Throng

Here’s a surprise for you.  Apparently the blokes from Farmer Wants a Wife are suggesting what we saw on screen was more staged than reality.  Wow.  Really?  Like that’s never happened in the history of television before!

According to a story in the Daily Telegraph, a number of the farmers have spoken about how they were encouraged to ditch discussions about footy during their dates and replace them with corny lines like you’ve got beautiful eyes.

Farmer Mark’s comments are telling.

“There were constant cheesy lines saying your feelings for every girl,” said the 27-year-old. “Even if you didn’t really have feelings for every girl you had to play it up so the viewers thought you were interested in all three girls. At times you just felt like being honest and the producers would be like ‘nah don’t say that’.”

In response, executive producer Karen Walker claimed they

didn’t have to ‘train’ the farmers to open up about their feelings, but rather gave them a “nurturing environment” including sitting them down with a psychologist to discuss the experience beforehand. 

The magic of television.

There was a lot of excitement last year when Masterchef announced it had five brand sponsors for the second series.  It was a pretty big step up from the highly successful first season which proved to work with the season two finale smashing the previous years record by 5.74m to 4.11m at their peaks. This year, the party is even bigger.

The number of sponsors has jumped to nine. They include new comers MasterFoods, Mitsubishi Motors and Qantas who are joining the returning principal sponsors Coles, Campbell’s, Fonterra, Handee Ultra, Sunbeam and Telstra.

With all those sponsors and obvious product placements, one has to wonder if there will be any room for any cooking!

Masterchef returns on May 1st to Ten.

Two months after ABC1’s logo and idents got a work over, comes ABC2’s make over.

According to the ABC TV Blog, ABC2′s ambition is to surprise, enthuse and provoke, and their bold new on-air look certainly does just that.

On ABC2, after 7pm, you will continue to find a selection of the best drama, the most interesting and eclectic documentaries, some off-the-wall comedies and a growing number Australian productions.

The new tagline, ‘Always Brighter’, ties the package together with the promise of intelligent and distinctly colourful content that will appeal to all Aussie audiences. There will also be new on air idents as well.

Meanwhile, ABC2 for Kids will expand into the mornings from May 2, the day when ABC News Breakfast moves from ABC2 to ABC1. The move to ABC1 will give the breakfast news show more exposure to those who have not yet switched to digital, as well as those not able to receive ABC News 24.

ABC News Breakfast is broadcast live into all markets on ABC News 24, and delayed for local time zones on ABC2, then ABC1 from May 2.

From May 2, ABC2 for Kids will air from 6am – 7pm daily.

Source: http://blogs.abc.net.au/abc_tv/2011/03/abc2-always-brighter.html

Masterchef hype is ramping up.

Later this year, Ten will air its second series of Junior Masterchef in which budding young chefs between the ages of 8 and 12 will compete to see who will be the 2011 Junior Masterchef.

Applications are now open for the 2011 series – potential contestants needs to be between the ages of 8 and 12 between the dates of June 13 and October 28 2011.

Details and application form can be found here: http://www.masterchef.com.au/applications.htm

Applications close May 6, 2011.

It’s official.

Masterchef Australia series three will premiere on Ten on Sunday May 1^st. – the same night as the Logies air on Nine.

Ten have not confirmed the timeslot yet – but I’m guessing 7.30pm would be likely. Ten have already started promotions for Masterchef, which will include longer “first looks” as the time draws closer. Not that Masterchef needs much promotion – just the name “Masterchef” is enough to bring the crowds.

That just leaves one question – when will the finale of The Biggest Loser Families play out?

With Easter non-ratings from April 17-30, there is no way Ten would schedule the finale for Biggest Loser Families during this period – which suggests it could be on the same night as the Masterchef launch – May 1.

Last year, the finale of Biggest Loser was on Sunday April 18 at 8.30pm, with a weigh in and elimination on the same night at 6.30pm. Masterchef started Monday April 19.

We could therefore see programming on May 1 on Ten that looks like this:

6.30pm The Biggest Loser Families – final weigh in and Elimination
7.30pm Masterchef series three premiere – Top 50 revealed
8.30pm The Biggest Loser Families – Grand Final
10.00pm The Biggest Loser Families – Winner Announced.

