Jonathan LaPaglia is not returning to Australian Survivor in 2026, Channel 10 has confirmed.
Taking to Instagram the network shared, “We 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 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 The 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.”
A TV insider leaked the news over the weekend, telling the Daily Mail, Jonathan had been “quietly axed” from the long-running Channel 10 show after hosting it for nine years.
“It’s a terrible idea,” the source told the publication. “The show’s ratings have been in decline for a while, but the same goes for pretty much every entertainment show.
“Changing the host now is a terrible idea. [Jonathan’s] so well-established in the Survivor world — it would be a total mistake to find a new host.”
To add further fuel to the fire, JLP shared a post reflecting on his time on the show. While he highlighted all the highlights and adventures, he also shared a pointed message.
“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.
“I wish I could say, “Before we go to vote, tonight is a little different….no one’s going home”. But I can’t. None of that non-elim bull***t tonight! Someone IS going home. And with no idol in my back pocket, that someone is me.
“I have loved and will dearly miss the immensely talented crew, all the crafty players and our loyal sassy audience. I’m a huge fan of this incredible game, always have been, always will be. 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”!”
Signing off the post, Jonathan wrote, “(Ps. Whoever said a blindside is the most humane way to put someone down is an idiot. It hurts like a b***h!)”
The 55-year-old has already filmed the upcoming 13th season of the franchise, titled Australian Survivor: Australia vs The World, which was filmed in Samoa and will hit screens later this year.
WHO IS REPLACING JONATHAN LAPAGLIA AS THE HOST OF AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR?
The new host of Australian Survivor 2026 is yet to be confirmed.
The source also told the Daily Mail that show-runners have been scrambling to find the next host, with rumours swirling that it could be former Australian Survivor contestant, David Genat.
David has already appeared on two seasons of the popular reality show, taking home $500,000 after winning Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020.
The 45-year-old will once again return to the franchise to compete in Australian Survivor: Australia vs The World, which will hit our TV screens in the coming months.
“He doesn’t fit the brief. He’s charismatic, sure – but Survivor needs someone with gravitas. David is not Jonathan, and viewers will notice that,” the source told the Daily Mail.
According to the TV insider, the network is also struggling to find contestants for the 2026 season.
“Casting has been a nightmare,” they told the publication.
“They extended the application deadline and even tried poaching contestants who had originally applied for Married at First Sight. Some of them were a better fit for Survivor than MAFS, but going after their leftovers really shows how desperate things are.”
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