Samantha Armytage, 50, has been warned not to abandon The Golden Bachelor for a breakfast television role, as speculation continues over whether the former Sunrise host will return to Channel Nine's Today show.
The Daily Mail reported that if Armytage decides to leave the dating series, Channel Seven favourites Edwina Bartholomew and Sonia Kruger would emerge as leading contenders to take over hosting duties.
"Both would seriously look at it if the opportunity came up," one well-placed TV source told the Daily Mail. "There would be a very long queue of women wanting that job."
"Edwina and Sonia are exactly the sort of names you'd expect to be discussed if Sam wasn't doing it," the source added. "Neither would need much convincing if Nine came calling with the right offer."
Bartholomew and Kruger are established Seven Network presenters who have each fronted a string of the broadcaster's entertainment and reality programs, including Sunrise and Big Brother Australia.
Golden Bachelor's new direction
The Daily Mail understands Nine has quietly overhauled The Golden Bachelor for its second season, turning what began as a wholesome dating experiment into a far more dramatic, competitive and explosive reality series.
Sources say Armytage has already told friends the revamped format feels like "a completely different show."
"The new female cast is much more dynamic and competitive," an insider revealed. "There's drama you'd normally expect to see on Married At First Sight. It's worlds away from what viewers saw in season one."
In the first season, widower Barry "Bear" Myrden found love with nurse Sunny Long. Producers are understood to have concluded that romance alone will not build a ratings juggernaut, shifting the focus towards conflict, rivalries and water-cooler moments.
"The feeling internally is they've finally worked out what this show needs to be," the source said. "Sam was surprised by how dramatically the format has evolved. She's been telling people it feels bigger, bolder and far more confident this time around."
Network bosses are also believed to have ambitious plans for the franchise, with discussions under way about giving the series a stronger timeslot as Nine attempts to create its next reality TV obsession.
Today show speculation
That is where Armytage's dilemma begins. Rumours surrounding the future line-up of Today refuse to go away, and if a prized seat on Nine's flagship breakfast show were to become available, Armytage would reportedly be one of the first names mentioned.
The veteran broadcaster spent more than eight years waking up Australia alongside David Koch on Sunrise and has never hidden her passion for live television.
Insiders say it would be incredibly difficult for her to ignore the opportunity if the right offer landed on her desk.
Friends urge caution
But friends have reportedly urged Armytage not to underestimate the value of fronting a potentially blockbuster entertainment franchise.
"Everyone wants a hit format attached to their name right now," the source said. "There are plenty of talented presenters looking for their next big vehicle. If The Golden Bachelor suddenly becomes one of Nine's biggest entertainment brands, why would Sam rush to give that up?"
Ironically, the show's dramatic new direction could actually strengthen Armytage's position in any future Today discussions, according to the insider.
"If The Golden Bachelor becomes one of those programs everyone is talking about the next morning, Sam isn't just the former Sunrise host who could do Today," the insider said. "She's the woman fronting one of Nine's hottest properties. That gives her enormous leverage."
Image concerns dismissed
Some have questioned whether the series' racier new tone could clash with the polished image expected of a breakfast television host.
However, sources insist network executives are unlikely to see any conflict, pointing to Armytage's years moving seamlessly between news, current affairs and entertainment.
"Sam can be wrangling outrageous reality stars one night and interviewing a Prime Minister the next morning," the source said. "Very few presenters can genuinely do both."
Wait and see
For now, those closest to Armytage are reportedly urging her to wait and see just how big The Golden Bachelor can become before making any major career decisions, because if she does walk away, there will be plenty of familiar faces lining up to take her place.
"The message to Sam is pretty simple," the insider said. "Don't walk away too quickly. There are a lot of people who'd love to have what she's got."
In a twist that won't be lost on Nine executives, a blockbuster second season of The Golden Bachelor may not stand in the way of a Today comeback at all. It could be the very thing that helps Samantha Armytage land the job.