While on Nine is the Logies – which should be held 100% live to avoid twitter spoilers.

Throng will be live blogging the Logies as they happen, as well as the results for The Biggest Loser Families.

And on Seven, new episodes of Bones should return.

What a big night May 1 is shaping up to be!

Masterchef details http://www.masterchef.com.au/masterchef-series-3-premiere-date-announcement.htm

Thursday March 31, 2011

Shares:
1 Seven 22.1% (nw 29.3%)
2 Nine 20.6% (nw 27.8%)
3 Ten 16.1% (nw 21.8%)
4 ABC1 12.4% (nw 15.6%)
5 SBS ONE 4.9% (nw 5.5%)

6 ELEVEN 4.4%
7 7mate 4.2%
8 GO! 3.8%
9 GEM 3.4%
10 7TWO 3.0%

11 ABC2 2.1%
12 ONE HD 1.3%
13 ABC News 24 0.7%
13 SBS TWO 0.7%
15 ABC3 0.5%

Top shows for the day:
Ranking Ch: Program 5 City Metro Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 1,180,000 298,000 306,000 271,000 125,000 180,000
2 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 1,074,000 274,000 275,000 241,000 117,000 168,000
3 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 1,001,000 293,000 287,000 219,000 105,000 98,000
4 Ch: TEN THE BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – CONTEST 984,000 265,000 293,000 234,000 68,000 124,000
5 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER-EP.2 979,000 248,000 306,000 207,000 92,000 126,000
6 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 960,000 284,000 278,000 214,000 86,000 98,000
7 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 957,000 277,000 279,000 143,000 101,000 156,000
8 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 903,000 263,000 234,000 186,000 99,000 122,000
9 Ch: 7 GREY’S ANATOMY 850,000 254,000 264,000 146,000 89,000 97,000
10 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 840,000 223,000 244,000 187,000 77,000 109,000
11 Ch: 9 RBT 798,000 218,000 251,000 167,000 78,000 84,000
12 Ch: 9 GETAWAY 755,000 219,000 238,000 139,000 88,000 71,000
13 Ch: 9 THE MILLION DOLLAR DROP 730,000 220,000 221,000 123,000 83,000 83,000
14 Ch: ABC1 7.30-EV 709,000 190,000 194,000 138,000 77,000 110,000
15 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 698,000 164,000 222,000 171,000 61,000 80,000
16 Ch: TEN LAW AND ORDER: SVU 688,000 199,000 212,000 114,000 82,000 82,000
17 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW 681,000 134,000 313,000 77,000 96,000 62,000
18 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 675,000 181,000 227,000 117,000 56,000 96,000
19 Ch: 7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 671,000 208,000 202,000 98,000 80,000 84,000
20 Ch: TEN THE GOOD WIFE 669,000 220,000 187,000 124,000 58,000 79,000
21 Ch: ABC1 CATALYST-EV 593,000 161,000 181,000 107,000 65,000 79,000
22 Ch: ABC1 TURN BACK TIME: THE HIGH STREET-EV 585,000 160,000 186,000 103,000 62,000 74,000
23 Ch: 9 HOT SEAT 557,000 157,000 128,000 154,000 70,000 49,000
24 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 487,000 127,000 147,000 104,000 46,000 64,000
25 Ch: ABC1 WHITES-LE 414,000 106,000 161,000 61,000 36,000 50,000
26 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 402,000 103,000 129,000 84,000 31,000 55,000
27 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 397,000 105,000 85,000 111,000 37,000 59,000
28 Ch: 9 TODAY 378,000 129,000 102,000 82,000 29,000 36,000
29 Ch: 7 PRIVATE PRACTICE 377,000 146,000 92,000 44,000 53,000 42,000
30 Ch: ABC1 MINUSCULE-EV 363,000 105,000 102,000 71,000 32,000 53,000
31 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS 336,000 79,000 136,000 58,000 25,000 38,000
32 Ch: SBS ONE HESTON’S FEASTS RPT 321,000 76,000 112,000 64,000 32,000 38,000
33 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 320,000 107,000 71,000 70,000 30,000 42,000
34 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 305,000 68,000 122,000 49,000 32,000 34,000
35 Ch: TEN TEN EVENING NEWS 297,000 63,000 99,000 73,000 27,000 35,000
36 Ch: 9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT 291,000 180,000 0 0 48,000 63,000
37 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV TX1 286,000 41,000 105,000 88,000 31,000 22,000
38 Ch: TEN JUDGE JUDY 273,000 83,000 63,000 56,000 29,000 42,000
39 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS AT 4.30 265,000 70,000 68,000 73,000 33,000 20,000
40 Ch: SBS ONE ITALIAN FOOD SAFARI RPT 264,000 66,000 104,000 42,000 26,000 27,000
41 Ch: ABC1 GETTING ON-LE 243,000 68,000 78,000 33,000 24,000 40,000
42 Ch: SBS ONE OZ AND JAMES DRINK TO BRITAIN RPT 238,000 54,000 75,000 62,000 17,000 29,000
43 Ch: ABC1 GRAND DESIGNS REVISITED RPT 236,000 71,000 65,000 55,000 16,000 29,000
44 Ch: 9 NINE AFTERNOON NEWS 233,000 86,000 58,000 42,000 25,000 22,000
45 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 232,000 52,000 95,000 51,000 11,000 25,000
46 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS LATE RPT 225,000 58,000 68,000 48,000 32,000 19,000
47 Ch: ABC1 LATELINE-LE 222,000 80,000 76,000 22,000 22,000 22,000
48 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS 218,000 55,000 63,000 44,000 32,000 25,000
49 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 203,000 35,000 54,000 55,000 14,000 46,000
50 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL 199,000 58,000 53,000 43,000 19,000 26,000

