First look at Real Housewives of Melbourne season 5

After a very lengthy wait – we’ve finally got our first look at the new season of RHOM, which will premiere in just a few weeks.

Pop the champagne and throw on a pair of heels: the Real Housewives of Melbourne are back.

Foxtel announced today that the long-awaited season five of the hit reality series will premiere on Sunday, October 10 – and also released a sneak peek of what’s to come.

Stepping back in front of the cameras are original cast members Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Gamble Breaux. They’re joined by newcomers Kyla Kirkpatrick, Cherry Dipietrantonio, Anjali Rao and Simone Elliott.

Dipietrantonio is a yoga instructor originally from the UK, while Brighton-based Kirkpatrick is known as the ‘Champagne Dame’ for her successful champagne import export business, Emperor Champagne.

The “Champagne Dame”. Picture: Foxtel

Rao is a multi-award winning journalist who notably spent six years hosting CNN’s weekday breakfast news, while single mother-of-two Elliott is a corporate businesswoman.

Watch Real Housewives of Melbourne on Foxtel from October 10. Sign up at foxtel.com.au

Simone Elliott. Picture: Foxtel

Anjali Rao. Picture: Foxtel

In the brief newly-released teaser for season five, the new Housewives are introduced, and the group are seen popping plenty of bottles of champagne.

Also featured: a sneak peek at some of the fights the franchise is famous for.

“You’re just a lying piece of …” Roach is heard telling one of her (unidentified) co-stars during a snippet of an explosive dinner party, while a shocked Gillies looks on.

Jackie Gillies looks shocked during a fiery clash. Picture: Foxtel

Earlier this year, it was announced that the poster girl of the series, Gina Liano, would not be returning for season 5.

Despite initially signing on, she appeared to have a change of heart after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed production and has instead reportedly decided to focus on her legal career.

Gina Liano has bowed out of the franchise.

She hinted at her reluctance to sign on for the new season during a press event in 2020, admitting to news.com.au that she “nearly didn’t come back this (fifth) season”.

“I got back into my own life, it was peaceful and I quite enjoyed it and I was hesitant to come back only for that reason,” Liano said at the time.

“It’s a big responsibility having a public profile, even though I swear and carry on and maybe act a bit irresponsible.

“I think there might be a time where I don’t come back just because my life will keep moving.”

Meanwhile, another original cast member also won’t be returning – Lydia Schiavello revealed in April that she had “made the personal decision to step away”.

“I will miss the camaraderie the interaction with viewers and the challenges that my fellow cast members presented,” she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.