The Real Housewives of Melbourne has essentially been cancelled and Foxtel is considering moving the franchise to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, according to new reports.
According to The Courier Mail in Australia, a number of “high profile women” have already been contacted by producers as they look to expand the series to the Gold Coast. Some have already denied the outreach by Foxtel while others are reportedly interesting in seeing what the new show would be all about and are undergoing screen tests in the coming weeks.
“A well-known real estate guru, a PR queen turned entrepreneur, and a glamorous Gold Coast socialite are also tipped to appear on the series,” insiders tell the outlet.
Real Housewives of Melbourne cancelled after five seasons
The Real Housewives of Melbourne returned with Season 5 last year after a brief hiatus to decidedly mixed results. While Gina Liano and Lydia Schiavello had previously been announced as full-time cast members, they were replaced just months before production and and it does not seem like the newbies impressed fans or Foxtel executives.
Network executives were said to be so disappointed with Season 5 that they decided not to film a reunion special for the series, a first in RHOMelbourne history.
Real Housewives of Sydney reboot
Despite the trouble with Melbourne, the Daily Mail report indicates that producers are still interested in rebooting The Real Housewives of Sydney which aired for one season back in 2017.
According to The Daily Mail, the Australian company is looking at giving RHOSydney another go and is reportedly on the hunt for new women to join for Season 2.
Some of the names being floated are PR Queen Roxy Jacenko and Joh Bailey Hair co-founder Marilyn Koch, with Sydney socialite Christa Billich also reportedly making the cut. (Billich was infamously floated as a Housewife before Season 1 and did end up appearing on The Real Housewives of Melbourne as a friend of Gamble Breaux.)
Sheeva Tavakoli, who is the wife of celebrity plastic surgeon Kourosh Tavakoli, is also being considered to join The Real Housewives of Sydney Season 2. According to another report from The Daily Mail, producers are looking to add more “likeable” cast members to the series for Season 2.
Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Melbourne consisted of just 10 episodes and starred Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Gamble Breaux, Anjali Rao, Cherry Dipietrantonio, Kyla Kirkpatrick, and Simone Elliott.
If Foxtel does decide to move forward with The Real Housewives of Brisbane or The Real Housewives of the Gold Coast, the series will reportedly film next year for a late 2023, early 2024 debut.
