But the show which was cooked in 2020 will not feature judges Manu Feildel or his controversial counterpart Pete Evans who have been cut.“Over the past couple of years we’ve had a very good record of reinventing and re-imagining proven formats,’’ said Angus Ross, Channel 7’s director of programming.“We’re all about using proven formats and My Kitchen Rules was the biggest show of eight of its 10 life cycle.“It will be two and a half years by the time it returns and we think Australia will be ready to embrace a return. Particularly with Australia opening up again it gives us broader options (with talent).“The show is going to go back to what it was great as in the first place. That original recipe, State versus State mentality and competitiveness. It’s going back to its roots… there’s going to be a curiosity factor about it.”In its announcement of programs slated for next year, Ross also confirmed Samantha Armytage will be back, with a segment called Sam’s Choice on Farmer Wants a Wife. The 45-year-old who called time on her eight years as Sunrise co-host in March will have a guest role having now married her own farmer Richard Lavender“Sam has a great track record of finding love with a farmer, she found one and is very happy,’’ Ross said. “Her helping in matchmaking, there’s no one better qualified.”Ross is also excited by the return of The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent with judges including Neil Patrick Harris and Alesha Dixon and Australian Idol whose judges have yet to be confirmed.Family golf show Holey Moley is on ice until borders reopen.“The Voice is the biggest show on television this year,’’ Ross said. “Before we put that to air people were going, ‘there’s not enough talent in Australia, the show is done’ that sort of thing. “I go back to our ability to reinvent these proven formats. We took a very different tone with that show which really resonated with Australia. We’ll look at that with Idol as well and it’s important we position them in a way that will resonate at the time. “We control The Voice, AGT and Idol and that puts us in a position of great strength and we’ll be careful how we roll out those shows across the year.”Ross said the Commonwealth Games and Winter Olympics will be reliable lead-ins as the Tokyo Olympics proved this year for The Voice.A notable addition to the cricket commentary team, following the dumping of Michael Slater, will be Lord Ian Botham.“I grew up watching Ian Botham playing in the Ashes and he was one of the most exciting cricketers you could ever see, and he’s going to bring a lot of that to Seven’s summer of cricket,’’ Ross said.“He’s a larger than life personality and we’re very excited to have Ian as part of the commentary this summer.”
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