Samantha Armytage is living it up at the Australian Open as she enjoys the perks of working for a new network.
The freshly minted Channel Nine star posted to Instagram Stories on Monday, posing for selfies at the prestigious tennis event.
The 48-year-old took a photo in front of a Channel Nine decoration in the shape of a tennis ball before taking her seat in the stands.
She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she sat with pal Allison Langdon, tagging Nine is the images.
Sam also stopped to take a selfie with friend Stephanie Snelling as they took in the match.
The television star looked glamorous in a black and white frock and a full face of glamorous makeup.
Samantha Armytage (pictured) is living it up at the Australian Open as she enjoys the perks of working for a new network
Sam has been busy with new work commitments in recent weeks and last month announced her latest venture with a sweet post to Instagram.
She cuddled up to an adorable Labrador as she revealed that she has become an ambassador for Guide Dogs Australia.
‘I’m so excited/thrilled/proud to be the newest ambassador for Guide Dogs Australia. What a brilliant, genuine and trusted organisation,’ she wrote in her caption.
‘I’ve always loved them and now I’m a part of it. They do invaluable work to help blind and vision impaired people live fulfilled, safe and productive lives,’ Sam said.
‘In the next few weeks, we’re going to be looking for puppy raisers – we need safe and loving homes to look after our precious puppies until they’re ready to go into training and then go to work as the most wonderful guide dogs.’
Sam went on to pay tribute to her own Labrador, Banjo, who tragically died in February last year.
‘You all know how much I love Labradors. So this is a perfect job for me. I’ve included a few pics of my darling Banjo here – who I miss every day.’
Sam then alluded to her divorce with husband Richard Lavender, after she spent her first Christmas single since the split.
The freshly minted Channel Nine star couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she sat with pal Allison Langdon (left) at the prestigious tennis event
Sam also stopped to take a selfie with friend Stephanie Snelling (right)
‘Cuddles with these pups healed my heart a lot. Bring on 2025,’ she wrote.
Sam separated from equestrian businessman Richard, 61, on the eve of their fourth wedding anniversary.
She started dating Richard in April 2019, and they announced their engagement in June 2020.
The couple then tied the knot at his 40-hectare property in the picturesque Southern Highlands in NSW on New Year’s Eve of that same year.
But late last year, sources revealed their split exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, with Samantha then confirming that they had ‘amicably’ gone their separate ways.
‘Yes Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it’s somewhat lessened by the fact it’s amicable and we wish the best for each other,’ Samantha told the media.
‘I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won’t be making any further comment.’
It comes after Sam’s upcoming Channel Nine dating series The Golden Bachelor has received an unexpected setback during its open casting calls.
Sam last month announced her latest venture. She cuddled up to an adorable Labrador as she revealed that she has become an ambassador for Guide Dogs Australia
The upcoming series is based on a popular American show of the same name and features people over 60 looking to find their second chance at love.
However, a Warner Bros casting executive has now revealed there has been an issue with their casting search for older people looking for love.
‘A lot of the applicants don’t know how to fill out the application form and upload pictures and videos,’ the insider told Yahoo Lifestyle.
‘A lot don’t even own an iPhone or computer to do it themselves after hearing about the show on the news.’
The source explained that they had to make some changes to the casting process in order to widen their potential talent pool.
‘Applications started off slow but now we’ve pushed for people to nominate their grandparents. It’s picked up,’ they said.
They added they had also approached retirement homes across the country to see if any senior citizens would be up for the very public chance at finding love.
The Golden Bachelor offers people in their 50s and 60s a chance to find their second chance at love and will premiere on Nine at some point in 2025.
She then alluded to her divorce with husband Richard Lavender (left), after she spent her first Christmas single since the split. ‘Cuddles with these pups healed my heart a lot. Bring on 2025,’ she wrote
In November, it was reported The Golden Bachelor has been scouting for contestants in a very unusual way.
A talent scout for the Channel Nine show was spotted handing out business cards to attendees at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
Casting agent Ivanna Tang opted for the unusual method of attempting to recruit racegoers to the upcoming spin-off show, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Producers are said to be busy behind the scenes working on casting their eligible Bachelor and are hoping to finalise his leading role in the coming weeks.
Nine secured the rights for The Golden Bachelor in Australia and Samantha has been signed up to host the reality dating show.
Samantha got involved with the casting call, urging people to give their family members a ‘nudge’.
Outgoing Farmer Wants A Wife host Samantha shocked fans in August when she stepped down from Seven after 21 years, with rumours rife about her next step.
Her new TV gig on The Golden Bachelor was finally unveiled at Nine’s Upfronts in November, where the network’s schedule of 2025 programming was unveiled to invited guests.
It comes after Sam’s upcoming Channel Nine dating series The Golden Bachelor has received an unexpected setback during its open casting calls
‘I think you’re all going to love this. It’s love for the golden ages,’ Samantha said in the video interview with 9Entertainment.
‘When I got the call to join the show, I didn’t hesitate. The Golden Bachelor has been huge in America, I have a feeling it’s gonna be huge in Australia, too.’
‘We are beyond thrilled to welcome Samantha Armytage to Nine as new host for our quest for love, the Golden Bachelor, where everyone deserves a second chance at love,’ Nine’s Chief Marketing Officer Liana Dubois added.
Warner Bros Australia first sparked speculation about a local version of the show in November 2023 when they put out a fall for ‘fun, active, and outgoing male seniors aged 60 or over who are divorced/widowed’ to take part in a new dating series.
The first US version of The Golden Bachelor starred father-of-two and widower Gerry Turner, 72, with a Golden Bachelorette version then launching with widow Joan Vassos, 61, looking to find love.
The US version of the show has been wildly successful, with its finale garnering 6.1million viewers, making it the most watched final episode of the American Bachelor series since 2021.
Read the full article here
