She found love on reality TV with a millionaire pub baron and now Sophie Monk will help others do the same, with the former Bardot singer announcing she will host Channel Nine’s Love Island next year.
The Bachelorette star confirmed the news on the Today show on Friday, saying she is ‘so excited’ about her new gig.
She also revealed on The Kyle & Jackie O Show that she will be taking her boyfriend Stu Laundy with her.
It’s confirmed! Sophie Monk to host Love Island Australia on Channel Nine amid reports she was ‘offered $1 million’ for the job… and she will be taking beau Stu Laundy with her
Speaking to the Today show, Sophie explained the concept of the series which has already been a huge hit overseas.
‘It is a young group of people from 18-35 who are going to hook up on an island and they have got to try and last,’ she said.
‘You can vote them out if you don’t believe they are in love. At the end there is a lot of money and the couple either split it or one person takes it. So Australia kind of choose who is really in love. They send in intruders. It is exciting.’
‘It is exciting’: Speaking on the Today show on Friday, Sophie said she was looking forward to hosting the show, which features a young group of people trying to hook up on an island
The blonde bombshell also appeared on KIIS FM’s Kyle & Jackie Show on Friday, telling hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson that Love Island will be ‘a bit like Big Brother.’
And though Sophie and Stu have been plagued by break-up rumours, the actress said he won’t be left behind while she films in Spain.
‘He chills a lot so he’s going to come over,’ Sophie explained.
The UK version of Love Island is notorious for its lustful hook-ups and sexual activities, which Sophie acknowledged before joking ‘I’m gonna be the classiest one on there.’
‘He chills a lot so he’s going to come over’: Sophie also revealed to the Kyle & Jackie O Show her beau Stu Laundy (right) won’t be left behind while she films in Spain
Meanwhile, the Nine Network are touting Sophie as the ideal choice of host for the new show.
‘Sophie is the perfect fit for Love Island Australia – she’s fun and real. What you see is what you get,’ Michael Healy, Nine Director of Television said on Friday.
‘It’s great to have Sophie back to her home at Nine, from Love Island Australia to her travel special and the great energy she will bring to 9Honey and 9Now we know the audience love her.’
Sophie made a reported $300,000 to star in The Bachelorette.
The Bachelorette star confirmed the news on the Today show on Friday and she also revealed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that she will be taking her boyfriend Stu Laundy with her
Making moves: According to a report in Woman’s Day earlier this month, the 37-year-old first had to wriggle her way out of her contract at Channel 10 for the gig (pictured)
According to a report in Woman’s Day earlier this year, the 37-year-old first had to wriggle her way out of her contract at Network Ten for the gig.
The magazine claimed the bubbly blonde was ‘desperately trying to wiggle her way out of’ her obligations with Ten to pursue new hosting opportunities.
A ‘source’ described her being cognizant of her rising profile and how she has become a ‘hot property’ since the success of her Bachelorette season.
‘Sophie is well aware that her popularity and worth have skyrocketed since starring on The Bachelorette,’ they offered.
Huge: The show is huge in the UK
‘She knows she can pull in the big bucks,’ they added.
Sophie’s ultimate decision between contenders Stu Laundy and Jarrod Woodgate delivered Channel Ten its biggest audience in more than a year.
The season finale episode pulled in 1.640m metro viewers and 2.204m nationally.
Winner: Sophie’s ultimate decision between contenders Stu Laundy and Jarrod Woodgate delivered Channel Ten its biggest audience in more than a year
The show fared much better than last season’s finale with Georgia Love, pulling in an average metro audience of 875,000.
It came close to being the most-watched episode of any series of the network’s Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises.
‘The combination of Sophie, romance, excitement, humour, love and amazing dates had all of Australia captivated by The Bachelorette Australia this year,’ noted Beverley McGarvey, Network Ten’s chief content officer, in a statement.
‘The combination of Sophie, romance, excitement, humour, love and amazing dates had all of Australia captivated by The Bachelorette Australia this year,’ noted Ten’s Beverley McGarvey