Top shows in 16-39s:
Ranking Ch: Program 5 City Metro Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER-EP.2 478,000 115,000 146,000 114,000 46,000 57,000
2 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 416,000 110,000 115,000 104,000 35,000 53,000
3 Ch: 7 GREY’S ANATOMY 376,000 96,000 122,000 64,000 43,000 52,000
4 Ch: TEN THE BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – CONTEST 357,000 102,000 118,000 73,000 20,000 44,000
5 Ch: 7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 278,000 73,000 80,000 45,000 38,000 43,000
6 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 276,000 72,000 77,000 51,000 27,000 48,000
7 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW 250,000 65,000 116,000 26,000 28,000 15,000
8 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 227,000 52,000 87,000 55,000 12,000 20,000
9 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 199,000 49,000 48,000 49,000 20,000 33,000
10 Ch: TEN LAW AND ORDER: SVU 193,000 54,000 63,000 42,000 18,000 16,000
11 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 188,000 42,000 39,000 53,000 18,000 35,000
12 Ch: 9 THE MILLION DOLLAR DROP 171,000 67,000 53,000 23,000 11,000 17,000
13 Ch: TEN THE GOOD WIFE 164,000 54,000 37,000 39,000 11,000 22,000
14 Ch: 9 RBT 158,000 45,000 52,000 35,000 12,000 14,000
15 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 151,000 45,000 53,000 32,000 3,000 18,000
16 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 151,000 22,000 71,000 23,000 15,000 19,000
17 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 150,000 65,000 37,000 28,000 8,000 12,000
18 Ch: SBS ONE HESTON’S FEASTS RPT 148,000 30,000 54,000 27,000 18,000 20,000
19 Ch: 7 PRIVATE PRACTICE 144,000 58,000 29,000 8,000 27,000 21,000
20 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 139,000 54,000 32,000 33,000 11,000 8,000
21 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV TX1 138,000 19,000 60,000 36,000 15,000 7,000
22 Ch: 9 GETAWAY 132,000 39,000 44,000 21,000 14,000 13,000
23 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS 119,000 29,000 54,000 21,000 3,000 12,000
24 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 104,000 33,000 28,000 20,000 11,000 13,000
25 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 101,000 30,000 45,000 7,000 9,000 10,000
26 Ch: TEN TEN EVENING NEWS 101,000 17,000 39,000 29,000 9,000 7,000
27 Ch: ABC1 WHITES-LE 99,000 19,000 43,000 18,000 10,000 8,000
28 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 94,000 8,000 40,000 32,000 11,000 4,000
29 Ch: ABC1 TURN BACK TIME: THE HIGH STREET-EV 90,000 24,000 35,000 13,000 11,000 6,000
30 Ch: 9 TODAY 89,000 34,000 32,000 12,000 7,000 4,000
31 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 86,000 24,000 17,000 27,000 7,000 11,000
32 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 86,000 21,000 34,000 19,000 5,000 7,000
33 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 83,000 27,000 38,000 11,000 1,000 6,000
34 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 79,000 21,000 32,000 9,000 8,000 9,000
35 Ch: 7 30 ROCK 77,000 31,000 22,000 3,000 13,000 9,000
36 Ch: TEN THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW 75,000 37,000 15,000 8,000 4,000 11,000
37 Ch: TEN JUDGE JUDY 73,000 18,000 22,000 23,000 5,000 5,000
38 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS LATE RPT 72,000 17,000 18,000 26,000 8,000 3,000
39 Ch: GO! JUST FRIENDS -EV 71,000 20,000 17,000 12,000 9,000 13,000
40 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 69,000 22,000 27,000 11,000 2,000 7,000
41 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL 69,000 22,000 12,000 25,000 3,000 7,000
42 Ch: ABC1 7.30-EV 69,000 16,000 33,000 11,000 4,000 6,000
43 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 69,000 16,000 22,000 18,000 7,000 7,000
44 Ch: 9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT 66,000 42,000 0 0 7,000 17,000
45 Ch: 7 THE MORNING SHOW 66,000 24,000 16,000 12,000 2,000 11,000
46 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 65,000 16,000 15,000 17,000 2,000 16,000
47 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 64,000 8,000 30,000 11,000 7,000 8,000
48 Ch: 7mate SUPER FACTORIES 62,000 18,000 18,000 13,000 7,000 7,000
49 Ch: TEN DR PHIL 61,000 25,000 14,000 10,000 2,000 10,000
50 Ch: GO! THE MIDDLE -EV 61,000 8,000 32,000 11,000 3,000 7,000

