With The Chase Australia host Andrew O’Keefe reportedly back in rehab, after a relapse of the health crisis that forced him to take months of leave from his job last year, it’s been said Channel Seven is in the process of securing a replacement.
“It’s Larry Emdur! Seven are hoping he can take over as soon as possible,” said an insider from the network.
“Things are volatile at the moment. They’re fast running out of prerecorded episodes and are hoping he’ll be on board,” the insider adds.
Larry is no stranger to hosting game shows.
The 55-year-old was known for his gig on The Price Is Right, which he hosted on three occasions, and is now hosting Seven’s The Morning Show.
“They can’t suffer any further rating slumps and they know Larry is the game show quick fix!” said the insider.
Last year, it was reported that production for The Chase Australia was postponed last November until January, just weeks after Andrew revealed he’s back on top following an eight-week break to seek mental health treatment.
It is assumed that his mental health slowly started declining after a bitter divorce from his ex-wife Eleanor.
“He’s in a very bad place and Seven execs are worried about him,” a source said at the time.
“They’re hoping this break gives him the space to sort himself out.”
“Everyone hits a part of their life where they really question what it’s all about and who they really are, whether what they have done for the last four or five years means anything,” Andrew said on Sunrise as he reflected on the turbulent period in his life .
“And I think, when I split up from my wife, that was my time. and the thing I always believed in most of all in this life was the power of love and combining with someone to make something special, and when I lost that, I thought well, it was all meaningless.”
