The entire Australian Survivor community has been in mourning this week, after host Jonathan LaPaglia (JLP) was officially dropped from the Aussie reality TV show. He’s been at the helm for almost a decade, so it’s hard to imagine what the show looks like without him. There have been whispers that former Australian Survivor winner David Genat will replace JLP for the 2026 season, and we finally have some more intel on why.
According to an insider, ‘Golden God’ Genat was originally tested to step in as Australian Survivor host during COVID, just in case lockdowns prohibited JLP from travelling to Fiji. He must have impressed the bosses, because he’s the only name that has emerged on the rumour mill.
While LaPaglia’s emotional statement revealed Network 10 had cited low ratings for the change, Australian Survivor’s Matt Tarrant doesn’t buy it. “Officially, it’s a ratings thing. But I really can’t see it being any other reason than money. JLP is considered in the Survivor world as the best host of any Survivor series, and losing him won’t make the show more popular, nor better, but it will save money,” he tells Chattr.
While the news only broke recently, Australian Survivor alums had been hearing rumours for a few weeks, but Tarrant never thought JLP would actually be removed. “It’s still something that I think has shocked most of us,” he admits.
Shannon Gaitz, who has covered the international versions of Survivor on the popular Rob Has A Podcast (RHAP) network for years, is “very upset” about JLP leaving. “He’s been the ideal face of Australian Survivor and in years of covering it I don’t think I’ve had any complaints about anything he’s done. He seems to have made great connections with the players, and as you can see from the comments on his Instagram post, many seem very upset to lose him from the role,” she says.
“I always hope that show continues to go from strength to strength, but JLP leaving is definitely a loss.”
Are the Australian Survivor players mad at David Genat for replacing Jonathan LaPaglia?
If the rumours are true, and David Genat is the one to fill Jonathan LaPaglia’s shoes, how do the rest of the Australian Survivor players feel? We’ve already heard there has been some support for Raymond Chaney from past winners Feras Basal and Myles Kuah, so will this decision ruffle any feathers?
Matt Tarrant tells Chattr that everybody is sad for JLP, but nobody holds anything against Genat. “David is such an entertaining talent, and if any ex-Survivor castaway could do the role, it’s going to be him. He has experience in hosting with Rush, and he’s one of the best players to play the game,” he explains.
“I don’t think anyone can be mad with David, he’s gotten a dream job all of us would do anything to get — but I think we are all really sad for JLP as he’s such a great part of the show and someone we expected would be with it until the very end.”
At least we will still get to see JLP host Survivor: Australia V The World when it airs later this year. Will we be able to watch without crying? Probably not.
You can watch Australian Survivor on 10Play
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