It’s one of Seven’s biggest shows, and was a hit in 2026. So why did the network hit pause?
Late last week Eureka Productions got the directive from Seven.
Network plans had changed. It was pausing plans for Farmer Wants a Wife. Casting was to stop. One of its biggest returning shows would have to wait.
Just what is behind the decision is speculative… more on that shortly….
When the story broke, Seven Managing Director of TV and Streaming Angus Ross clarified “The show has not been cancelled. Seven will produce the next series of Farmer Wants a Wife in 2027.”
Rikkie Proost, CEO of Eureka Productions, confirmed to TV Tonight a timeline for the next season has changed but pre-production had stopped.
A casting team working on the next season was let go.
“It was a casting team (let go) and obviously we’d started speaking to people, and people were lined up for production. But in terms of those that were actually engaged, it was largely the casting team,” he confirmed.
“Relationship shows don’t sit on the shelf very well. You’ve got to try get them to air as soon as possible after you’ve shot them.
“You’ve got people that are in relationships or holding off being seen together in public – and you want to capitalise on relationships while they’re still hot.
“With Farmer, we like to keep it as close to broadcast as possible.
“So the decision was made, ‘Let’s just pause and let’s start back up again, closer to when we’re going to be shooting it,’ which is in 27.”
A decision to halt during, or just before, production is rare but not unprecedented in Australia.
Shows including 10 talent series Don’t Stop Believin’, Nine drama reboot Return to Eden, Netflix comedy God’s Favorite Idiot and even Eureka’s own The Amazing Race Australia all got the untimely call. Many more still never even got that far.
Seven’s decision appears to be pushing the show into financial year 2027 – 28, although that’s not confirmed.
It comes after the announcement to screen I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and speculation that The Voice, which had a solid season, will return. Both are produced by ITV Studios Australia.
Farmer Wants a Wife also had a strong season in 2026, up 22% year on year. Whilst none of the farmers are now coupled up, it was nevertheless a good result for a show in its 16th season.
“Sonya Wilkes, our Chief Content Officer, oversaw the last series, and she just brought a whole new energy to it. It was an outstanding series, ratings-wise,” Proost observes.
“It’s a show that has performed incredibly well for them for the last five years and extremely well in the last year.”
Seven’s 2027 Upfront will be held on October 22 at Luna Park, Sydney. Farmer is expected to be part of the announcements, but it isn’t clear if it will screen in 2027 or 2028. Angus Ross has previously referred to some shows screening every two years as a way of keeping franchises alive.
Seven and Eureka will meet today, and while active casting has paused, there now remains more time for single farmers and ladies to throw their hat in the ring.
“Casting still remains open,” says Proost. “It’s full confidence that it’s going ahead. It’s just a timeline shift.”