Samantha Armytage signs massive FWAW deal to ensure she is on-air for another two years as Channel Seven continues to make Natalie Gruzlewski her understudy
Samantha Armytage has signed a major two-year deal with Farmer Wants A Wife, with Channel Seven making Natalie Gruzlewski her understudy.
The former Sunrise presenter replaced Natalie, 47, as host of the dating show last year, with Natalie appearing in a more ‘scaled back’ role in the past two series.
Natalie had become a huge fan favorite, helming the first eight seasons of the reality TV show from 2007 to 2012, before returning in 2020.
Amid the hosting shake-up, it is claimed that Samantha, 47, has signed a new contract with Channel Seven, which will see her join the show for another two years.
It is claimed that Natalie will instead continue in an ‘understudy’ role alongside Samantha, after only appearing briefly in the 2024 series of the show.
Samantha Armytage (pictured) has signed a major two-year deal with Farmer Wants A Wife, with Channel Seven making Natalie Gruzlewski her understudy
The former Sunrise presenter replaced Natalie (pictured), 47, as host of the dating show last year, with Natalie appearing in a more ‘scaled back’ role in the past two series.
A source told Daily Mail Australia: ‘This new contract with Channel Seven marks a new era for her at the network.’
“They used her on Farmer to burn off her old Sunrise contract, but with Sam and the network happy with the role on Farmer Wants a Wife, this is a renegotiation that some said would never happen.”
“With the show in high esteem, it was a good time to renegotiate and Samantha is looking forward to returning to regional Australia and creating new love stories,” she added.
The source stressed that there will be no changes to the hosting of Farmer Wants A Wife next year, despite many disgruntled fans calling for Natalie’s return to the center of attention.
They added that the format will remain the same for the 2025 series, after fans also complained that it was becoming like Married At First Sight with its dramatic season.
Amid the hosting shake-up, it is claimed that Samantha, 47, has signed a new contract with Channel Seven, which will see her stay on the show for another two years.
“The network will make absolutely no changes to the format next year. The numbers have gone up and the public can expect even more dramatic returns next year,” the source claimed.
‘It is clear that a wider audience loves the drama and the channel will always chase the ratings.’
‘Channel Seven is already doubling down on the Farmer Wants a Wife drama with the upcoming Romantic Island.
“The new reality show makes the Farmer drama look healthy. So if those fans are angry now, they should hold on to their hats.”
The 2024 series Farmer Wants A Wife was perhaps the most dramatic and saw fan favorite Farmer Bert walk away solo after deciding he wasn’t ready for a relationship.
Samantha first joined the dating show as a ‘guest host’, but her minor role has now been expanded as Natalie ‘scales back’ her duties
However, it was later claimed that he left the series because of all the “drama he was forced into on the show.”
“He was done being a puppet for the producers on his farm who kept pushing him and the ladies to create drama,” an insider told Yahoo Lifestyle.
‘Farmer Bert was very sweet and it was sad to see him treated like a prop.’
Despite the changes, industry insiders say Farmer Wants A Wife will will most likely overshadow other programming scheduled for late 2024.
Farmer Wants A Wife is said to have increased by 16 per cent when Samantha joined the team in 2023 and has become Channel Seven’s highest-rated reality TV series.
It is claimed that the show’s format will remain the same for the 2025 series, after fans also complained that it was becoming a sort of Married At First Sight with its dramatic season.
Farmer Bert walked away from the show solo, with insiders claiming he left because of all the ‘drama he was forced into on the show’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.
Samantha joined the dating show as ‘guest host’, but her minor role has since expanded, with Natalie ‘scaled back’ on her duties.
After eight years as the show’s main host, Natalie now only appears briefly on the show as part of a segment called Nat’s Getaway.
In her much smaller role, she visits the show alone to announce the exciting journeys the budding couples will take in an attempt to discover their romantic connections.
Natalie had become a huge fan favorite from 2007 to 2012, leading the first eight seasons of the reality TV show, before returning in 2020, only to be replaced by Samantha this year.
Natalie said of her role: ‘It’s so special to help people find love, especially for the farmers and women who have suffered heartbreak or found the dating world difficult to navigate.’
A Seven executive previously told TV Tonight that Samantha and Natalie had effectively reversed roles.
Meanwhile, New Idea claimed the commotion ruffled Natalie’s feathers after years of being the face of the show.
‘No one saw this coming, especially Nat. Until recently, she didn’t know the full extent of the role reversals; it came like a bolt from the blue!’ a source told the publication.