After almost two years away from our TV screens, Tracy Grimshaw recently made her big TV comeback on Channel Nine’s hit new investigative series, Do You Want to Live Forever?.
But sources tell New Idea the respected journalist is being seriously considered for a very different role, with the same network keen to see their beloved anchor star in a celebrity version of Travel Guides!
The popular travel program “has been rating through the roof lately”, says an industry insider. “So much so, that Channel Nine are exploring options to produce a blockbuster one-off celebrity edition.”
Despite her absence from the spotlight in recent times, execs know a big name like Tracy, who hosted A Current Affair for 17 years before stepping down in 2022, would be sure to draw in the viewers.
It’s a left-field casting decision but our source says Tracy, 64, could be persuaded to consider taking part.
“Tracy has always turned down any reality TV offers,” our insider explains.
“She is a highly respected presenter and journalist. But Travel Guides is all about cultural experiences and having fun, so she may very well reconsider her stance.”
The reality series has built up a great reputation throughout its seven-season run, with the participants, such as the much-loved Fren family becoming household names.
“Travel Guides has become such a huge hit because it’s family friendly TV,” our insider says. “It’s the type of series that could pull in a big name star like Tracy.
As for who else could join the globetrotting series, sources say Nine will likely want to look inwards when it comes to casting talent.
There is an option to cast talent who are still under contract with the network, but whose and shows have been discontinued.
“Think about people like Kate Langbroek, who hosted My Mum, Your Dad, or David Genat who fronted Rush, they’re two huge names who are otherwise very popular, they just became attached to shows that audiences didn’t respond to,” says our insider.
“They would likely also be very keen to sign up someone like The Block’s Shaynna Blaze, who Nine don’t want to lose.”
Our source explains that, while bigwigs at Nine are cautious of taking Travel Guides away from its “everyday Aussie” format, the success of Network Ten’s Celebrity Gogglebox Australia has quashed many concerns.
“That format featured huge stars like Hamish Blake and his wife Zoë Foster Blake, and Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin. It pulled in a large audience but it didn’t detract from the regular Gogglebox Australia series,” says our insider.
“Creating a one-off version of Travel Guides, featuring some of our best known TV talents is a no-brainer,” adds our source.
Provided Channel Nine can convince a star of Tracy’s calibre to dust off her passport that is…
