A headline that broke 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. “
The statement continues, “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.”
It was a blindside none of us saw coming. 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, he 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.
However, in an exclusive interview with Woman’s Day, an insider stated that with Network Ten’s rights to Australian Survivor expiring in the new year. So, it could be snapped up by another network. Channel 9 has already swiped The Bachelor and The Golden Bachelor from 10. And with the universal backlash to the news that JLP was replaced as host, it would be a good move for a rival network to rehire him to front the franchise once again.
Who is replacing JLP on Australian Survivor?
The incoming host is none other than former Australian Survivor champion, the Golden God himself, David Genat!
David confirmed the news after being voted out on the second episode of Survivor: Australia V The World.
In his post on Instagram, he wrote: “I have so much respect for Australian Survivor. This game has changed my life. I love the players, I love the community of fans and I love the crew who make it happen. As the new host of Australian Survivor, I won’t let you down.”
David won sole survivor in the 2020 season, Australian Survivor All Stars. Then, in 2025 he scored the largest win on reality TV.
He won Deal or No Deal Island (a mash-up of 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
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? Time will tell…
Sole Survivor Pia Miranda weighs in on the host swap
At the 2026 AACTA Awards, The Weekly spoke with Sole Survivor from David’s season, actress Pia Miranda.
In a memorable scene from the finale of that episode, David (who was on the jury) asked Pia what it felt like to be a “goat”. Not goat as it “greatest of all time”. He meant goat as in he carried her for the season. That was until she blindsided him. Her response clinched her victory. She clearly outlined how she was a shrewd silent assassin and orchestrated many big moves. Despite how it seemed to viewers, David and Pia are great friends and still stay in touch.
“David is like one of my closest friends,” Pia said to The Weekly. “I hope there’s good will towards him and I’m super looking forward to watching it…”
He’s not the only reason she’ll be tuning into the next season.
“My friend Harry’s on that season so it’ll be nice.”
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. He earned 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, he 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.