Top shows on digital multi channels:
Ranking Ch: Program Average Peak
1 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 305,000 384,000
2 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV TX1 286,000 353,000
3 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 232,000 317,000
4 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS 218,000 303,000
5 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 203,000 252,000
6 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 181,000 232,000
7 Ch: ABC2 CHARLIE AND LOLA-PM 178,000 198,000
8 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 168,000 256,000
9 Ch: ELEVEN STAR TREK – NEXT GENERATION 167,000 220,000
10 Ch: 7mate SUPER FACTORIES 167,000 237,000
11 Ch: 7mate MAN MADE MARVELS 164,000 250,000
12 Ch: Gem AS TIME GOES BY -EV 161,000 206,000
13 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 156,000 245,000
14 Ch: ABC2 PLAY SCHOOL-PM 155,000 198,000
15 Ch: ABC2 OLIVIA-PM 154,000 171,000
16 Ch: GO! THE MIDDLE -EV 153,000 295,000
17 Ch: ABC2 SPICKS AND SPECKS-EV 153,000 212,000
18 Ch: ABC2 DIBO THE GIFT DRAGON-PM 152,000 174,000
19 Ch: Gem THE ZOO -EV 152,000 208,000
20 Ch: ABC2 FIVE MINUTES MORE-PM 151,000 183,000
21 Ch: ABC2 THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW-LE 145,000 202,000
22 Ch: 7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 143,000 233,000
23 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 139,000 185,000
24 Ch: Gem EMBARRASSING ILLNESSES -EV 136,000 210,000
25 Ch: ABC2 POSTMAN PAT-AM 131,000 161,000
26 Ch: ABC2 SHAUN THE SHEEP-PM 127,000 140,000
27 Ch: ABC2 ANGELINA BALLERINA: THE NEXT STEPS-PM 124,000 143,000
28 Ch: Gem FRIENDS -EV TX1 122,000 174,000
29 Ch: ABC2 BALI-PM 120,000 140,000
30 Ch: ABC2 PEPPA PIG-PM 119,000 170,000
31 Ch: ONE THE GAME PLAN 117,000 169,000
32 Ch: 7TWO BARGAIN HUNT 116,000 206,000
33 Ch: 7TWO M-ANNIE 114,000 186,000
34 Ch: Gem THE GOLDEN GIRLS -EV 114,000 159,000
35 Ch: ELEVEN THE BRADY BUNCH 113,000 154,000
36 Ch: Gem HOARDERS -EV 113,000 172,000
37 Ch: GO! JUST FRIENDS -EV 112,000 239,000
38 Ch: 7mate ACCORDING TO JIM 109,000 140,000
39 Ch: ABC2 FRANNY’S FEET-AM 108,000 118,000
40 Ch: ABC2 DRIVER DAN’S STORY TRAIN-PM 108,000 172,000
41 Ch: ABC2 WIGGLE AND LEARN-AM 108,000 114,000
42 Ch: ABC2 BOB THE BUILDER: PROJECT BUILD IT-AM 108,000 114,000
43 Ch: ABC2 MISTER MAKER-PM 107,000 135,000
44 Ch: ABC3 STOKED-AM 106,000 135,000
45 Ch: ABC2 MR MOON-EV 105,000 136,000
46 Ch: ABC2 BOBLINS-PM 105,000 109,000
47 Ch: ABC2 WAYBULOO-AM 103,000 122,000
48 Ch: ELEVEN HAPPY DAYS 99,000 127,000
49 Ch: ABC2 IN THE NIGHT GARDEN-EV 96,000 135,000
50 Ch: ABC2 LITTLE CHARLEY BEAR-EV 95,000 110,000

