A headline that will break the hearts of many Australian Survivor fans nationwide (yours truly included), the next season of Australia is set to be our last to hear Johnathan LaPaglia, saying, “Come on in.”
A Network 10 spokesperson confirmed the news to The Weekly:
“10 can confirm that the upcoming season of Survivor: Australia V The World will be the last series hosted by the formidable Jonathan La Paglia (JLP).
“JLP has brought a unique blend of authority, intelligence and empathy to his role as host of Australian Survivor over the last 10 years. Acting as a referee and managing the intense pressure of the game while also acknowledging the human drama unfolding, JLP has been a compelling and memorable figure in the world of Survivor.
“We look forward to JLP hosting the next epic instalment of Survivor: Australia V World coming soon to 10. We extend our sincere gratitude to JLP for his outstanding contribution over 10 years on Survivor. We wish him continued success in his acting and presenting career.”
So, the rest of us are going to have to “dig deep” and process these feelings.
JLP made a statement on his Instagram page describing it as a “blindside”:
“Australian Survivor has seen some of the most epic blindsides over the last 10 years, but this one might just be the craziest of them all… because it happened to me. I received a call from the Network thanking me for all my hard work and dedication to the show but for next season they are ‘going in a different direction’. Ratings had dipped a bit recently and they wanted to do something drastic to shake things up. So for the first time ever this is not a tribe swap, but a HOST SWAP®️ Yes, you read that right….Someone IS going home. And with no idol in my back pocket, that someone is me.”
“It has been one of the greatest adventures of my career to helm Australian Survivor, so it is without a doubt the hardest challenge of all to snuff my own torch but here goes; “JLP…..the tribe has spoken,””
When is JLP leaving Australian Survivor?
In his post and in the statement from Network 10, it was confirmed that the next season of Australian Survivor will be JLP’s last. And, JLP shared that slow ratings were what pushed him out of the show.
Who is replacing JLP on Australian Survivor?
In addition to claiming that JLP is out, the rumour is that he will be replaced by a former Australian Survivor champion, the Golden God himself, David Genat. JLP did say in his post that there will be a “host swap.”
Network 10 has not confirmed who the replacement will be or commented on the rumour that David will be the next host of the survival show.
“We will be making an announcement shortly about who will take over hosting duties for the 2026 season of Australian Survivor.”
David won sole survivor in the 2020 season, Australian Survivor All Stars and in 2025 he scored the largest win on reality TV when he won Deal or No Deal Island (a kind of mash-up between Survivor and Deal or No Deal. He won a record-breaking $5.8 million USD (approximately $9.2 million AUD), marking the largest cash prize in network television history
“He’s charismatic, sure, but Survivor needs someone with gravitas. David is not Jonathan, and viewers will notice that,” the source said.
For those who watch Australian Survivor and are fans of the show, David is a legend. But he’s a legend at the game itself. JLP works as a host because of his calm and caring manner, his charming offbeat puns, and when the worst happens and a castaway contestant is injured, his former doctor credentials and bedside manner come out. We, the viewers, trust him, and the castaways do as well. Will we trust the guy who once convinced another castaway on a rival tribe to trade David’s fake idol for his real one? I doubt it.
Who is Johnathan LaPaglia?
Jonathan LaPaglia, otherwise known as JLP, is an Australian actor and television personality. He has been the host of Australian Survivor since its revival in 2016.
Born on August 31, 1969, in Adelaide, South Australia, he initially pursued a career in medicine, earning an MBBS degree from the University of Adelaide in 1991. Afterwards, he worked as an emergency room doctor in Adelaide, Sydney, and London before transitioning to acting in the mid-1990s.
JLP moved to New York City in 1994 to study at the Circle in the Square Theatre School. He gained prominence with roles in American television series such as New York Undercover, Seven Days, and The District. His Australian acting debut came in 2011 with the ABC TV adaptation of The Slap. He later portrayed crime boss Anthony “Rooster” Perish in Underbelly: Badness and appeared in the drama Love Child.
Beyond acting, JLP is a car enthusiast and has showcased his custom 1973 Dodge Challenger in Car Craft magazine. In October 2023, it was announced that he would co-host a reboot of Top Gear Australia for Paramount Plus, alongside I’m a Celeb… alum and host of The Amazing Race Australia, Beau Ryan and Blair Joscelyne.
He lives in Santa Monica, California, with his wife, actress Ursula Brooks, and their daughter.
Who is David Genat?
David Genat is an Australian model and television personality known for his strategic gameplay on reality TV and his successful modelling career.
Born on March 13, 1980, he made his first foray into modelling in 2002 when he won the reality TV contest Search for a Supermodel on a $50 bet. This victory launched his international modelling career, leading to work with luxury brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Mont Blanc, and features in magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair.
His first stint on Australian Survivor came in 2019 when he competed in Champions vs. Contenders and placed tenth. He came back for All Stars and won sole survivor, and then went on to Deal or No Deal Island as mentioned above.
Transitioning from contestant to host, David has helmed shows like Rush, a travel adventure series on Channel Nine, and has appeared as a guest host on Getaway.
David is married to fitness coach Pearl Christensen. Together, they have a daughter, and has two sons from a previous relationship. He also embraces his role as a stepfather to Christensen’s daughter.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
