Grant Denyer’s surprising TV comeback

One of Australia’s most-loved presenters Grant Denyer will return to the 6pm timeslot that earned him his Gold Logie five years ago.

Gold Logie-winner Grant Denyer will be back doing what he does best, and Paramount is rebooting Top Gear for Australian audiences with Jonathan La Paglia in the driving seat, Ten’s parent company announced on Tuesday.

They were among a slew of announcements for Ten and Paramount’s jam-packed 2023 schedule across its free-to-air and streaming arms.

One of Australia’s most-loved presenters Denyer will return to the 6pm slot that earned him his Gold Logie five years ago — this time as host of one of the most popular game shows globally, Deal or No Deal.

The show previously ran on Channel 7 from 2003 to 2013, with Andrew O’Keefe as host and sees contestants trying to beat The Banker to win a huge cash prize.

Expected to start early next year, it’s part of Ten’s strategy to re-energise the early evening schedule.

Denyer said he couldn’t believe it when the call came offering him the five-nights-a-week hosting gig.

“I’m so excited. I’ve got a great love affair with that 6pm timeslot, it’s been historically very good to me,” he said.

Denyer’s gearing up to be match fit for the intense filming schedule which could see 15 episodes shot in 72 hours.

“It’s a marathon but it’s such a high-vibe, next-level set, big-stakes chance game where huge money can be won,” he said. “So it’s not like it’s a dreary, slow grey and boring show to work on.”

Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer will be back on TV five nights a week in 2024 hosting Deal or No deal. Picture: Ten

Paramount content and programming senior Vice President Daniel Monaghan said the network was really happy to have Denyer back.

“He’s the perfect choice to host … in that period of time to just drop the audience from the news into The Project,” Monaghan said.

“He’s so popular and just so natural. (It will) provide an alternative for families as to what the other networks are offering (in that timeslot).”

Denyer agrees, adding “The sadder, the scarier, the angrier the world gets – not everyone wants the news on at 6pm when they’re serving up dinner for the family,” he said.

With the BBC still to confirm the future of its long-running version of the once-ratings juggernaut Top Gear after host Freddie Flintoff’s horrific accident in November, Paramount’s version of the globally acclaimed series could be the only remaining series on air globally.

Internationally acclaimed actor and Australian Survivor host La Paglia is joined by Amazing Race host Beau Ryan and co-creator of the popular indie auto YouTube series Mighty Car Mods, Blair “Moog” Joscelyne.

LaPaglia’s been a massive fan of the franchise for years.

“When (they) asked me if I’d be interested travelling all over the world to test really cool cars and behave like an idiot I said, “Of course I’m interested. Where do I sign? ,” he said.

“I used to fantasise being on (Top gear) one day as a guest racing the Reasonably Priced Car around their test track.

“I waited, that call never came. But 20 years later someone at Top Gear HQ screwed up, confused me with someone else, and asked me to be the host of Top Gear Australia? Buckle up, this could get bumpy!”

Top Gear Australia hosts Beau Ryan, Blair Joscelyne, and Jonathan LaPaglia. Picture: Paramount+

The eight-part series, which begins filming later this year, is based on the world-famous format from BBC Studios.

“There’ll certainly be a number of Australian episodes and stories … but it’s got quite an international scope about it,” Monaghan said,

In other announcements, MasterChef Alumni Poh Ling Yeow joins a new era in the MasterChef world, with the addition of home grown heroes and international superstars set to expand the beloved franchise’s family after the sudden death of much loved judge Jock Zonfrillo in April. She joins returning judge – and fellow MasterChef Alumn Andy Allen – and new faces food critic and journalist Sofia Levin; and multi – Michelin Star-winning French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong will focus on helming a second series of reality show Dessert Masters alongside and pastry prodigy Amaury Guichon.

As speculated, Wildlife warrior Robert Irwin will step into the very large shoes left behind by Dr Chris Brown when he was poached by Seven in November last year. He’ll join Julia Morris for the tenth season of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here.

The Living Room looks to be on permanent hiatus – but one of its hosts has a new project. Exuberant chef Miguel Maestre will head up a rebooted Ready Steady Cook to hook Friday night audiences.

There’s a whole host of revivals boots with BAFTA award winner and uber Brit chat show host Graham Norton to take the helm of Wheel of Fortune Australia.

The epic game show will once again be centred around a giant carnival wheel as contestants spin to win for a life-changing cash prize.

“I’m beyond excited to be bringing such an iconic American show to Australia,” Norton said. “Hosting game shows is brilliant fun and even more so when you have a giant wheel to spin. This show has it all, mixing skill, luck and lots of surprises and I hope the Australian audience loves it.”

Originally published as Grant Denyer’s surprising TV comeback