‘They were the best candidates’: Women front and centre as Network 10 reveals 2026 line-up

Australian TV has long been considered a boys’ club but Network 10 is putting women front and centre in its 2026 prime-time line-up.

The broadcaster has already appointed rising star Mel Tracina – a familiar face to fans of comedy shows The Cheap Seats and Have You Been Paying Attention? – as the host of Big Brother, which launches on November 9.

Gretel Killeen, Rebecca Gibney and Mel Tracina are among the many women hosting prime-time programs on Network 10.Credit: Hannah Anderson

Big Brother’s original host, Gretel Killeen, meanwhile, will present a new season of The Traitors. The “social deduction series” features contestants who are divided into “faithfuls” and “traitors”, plotting to eliminate each other to claim their share of a $250,000 prize. Among the participants are former Australian Idol judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson; Real Housewives cast members Gamble Breaux and Krissy Marsh; Olympian Shane Gould; and Rob Farnham, son of Australian music legend John Farnham.

Popular actor Rebecca Gibney will host a half-hour version of Millionaire Hot Seat, airing at 7pm weeknights.

And comedians Celia Pacquola (Thank God You’re Here) and Anne Edmonds (Talkin’ ’Bout Your Generation) may also return to prime-time, although 10 is yet to confirm if either program will be renewed.

The network’s 5pm capital city news bulletins are also helmed by women: Sandra Sully in Sydney, Jennifer Keyte in Melbourne, Sharyn Ghidella in Brisbane, Tiffany Warne in Adelaide (filling in for Kate Freebairn), and Natalie Forrest in Perth. Ursula Heger presents 10 Late News, while Narelda Jacobs – who returns from parental leave next year – anchors its lunchtime and afternoon bulletins.

“People need to reserve judgment; nobody knows Survivor better than ‘the golden god’.”

And many of the network’s other prime-time programs feature high-profile female co-hosts, including Julia Morris (who presents I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! with Robert Irwin); Melanie Bracewell (who anchors The Cheap Seats with Tim McDonald); and Amelia Brace (who hosts 10 News+ with Denham Hitchcock).

“It’s certainly not a conscious thing,” says Network 10 president Beverley McGarvey, when asked about the broadcaster’s strong female line-up. “We’re really just looking for the best host for each show. We cast each of these people because, in our opinion, they were the best candidates for the positions – and as a bonus, we have lots of great women on the network.”

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Network 10 – owned by US multinational conglomerate Paramount Skydance, which was formed in August through the merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media – revealed its programming slate at a lavish event at Dreamworld, the Gold Coast theme park in which the Big Brother house is located.

In August, Paramount Skydance appointed Kevin MacLellan as its international president. MacLellan wasted no time offloading the corporation’s Argentinian broadcast network, Telefe – but in a note to staff, made a point of stating that “Channel 5 in the UK and Network 10 in Australia are important to our success … these platforms not only deliver strong local performance; they also play a critical role in driving awareness, engagement, and growth.”

Tamara Simoneau, Paramount Australia’s vice president of content, says Paramount Skydance leverages its English-language programs at a global level – regardless of where they originated.

“NCIS Sydney has jumped from an eight-episode order to a 20-episode order because of its success on CBS in prime-time in the US,” Simoneau says. “Even though it seems like a well-established brand for a US audience, it’s made by Aussie creatives. It’s a real Aussie success story.”

Other upcoming dramas include Imposter, which focuses on matriarch Helen, played by Neighbours star Jackie Woodburne, who refuses to sell her seaside hotel amid pressure from her three children. Network 10’s paid streaming service, Paramount+, will release two new Australian scripted series: Dalliance, which follows Billy (Hugo Weaving), an ex-cameraman who meets Dani (Heather Mitchell), on the Sydney Harbour ferry in a colliding of worlds; and Two Years Later, a romantic comedy-drama starring Brenton Thwaites and Phoebe Tonkin.

Among the other programs returning are Survivor, albeit with a new host (former contestant David Genat, who won Survivor: All Stars in 2020) and a new theme (Redemption). But these changes have proven controversial, with some fans – upset by the sudden departure of popular host Jonathan LaPaglia – dubious about Genat’s prospects as a host.

Have You Been Paying Attention?, one of 10’s highest-rating programs, returns in 2026.

“I think people need to reserve judgment,” Simoneau says. “Nobody knows Survivor better than ‘the golden god’, and he brings a whole new perspective to it. I’ve seen episode one, and he did an absolutely fantastic job.”

Other new reality series include Sydney Harbour Cops, which tracks water police as they confront suspects, search for missing people and undertake daring rescue missions; and The Animal Sanctuary which follows a young family who run a Tasmanian wildlife rescue operation.

Also returning to 10 are MasterChef Australia, a celebrity edition of The Amazing Race, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Sam Pang Tonight, The Cheap Seats, Taskmaster, Deal or No Deal, Gogglebox, David Attenborough’s Parenthood, Selling Houses, Love It Or List It, Airport 24/7 and The Graham Norton Show.

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In January, Network 10’s struggling current affairs show, 10 News+, will be trimmed from one-hour to 30 minutes, retaining its Sunday-to-Friday 6pm timeslot.

“Our news at 5pm is doing very well,” McGarvey says. “10 News+ is a national service at 6pm; Australians are well-serviced by competent bulletins on Seven and Nine and this is about offering an alternative to that.”

The network’s 2026 sport line-up includes matches from the Socceroos and the Matildas, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia; A-League Men’s matches; every A-League Women’s match; NBL games; the MotoGP World Championship; the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix; and select live Ultimate Fighting Championship events.

When asked what sets Network 10 apart from its free-to-air rivals, Simoneau says: “We have a real focus on family shows and fun. Whether it’s The Cheap Seats and Gogglebox, or MasterChef and Survivor, they all target family audiences.”

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