Too Hot Too Handle, Love Island, Gladiators: Sunshine Coast’s newest TV stars

From reality TV to entertaining game shows, these Sunshine Coast stars have made an impact on the small screen. See what they’re doing now.

From light-hearted entertainment shows to dramatic reality TV you cannot tear yourself away from, these Sunshine Coast stars have made an impact on the small screen.

Check out our list of local TV stars, and where they’re at now.

Lilliana Bowrey

Noosa surfer turned TV star Lilliana Bowrey did not have any plans to pursue acting before she auditioned for Netflix’s Surviving Summer, which debuted in 2022.

The show, despite being Lilliana’s first acting role, shot her to stardom and even landed her a prestigious Logie Award nomination in 2023 for Most Popular New Talent.

Lilliana Bowrey.

The second season of Surviving Summer hit the streaming service in September 2023. A third season is yet to be announced.

Lilliana, a five-time Queensland surfing champion, intends to continue acting alongside her surfing career.

Georgia Hassarati

Sunshine Coast-based woman Georgia Hassarati was a student midwife and influencer, but in 2022 took the plunge and appeared on season three of Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle.

For the uninitiated, it’s a reality dating show which casts groups of adults who are constantly having “flings” and are unable to form long term, meaningful relationships, and prohibits them from any form of kissing or sexual contact in an effort to create genuine relationships between them while confined to a house for four weeks.

Reality TV star Georgia Hassarati at Sunshine Beach. Picture Lachie Millard

A cash prize is up for grabs at the end of the show, but money is subtracted from the fund if any rules are broken by the castmates.

After finishing up on Too Hot To Handle, Georgia appeared on another Netflix show, Perfect Match, in 2023.

She told the Courier Mail in an exclusive interview in May 2023 she was planning on focusing her energy on starting a new chapter as an entrepreneur with plans for her own brand and podcast.

Sharon Lagden

Palmwoods woman Sharon Lagden is not your typical TV star.

After beating breast cancer and overcoming depression, she put her hand up for a new eight-part TV series, Ageless, which will debut on the Nine Network from March 23.

Sunshine Coast local and breast cancer survivor Sharon Lagden stars in Ageless reality TV show. Picture - contributed.

The series follows the lives of 11 remarkable people who are over 50 years old and possess such a thirst for new experiences it would appear they never age, inspiring Australians to rethink what it means to “grow older”.

Her story is set to air on episode four, where she and husband Kevin Lagden meet host Grey Rogers and reflect on what it means to live life without regret.

Robert Irwin

Most people know Robert Irwin for his family’s legacy as Wildlife Warriors and for carrying on his late father, Steve Irwin’s, life mission as a conservationist.

But the youngest Irwin is about to embark on a new TV adventure, starring as the new host of I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here alongside Julia Morris for the show’s tenth season.

The program is a reality TV show where celebrities are forced to live in a jungle and must compete in gruelling challenges against each other until there is one winner. The winning contestant gets $100,000 to be donated to their chosen charity.

Robert Irwin replaces Dr Chris Brown as co-host of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Julia Morris.

While this is not Robert’s first TV gig, having been in front of the camera throughout his life for everything from documentaries to Tonight Show appearances, this will be his first time hosting a show.

The season premiers on Network 10 on Sunday, March 24.

Jett Kenny

The youngest son of sporting legends Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny is an athletic superstar, a surf lifesaver, ironman and model.

He has appeared on several Australian shows including SAS, Ninja Warrior, The Real Full Monty and Dancing With The Stars.

In 2024, Jett was cast in a reboot of TV game show Gladiators, where he plays gladiator Viking.

Jett Kenny as Viking in Gladiators. Picture: Network 10

The show is a comedic, sports entertainment type program where permanent competitors, known as Gladiators, compete with contestants in events designed to test mental and physical capabilities.

Kenny suffered an injury mid-competition.

Tyra Johannes

Sunshine Coast woman Tyra Johannes made her TV debut on the fifth season of Love Island Australia.

A reality dating show set where contestants spend several weeks on an isolated villa in Spain, contestants go through a series of tasks with interchangeable partners until they meet the loves of their lives.

Tyra and fellow contestant Kale Roberts quickly became audience favourites and eventually were crowned the show’s winners.

Tyra is now an influencer with 160,000 Instagram followers, and her and Kale are still together.

Clint Posselt

Sunshine Coast man Clint Posselt was an environmental engineer and Mareeba State High captain before he cemented himself as a TV star on the fifth season of Love Island Australia.

Love Island season five star Clint Posselt reveals new relationship and rap career. Picture - Instagram.

Clint was the final bombshell to enter the villa and was runner up with fellow contestant Savannah Badger.

Since leaving the show, Clint has pursued a music career and released song, Against Her, on Spotify under the alias Clinny P.

Clint also appeared on The Voice Australia in 2018.

Johnny Bundellu, Kate O’Reilly

Sunshine Coast couple Jonny Bundellu and Kate O’Reilly were best known for their restaurant Guru Life at Rosemount.

But in 2022, amid bills piling up and peak trading hours being left deserted, the owners decided to take the plunge and star on Kitchen Nightmares Australia.

Kate O'Reilly and Jonny Bundellu of GURU Life restaurant. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The show lifts the lid on Australian restaurants on the brink of collapse, with chef Colin Fassnidge aiming to turn them around in five days.

Guru Life closed down in mid-2023.

Tyler Hammill

Maroochydore man Tyler Hammill has held a dream of being a musician since he was in school, having grown up at the Cotton Tree caravan park surrounded by music.

Australian Idol contestant from the Sunshine Coast, Tyler Hammill. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He finally got his big chance when he auditioned for the ninth season of Australian Idol in 2024.

He made it to the final 10 contestants, but was unfortunately eliminated from the competition on March 5.

Since leaving the show, Tyler has announced he and his band, Nana’s Pie, are planning a mid-year Australian tour.

Originally published as Too Hot Too Handle, Love Island, Gladiators: Sunshine Coast’s newest TV stars