Craig Hutchison has been replaced as host of Channel Nine’s The Footy Show by former host Eddie McGuire.
The Collingwood president and popular media personality will lead the show alongside Sam Newman and Rebecca Maddern, with Hutchison expected to leave the show entirely after only being in the host's chair for less than six months.
McGuire says he is “jumping out of skin” with excitement at his return to the show that made him a household name.
“The Footy Show changed my life. It’s been my passion always and it has been the difference for me to be able to do all the things I ever dreamt of as a little boy,” he said.
“I can’t believe that I am back on it. I have missed being there for the past 10 years I must admit at various times.”
He believes that while his return isn’t a move to save the show – commending Hutchison on a “fantastic job” - The Footy Show will aim to return to its roots to bring back long-time fans.
“The show doesn’t need saving, it is going well…This is a show that has been loved by a lot of people. It has been under a lot of pressure, but we’re ready to explode,” said McGuire.
“This is big time. We’re not just doing a little change here, this is the rebirth of The Footy Show. We’re going to give it back to the people again. We’re going to bring fun back to football….We’re going to be letting Sam off the leash, we’re going to break stories and we are going to have fun.
“Football is so enjoyable, it’s become too serious. We’re going to get back to having fun again.”
The show will take a two week hiatus to allow for McGuire to prepare for his new role, returning on August 10.
Hutchison, who will remain as host of Nine's Footy Classified on Monday nights, says that he completely understands the decision.
“It’s been a great honour and privilege to host one of Australia’s iconic TV shows," he said in a press statement.
"As a businessman, I fully understand and support the opportunity to bring back Eddie. He’s the original host and the best host on Australian television.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the producers and the people I work with, and I’ll be enthusiastically supporting The Footy Show and all involved in future.”
Rohan Connolly says he holds some doubt as to whether the “surprising” hosting change will revive show’s largely underwhelming ratings this year, believing the show’s issues centre on the format rather than the hosts.
“I’ve got to say I have my doubts,” he said on SEN’s Footy Fix.
“That’s no sleight on Eddie, I just think the format is a bit tired and I think to be honest Sam is a bit tired.
“People will say he is The Footy Show, I get that, but that to me is symptomatic of the problem.
“I think the world has moved on a bit from The Footy Show, and I think what was once funny, cutting-edge and unmissable in the mid-90s isn’t necessarily the case now. I would have thought they have just sent it to the knackery at the end of the season.”
He also says that he feels sorry for Hutchison, believing the job he was handed at the start of the year was always going to be difficult.
“I think Hutchy was thrown into a pretty deep pool with a show that has basically been trending downwards for a long time,” he said.
“Hutchy gets a bad rap to be honest. I think he is a very able host and is an experienced TV guy and I think he knows his footy. I think he has always had an ability to laugh at himself on occasion.”
The show will take a two week hiatus to allow for McGuire to prepare for his new role, returning on August 10.
McGuire last hosted the show in the 2005 before his short-lived term as Channel Nine chief executive officer between 2006 and 2007.
He then returned to TV screens as host of Millionaire Hot Seat and as a football commentator for Fox Footy, both roles which McGuire will continue to hold alongside his new commitments.
The move comes as the show is locked in fierce competition with Channel Seven's The Front Bar, which has the won the ratings in three of the four weeks since it entered the 8:30 PM Thursday timeslot.