Following a two-year hiatus from Farmer Wants A Wife, the show announced that Natalie Gruzlewski will return as the host in its upcoming season in an Instagram post on Thursday.
The post featured an image captioned with “Nat is back”.
“Look who it is! Natalie Gruzlewski is back as host of this year’s season of [Farmer Wants A Wife],” the post read.
The post that announced Natalie’s return. (Source: Instagram/@farmeraustralia)
Gruzlewski previously worked as the show’s host during its initial eight seasons from 2007-2012, returning in 2020-2022 before she was replaced by TV presenter and journalist Samantha Armytage.
It was revealed by an anonymous insider back in May last year that the controversial move to replace Gruzlewski with Armytage in the host role was due to Armytage’s contract.
“This new contract with Channel Seven marks a new era for her with the network,” the insider told Daily Mail Australia.
“They had been using her on Farmer to burn her old Sunrise contract but with Sam and the network being happy with the role in Farmer Wants a Wife this is a renegotiation some said would never come.
“With the show flying high it was a great time to renegotiate and Samantha is looking forward to getting back out into regional Australia and making new love stories,” they said.
Country singer-songwriter Samantha McClymont also appeared as the show’s host during its ninth season back in 2016.
Gruzlewski opened up about not working as the show’s host in April 2024, telling The Courier Mail that she was enjoying a “simpler life” away from the spotlight and as a mum to her daughter Olivia.
“I’m a mum and, like most mums, I spend much more of my time — more of my life — driving [Olivia] around,” she told the outlet.
“That’s definitely changed from when I first started on Farmer when I was travelling more for my career.”
Gruzlewski’s most recent return to Farmer Wants A Wife marks her third appearance working as the show’s host.
Gruzlewski has been the show’s host multiple times since its inception in 2007. (Source: Getty Images)
The reaction from fans has been largely positive, with commenters on the Instagram post exclaiming their excitement for Gruzlewski’s return for the upcoming season.
“Yahoo, the best host ever. I’m glad you’re back, Nat,” one commenter wrote.
“She should have never been replaced in the first place… Nat was the OG and cannot be replaced by anyone else. Her shoes are too big to fill,” wrote another.
The 14th season of Farmer Wants A Wife will premiere on April 21 on Channel 7 and 7plus.