OzTam Five city Live and As Live Preliminary Ratings Figures. Five Cities are Sydney (S), Brisbane (B), Melbourne (M), Adelaide (A) and Perth (P). Figures are shown in order Total, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth. Shows not aired in certain cities denoted by 0 or n/a (not aired).  Does not take into account overruns or extreme last minute programming changes. Shares are 6pm – Midnight unless otherwise stated. Network abreviated to “nw”.

Programming Amendments Update, March 31.

1. 7TWO MKR encore

The usual Sunday morning encore for all three episodes of My Kitchen Rules is on 7TWO again this weekend. All three episodes from this week play from 8.30am Sunday April 3.

2. ELEVEN continue with next season of Dance.

ELEVEN will move straight into season 7 of US So You Think You Can Dance. The first episode of season 7 airs 7.30pm Friday April 15, a week after the season 6 finale on April 8.

3. Ellen repeat next Tuesday

The Ellen Degeneres Show next Tuesday April 5, 1pm on Nine, replay 5pm on GEM, will be a repeat. All other days feature new episodes.

4. $#*! My Dad says now officially a GO! show.

GO! will be playing $#*! My Dad says from episode 1, 9pm Mondays from next Monday April 4.

Ten confirm programming for the Royal Wedding April 29.

Getting excited about the Royal Wedding? Then dust off your best china and settle in for a right Royal week of events, as TEN brings the whole family together; TEN News, The 7PM Project and The Circle, join forces to Celebrate Will & Kate.

Join Charlie, Camilla and Queen Liz…along with Charlie Pickering, Dave Hughes, Chrissie Swan, Yumi Stynes, Denise Drysdale, Gorgi Coghlan, Colin Lane and UK wedding posse Carrie Bickmore, Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa, Lucy McDonald, Hamish MacDonald, Sandra Sully, Danielle Isdale and Brett Mason to celebrate the marriage of heir to the throne, Prince Willie and his beautiful bride Katie M.

We kick off the wedding festivities on Wednesday 27 April at 8.30pm with telemovie, nay epic love story, “William & Kate: A Modern Day Fairy Tale”, a film that will set the heart fluttering, the tears rolling and the smiles spreading. Based on the romance between Prince William and Kate Middleton and starring emerging Brit actress Camilla Luddington as Kate, and New Zealand-born Nico Evers-Swindell as the prince, the film chronicles the history of their romance. From the heady days at St. Andrews University, through the ups and downs of their nine-year courtship. Also stars Aussie actor Jonathan Patrick Moore.

Throughout the week TEN News will be crossing to Hamish MacDonald, Sandra Sully, Danielle Isdale and Brett Mason for the latest wedding updates with additional crosses to The 7PM Project and The Circle.

