Julia Morris is rumored to be her I’m a Celebrity co-host, Dr. Follow Chris Brown out the door after announcing his departure from Channel 10 last week.
The 54-year-old comedian is apparently planning to join Chris at the Seven Network, where he just signed a two-year deal reportedly worth $1 million a year.
“I’m a Celeb” is Morris’s lead appearance on Ten, and her dual role with Brown, 44, is credited as integral to the show’s success, leading industry insiders to believe she might want to join him on Seven.
Julia Morris (right) is rumored to be following her I’m a Celeb co-host Dr. Chris Brown (left) out the door after announcing his departure from Channel 10 last week
Brown has already signed on for this year’s season of I’m a Celeb for Ten and won’t start work on Seven until the second half of 2023.
In addition to co-hosting I’m a Celebrity, Morris makes occasional appearances on The Project and Have You Been Watching?
She previously hosted Blind Date and Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway for Ten, but neither show was renewed for a second season.
Chron have reached out to representatives for Seven and Julia Morris for comment.
I’m a Celeb is Morris’s lead appearance on Ten, and her dual role with Brown is credited as integral to the show’s success, leading insiders to believe she might want to join him on Seven
In addition to co-hosting I’m a Celebrity, Morris makes occasional appearances on The Project and Have You Been Watching?
Brown announced his departure from Channel 10 last Tuesday after 15 years on the network, becoming the latest high-profile star to step down amid plummeting ratings.
He signed a deal with Seven and will officially join in July to produce “new projects” for Channel Seven and 7Plus.
Brown first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world.
Brown (pictured with Carrie Bickmore) announced his departure from Channel 10 last Tuesday after 15 years on the network, becoming the latest high-profile star to step down amid plummeting ratings
The fact series is based on his real-life experience as a veterinarian at Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital in Sydney East.
He became a part-time panelist at The Project and was co-host of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was canceled last year.
The move to Seven is a homecoming of sorts for Brown.
Brown first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world, including on Animal Planet
He began his television career in 2003 as a presenter on Harry’s Practice on Seven, a role which earned him a Logie nomination for Favorite New Talent.
The University of Sydney graduate never intended to work in media but was spotted by a talent scout sharing animal stories over a few pints in a pub.
His passion for animals started as a child in Newcastle where his father Graeme was the local vet.
Between his work on Seven and Ten, Brown hosted segments for Burke’s Backyard on Nine and also appeared on the Today Show.
Brown will join Seven once he has completed his contractual obligations at Ten, including hosting the next season of I’m a Celebrity.
He became a part-time panelist at The Project and was co-host of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was canceled last year
He said in a statement: “I’m not entirely sure if my old access pass will work, but once we’ve cleared that hurdle and I’m back from the jungle, I can’t wait to get my teeth into some exciting new projects the second half of the year and beyond with Seven.’
James Warburton, Managing Director and CEO of Seven West Media added: “We are delighted to welcome Chris back to Seven. It’s been too long
“Chris is one of the most loved and recognized people on Australian television and brings warmth, intelligence and a great sense of humor to everything he does.
“We can’t wait to have him on board and to announce the amazing new content he will be starring in.”
Brown’s move to Seven was mentioned on Sunrise last Thursday, with host David Koch saying weatherman Sam Mac “lured” his good friend over with promises of lavish spending.
“It’s very exciting to have Chris join the team. He heard about the daily rates we get at Sunrise and jumped at it. You can’t get that at ten!’ he said.
Later, during the transfer to The Morning Show, Larry Emdur even joked that Brown would take his job.
Brown (pictured with James Warburton, CEO of Seven West Media) has signed a deal with Seven and will join the company in July to produce “new projects” for Channel Seven and 7Plus
Brown is the latest in a string of major departures from Ten, following the departures of The Project presenters Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar.
Senior staffers have also been following the on-air talent out the door, including the network’s longtime advertising executive Sarah “SJ” Johnson.
Dejected employees last year said the station felt like “a sinking ship” and the workplace “lacked direction and morale” — although network officials insist Ten’s parent company, Paramount Global, is in good financial shape.
Brown will join Seven once he has completed his contractual obligations at Ten, including hosting the next season of I’m a Celebrity with Julia Morris (right).
“There’s going to be a lot more resignations to come… Ten feels a bit like a sinking ship,” a staffer told Chron Australia, adding that morale has been at a critical slump “for some time”.
“It feels kind of rudderless. Like there isn’t much direction and the network doesn’t seem to be figuring out exactly what it wants to be.”
Adding to the general discontent is the network’s hit-and-miss programming, which borrows heavily from reality TV formats, another employee said.
“Some like Survivor and, in a pinch, MasterChef work, but a lot of them don’t,” the source said. ‘There seems to be so many bombs.’
Brown is the latest in a string of major departures from Ten, following the departures of The Project presenters Lisa Wilkinson, Peter Helliar and Carrie Bickmore (pictured).