Masterchef Australia‘s Melissa Leong is set to co-star alongside academic Susan Carland and Studio 10‘s Narelda Jacobs in a new talk show, launching as a part of Ten’s pilot showcase.
Dinner Guest will feature the three hosts as they take part in a “no-holds-barred discussion” on current social, political and cultural issues. Each episode will also feature a key special guest.
It’s set to be presented as a sort of dinner party. However, there’s almost certainly not going to be any MAFS-style feuding (although it would be kind of iconic if Melissa threw her wine at someone).
Instead, the round-table discussion aims to highlight different lived experiences, especially diverse perspectives and voices.
We think Melissa described it best on her Instagram announcement: “THE IDEA: ‘An Aboriginal, an Asian and a Muslim woman walk into a restaurant…’ each episode, we take an inspirational Australian with something to say, out to dinner.”
Despite the culinary name, it was actually NITV journalist Narelda who pitched her talk-show vision to Network 10.
“When the amazing Narelda has an idea for a TV show that is fresh, interesting, and smart, you pay attention,” co-host Susan said when announcing the pilot.
Who Are The Hosts of Dinner Party and Why Is It So Exciting To See Them On Commercial TV
Melissa, Narelda and Susan have all been vocal about the need for way more diversity in mainstream programming.
We’ve started seeing more diversity in shows like Masterchef Australia, but it’s kind of rare to see a diverse cast on an Australian commercial talk shows RN.
“For the longest time the conversation has been weighted, all-white voices,” Narelda told SBS at the Logie Awards.
“We’re starting to see the balance come back with women, people of minorities, and all marginalised voices but we haven’t quite got it back to balance,” she said.
Narelda is a proud LGBTQI+ and Whadjuk Noongar woman, best known for her work on Studio 10 and NITV’s The Point.
If Susan’s name sounds familiar, you may have come across her dubbed as “The Project host Waleed Aly‘s wife”.
However, she’s way more than that (obvs), working as an academic, author and television presenter, with a primary focus on her academic speciality of women in Islam.
Our iconic Masterchef queen Melissa is best known for her work as a writer, radio host TV presenter and food media consultant. She is also a first-generation Singaporean Australian
Okay But WTAF is the Ten Pilot Showcase?
The Masked Singer Australia‘s Abbie Chatfield — who is set to launch her own show Abbie Talks in the pilot showcase — shared a little more insider knowledge on WTAF the pilot showcase actually is.
Replying to a fan on Instagram, Abbie explained that networks give a few select people the “opportunity to make a pilot episode of a show they have pitched”.
“[Network 10] shows the public all of the pilots and decide which ones they will commission to make a full series,” Abbie said.
So basically, if we want more Abbie content and/or a f*ckload more diversity on commercial TV, go check it out at 10Play on July 4.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 196 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