Then on Friday 29 April – the BIG day has arrived.

5-7pm

TEN News
Hamish MacDonald, Sandra Sully, Danielle Isdale and Brett Mason have taken up royal watch duties in
the UK, reporting back with the latest wedding updates and additional crosses to The 7PM Project
and The Circle.

7-8pm

Celebrate Will & Kate – The Wedding Project
The 7PM Project’s Charlie and Dave will cross live through the night to our UK wedding posse, Carrie
Bickmore, Hamish MacDonald, Lucy McDonald, and Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa live from London.

8-9.30pm

The Ceremony – with Fitzy, Wippa & Lucy
Looking for a lighthearted alternative to your Wedding viewing? Well look no further! Following their live
week of broadcasting for Nova, funny boys Fitzy & Wippa are here to navigate us through the official
proceedings. Pom Lucy McDonald joins the lads to ensure they know the difference between silk and
taffeta as Willie and Kate say “I do”.

9.30-11pm

Celebrate Will & Kate – The Wedding Circle
Join the girls and Colin Lane on the couch as they debrief and recap the “wedding of the year” – the
Royal marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

So get out the Royal Doulton, brew yourself a Twinings and join TEN as we Celebrate Will & Kate.

According to sources, Natalie Imbruglia will not be returning as a judge on the X Factor with Natalie Bassingthwaighte to take the step up from the Ten Network, where she hosted So You Think You Can Dance.

Nothing has been confirmed by Seven but X Factor host Luke Jacobz admitted Bassingthwaighte’s name was among several he had heard regarding new additions to the show.

“I’ve definitely heard Nat Bass’s name mentioned,” Jacobz said.

“I know a decision has definitely been made because I walked past our producer this morning and said ‘Do you know who it is?’ And he said ‘Yup’ and smiled and walked away.”

Jacobz also revealed that George Michael had been mentioned as a possible replacement for Kyle Sandilands, along with Brian McFadden. Sandilands said no to the 2011 season citing already being busy with other commitments as his reason.

“But [producers] are telling me nothing,” Jacobz said.

Ronan Keating is yet to commit.

“I texted Ronan the other day to ask if he was coming back and he just sent a wink ‘smiley face’ reply in a text,” Jacobz said. “So I’m not sure about him yet.”

Guy Sebastian therefore is the only judge definitely returning.

X Factor auditions are under way now, with the show expected to air in the last quarter of the TV year.

Source: Confidential.

A tragic turn of events tonight on MY KITCHEN RULES saw Victorian team Kelly and Ash Cooke forced to leave the competition after Kelly lost vision in her left eye.

It was announced at the start of the episode that due to sudden and unforeseen medical reasons, the married couple could no longer continue in the competition. It is the first time a team has been forced to withdraw from the show.

During the week away filming for the Northern Territory specials, the 28-year-old office manager lost sight in her left eye before vision disappeared completely over a few days. She was diagnosed with optic neuritis; an inflammation of the optic nerve which causes a complete or partial loss of vision.

An emotional Kelly fought back tears as she said goodbye. “It’s too upsetting for me at the moment,” she said before adding, “I’m just really proud of what we’ve done together.”

Her husband Ash, 29, was also visibly upset as they delivered the news to the other contestants.

“We chose to come into this competition to achieve the goal of opening up our own restaurant, learning as much as we possibly could, but over the last few days Kel has gradually lost sight in her left eye and now has none in that eye.”

Although Kelly and Ash wanted to keep filming, for medical and safety reasons they were not able to continue in the competition. Executive Producer Rikkie Proost said, “The health and safety of all our teams is our number one priority. Kelly’s well-being and recovery was our main concern.”

Kelly has slowly regained her eyesight but doctors say, due to her condition, vision loss could re-occur without warning at any time.

Judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel paid tribute to the couple’s fighting spirit and their determination to win. “It’s such a shame you have to leave in this manner,” Pete said. “You are great competitors. We have both loved having you in the competition.”

The pair were meant to compete in a sudden death cook-off against fellow Victorian team Kane and Lee but their sudden departure meant the housemates were safe from elimination.

Instead everyone was told they had to prepare a three-course menu Darwin style. Two teams cooked entrees; two teams mains and the other two desserts.