal for the upcoming six-week filming gig, sources told news.com.au.
Morris, for her part, is reportedly on around $700,000 for the reality series, which she began hosting in 2015.
Their rumoured pay packets check out among the likes of fellow Ten talent, including Amazing Race host Beau Ryan, who told Kyle and Jackie O Show in 2021 that he earns $800,000, while Jackie ‘O’ Henderson was paid $500,000 per season for The Masked Singer, news.com.au understands.
I’m A Celebrity, which films in South Africa, heralds Irwin’s debut gig as host, making him the youngest top talent on local TV.
It’s been a deal months in the making, with the Australia Zoo heir busy crocodile tagging around the country when Ten approached him – via the Irwin empire and mum Terri – to see if he’d give an audition a crack.
Irwin reportedly jumped at the idea, holding ambitions to pave a career path in TV.
Still, he had to go up against “some of the industry’s biggest names” who also conducted “great” screen tests with Morris.
But key players were most wowed by Irwin, feeling he brought something to the table not many his age – or any age for that matter – could.
As the youngest child of late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, he’s been a national treasure since he was born in 2003.
Carrying on his father’s legacy has earned him a global fanbase, particularly in the all-important millennial market who are increasingly difficult to lure to prime time viewing.
He already boasts significant media experience and training, where he has delighted the pants off viewers on international shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Finally, and something no level of experience can guarantee, he’s got innate star quality.
At Ten’s upfronts in Sydney on Tuesday, Irwin held his own among a room of veterans with ease (no small task when you’re billed alongside a larger-than-life Morris.)
Put on the spot on a roving microphone, Irwin randomly busted out the sprinkler dance move as his signature party trick, was armed with witty responses to Morris’ impromptu jokes, and later, gleefully engaged in the obligatory ‘mingle with guests’ segment of the event.
His X-factor had earlier caught the prized attention of former Paramount ANZ head of entertainment Stephen Tate, who is responsible for discovering some of the biggest names in Aussie showbiz.
Tate, one of the longest-serving executives of any commercial network in Australia until he left Ten in September, jumped on the chance to sign Irwin shortly after Dr Chris Brown announced he was defecting to Seven in February.
“I look for people who are match fit,” Tate told news.com.au of the casting process. “Rob was match fit from when he was a child. He’s grown up in a TV family.
“He just knows how to conduct himself on-camera.
“He’s also my youngest daughter’s hall pass. When your daughter goes, ‘Rob is hot’ … You have to take notice.”
Tate wouldn’t comment on Irwin’s rumoured pay packet, only saying, “He’s worth every cent.”
It comes after Ten reported its worst ratings share this year since OzTAM ratings began in 2001, with a national commercial share of 21.2 per cent – down 1.1 per cent. Meanwhile, Seven holds 42.1 per cent, while Nine is sitting on 37 per cent.
TV expert and editor of TV Tonight, David Knox, said Irwin’s “genius” casting could prove a much-needed ratings boost for Ten.
“The 2023 season held up surprisingly well in its new timeslot, and will again have TV juggernauts to contend with,” he said.
“I’m A Celebrity offers family content and humour, so Ten has to leverage off its point of difference.
“Robert Irwin will serve as a curiosity factor when the season launches, after that it’s probably down to the casting of celebrities and the stories they disclose in camp.”
I’m A Celebrity’s 2023 season began airing in March, after previously kicking off its season in early January.
It averaged 616,000 viewers nationally and 453,000 across the five city metro rankings.
In the new timeslot, I’m A Celebrity had to compete with popular offerings including Nine’s Married At First Sight, which was holding audiences from January.
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Come April 10, it went up against Seven’s Farmer Wants A Wife, which debuted to 630,000 metro viewers, and Nine’s Lego Masters, which premiered to 502,000 viewers against I’m A Celeb’s 457,000.
Meanwhile, Brown, 45, has been announced as co-host of Dancing With The Stars with Sonia Kruger next year, as well as two new shows, Dream Home and Once In A Lifetime.
Seven is reportedly paying him $1 million a year.
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2023-10-28 20:20:24Z
CBMirQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L3JlYWxpdHktdHYvaW0tYS1jZWxlYnJpdHkvcm9iZXJ0LWlyd2lucy1pbS1hLWNlbGVicml0eS1nZXQtbWUtb3V0LW9mLWhlcmUtaG9zdGluZy1zYWxhcnkvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS9lMjAzYzNkODQ3YTk0NjE1YTIxNjlkZjhhNjZjNzNkYdIBAA
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