EXCLUSIVE | Jonathan LaPaglia locked out of SURVIVOR ALL STARS finale due to COVID-19

As CVOD-19 continues to spread, Australian Survivor: All Stars has joined the list of shows feeling the effects with producers forced to implement last-minute changes. 

TV Blackbox can reveal a planned cast reunion special for the reality series will now be presented by Osher Günsberg, while the series regular host, Jonathan LaPaglia, will be forced to contribute via satellite link from the US.

LaPaglia had been expected to fly into Australia this week to film the special. However, restrictions imposed by the federal government over the weekend mean he would have been required to enter 14 days of immediate self-isolation.

Filming for the special is booked in for this Thursday in 10’s Sydney studios.

Confirming the change to the hosting line-up, a spokesperson for Endemol Shine Australia told TV Blackbox;

“Endemol Shine Australia is following Government directives as they are issued in preparation for the filming of Australian Survivor: All Stars Finale.

”The welfare of everyone involved in our shows is our number one priority so the filming will not have a live audience and host Jonathan LaPaglia will stay in the USA rather than travel to Australia. He will still be a part of the Finale via a satellite link from LA. Survivor superfan Osher Günsberg will step in as guest MC at the All Stars Finale.” 

Originally 10 had planned to film the reunion special in front of diehard fans of the show and the casts family members. However, it will now be recorded in a closed studio.

From next week, Australian Survivor will air on only two nights per week as the series enters its final stages. A new season of Bondi Rescue will premiere on the Wednesday.

The change to the Survivor finale comes after TV Blackbox exclusively revealed last week 10 had made the decision to produce the next season of The Amazing Race domestically, rather than put cast and crew at risk via international travel.