Former contestant David Genat has been confirmed as the new host of Australian Survivor.

Network 10 announced the news in a statement on Monday night.

Widely rumoured for weeks, the confirmation comes after the controversial sacking of long-time host Jonathan LaPaglia, which confused and devastated many fans of the show.

“It’s no secret there’s been a change at the helm,” Paramount Australia’s SVP Content and Programming Daniel Monaghan said after Genat was eliminated in the new season of Survivor: Australia v the World.

“As we step into this exciting new era, there was simply no better person to pass the baton to – David’s track record, not just on Survivor but across reality TV worldwide, is unrivalled, and there’s no one with more real-time experience and game knowledge to help steer this epic season.”

Australia v The World – a special event season that has brought together the biggest players from around the world – was Genat’s third time on the show, having previously competed on Champions v Contenders in 2019 and All Stars in 2020 (a season he won). Earlier this year, he also won one of the biggest prizes in reality TV history, taking home $9.2 million as the victor of US series Deal or No Deal Island. Genat, a former model known as the “Golden God”, is known for his charisma and self-confidence on screen and has also hosted the 2023 travel adventure series Rush.

But, in his statement announcing the news, Genat deflected attention from himself.

“I love Australian Survivor. It truly is the greatest game on earth, so getting to come back as host after playing three times is such an honour,” he said. “But Survivor is not about me; it’s about the incredible players who put everything on the line to outwit, outplay, and outlast.”

He has also made a shoutout to the show’s dedicated following on social media saying, “I love the players, I love the community of fans, and I love the crew who make it happen. As the new host of Australian Survivor, I won’t let you down.”

On Tuesday morning, LaPaglia wished Genat good luck on Instagram while quipping that his final line farewelling Genat from the show – “shack up with the wrong people, you might just find yourself dumped” – was ultimately a message for himself.

Genat was gracious in reply, telling LaPaglia, “I stand on the shoulders of giants, thank you for what you gave to this show. Nobody can do it like you.”

Network 10 has announced the 2026 season of the show, which Genat is now filming in Samoa, will be themed Australian Survivor: Redemption, ”giving everyday contestants a chance to rewrite their story for a shot at greatness.”

Ten has promised it will feature fewer non-elimination shows and the return of a live finale – both popular changes with fans. The network, however, has not offered an explanation as to why LaPaglia is exiting the show – a move LaPaglia said, “hurts like a bitch”.

The sacking of LaPaglia also surprised David Forster, the show’s celebrated executive producer, who left the series after almost 10 years to pursue other projects following Australia v The World.

“I don’t know the reasons,” Forster told this masthead last week. “I don’t even know if Jonathan knows the real reasons. And the audience is confused, too. When you move on a host, you could just be honest and say, ‘We’re looking for a creative refresh’. That’s a completely valid reason. But I think, currently, the fans are a little duped.”

He did, however, add that “the show is bigger than me, and it’s bigger than Jonathan … At the end of the day, if the cast is great, the show is great. And that’s what producers should be concentrating on.”

What do you think of David Genat’s elevation to Australian Survivor host? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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