Farmer Wants A Wife scores huge ratings as Samantha Armytage replaces veteran host Natalie Gruzlewski – despite viewer outrage
Farmer Wants A Wife returned to the screens Monday for its thirteenth season and blitzed the ratings.
The Channel Seven reality show attracted 1.08 million viewers overnight, giving the network a primetime win.
Of those numbers, the program scored 630,000 viewers in the five city metro markets.
The increase in viewership comes after Samantha Armytage took over as host of the show, replacing longtime host Natalie Gruzlewski.
Despite the impressive ratings, some fans of the Channel Seven dating show were disappointed by the swap.
Farmer Wants A Wife returned to the screens Monday for its thirteenth season and blitzed the ratings. The Channel Seven reality show attracted 1.08 million viewers overnight, giving the network a primetime win. The cast is pictured
The increase in viewership comes after Samantha Armytage (pictured) took the reins as the show’s host, replacing longtime host Natalie Gruzlewski
The unexpected change in hosting duties has left viewers questioning the reasons behind the decision and longing for the return of Natalie, who will serve as co-host instead.
Twitter was quickly flooded with fans expressing their confusion and disappointment.
‘What happened to Nat? She’s like the OG,” wrote one stunned viewer.
“Did they kick Nat to the curb because Sam wanted the job?” wrote another viewer.
“What’s with Sam Armitage?” Just no. Where’s Nat?’ joked a third fan.
One particularly disgruntled fan wrote, “Gosh, I’d be annoyed if I applied to be a wife or farmer and @sam_armytage showed up as the host instead of the stunning and personable @NatGruz.”
Despite the impressive ratings, some fans of the Channel Seven dating show were disappointed by the swap
Within the first 15 minutes of the show, Natalie (pictured) was only seen in several frames
Within the first 15 minutes of the show, Natalie could be seen alone in several frames, where she interviewed past couples, while Samantha was featured a lot as she introduced each of the show’s new contestants.
Sam joined the dating show last year as a “guest host,” but her small role has now expanded as Natalie “winds down” her duties.
Natalie will host her own “Nat’s Getaway” segment during the 2023 season, with Sam “front and center” as the face of the franchise.
An executive for Seven told TV Tonight that the couple, both 46, had actually “turned tables.”
New Idea claimed the uproar ruffled Natalie’s feathers after being the face of the show for years.
“Nobody saw this coming, especially not Nat. She didn’t know the full extent of the role reversal until recently – it came like a bolt from the blue!’ a source told the publication.
The program scored 630,000 viewers on Monday in the five city metro markets