Amanda Keller drops unexpected news live on air

The radio and TV host dropped a big announcement during the Jonesy and Amanda Show today, admitting it’s taken a little while “to get used to the idea”.

Amanda Keller revealed Ten’s The Living Room won’t be returning in 2023 in an unexpected announcement live on air this morning.

Speaking on radio show, WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda, Keller explained that the program was going to take a break – but insisted it would be back in 2024.

“Well, I’ve said I’ve got a big announcement … it’s about The Living Room. It’s going to be rested next year,” she told Brendan “Jonesy” Jones.

“It’s felt that it’s time to take a breath. We’ve been on air for 11 years, 30 [episodes] a year is a lot to produce. So we’re going to take a breath … and take next year off.”

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Keller dropped the news on her radio show. Picture: WSFM

Keller, who has hosted Ten’s Friday night lifestyle program since its launch in 2012, explained that she and co-hosts Barry Du Bois, Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre “hope and pray and assume” that they will be back in 2024.

“So this isn’t your decision?” Jones asked.

“It’s a network decision. They want the show to continue, as do we,” Keller said.

“So we are working on tweaking it, taking a breath … I’m desperate to come back, so we will.”

It’s not the first time the show has been paused. In November 2019, it was temporarily axed by Ten after eight seasons in a cost-cutting measure, although it aired its Christmas special in late December.

In March 2020, the network announced it had renewed The Living Room, which then returned to its Friday night timeslot in July.

The program’s revamped format saw it shift focus from a series of unrelated lifestyle segments to one common theme of helping a family each episode across a range of topics.

The Living Room was initially filmed in front of a studio audience of around 60 people, but that was axed amid the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

The Living Room crew of Dr Chris Brown, Amanda Keller, Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre.

On Thursday, Keller admitted the decision to take a break had made her “sad”, and that it took her and her co-hosts “a few days” to “get used to the idea”.

“But we all get it now, we’re not going away, we’re just taking a breather.”

Keller also added that she’d been blown away by people’s support for the long-running program.

“People love The Living Room, and I love that they do. I’ve never worked on a show that’s had more comments on the street from people about how much they love it,” she said.

“It’s been brilliant and it will be again.”

The Living Room still has five episodes remaining for the year, including a special Christmas edition.

Throughout its 11-year run, it’s been nominated for seven Logie Awards across the Most Popular Lifestyle Program and Best Lifestyle Program, and taken home four trophies.