Big Brother host Gretel Killeen has confirmed she is leaving the controversial reality television series, and is set to be replaced by radio duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O.
"Working on Big Brother has been an extraordinary, challenging and rewarding experience," Killeen told the Sunday Telegraph.
"I'm really proud of what we've achieved but I now have the seven-year itch and am busting to get on with a million new things, including my first feature film, which we're shooting in the new year."
Killeen, 46, departs after seven years as host as part of a major re-vamp for the show.
Sandilands had his appearance as an intruder on the 2007 show shortened due to a migraine.
The Ten Network series has struggled under falling ratings and an industry source said Killeen was the "the first on the list" to go.
But BB 2005 runner-up Tim Brunero told ninemsn that the show would be losing a "huge asset" in Killeen, whom he said brought an "enormous gravitas and intellect to the show".
"She's a highly intelligent woman and in its most crass moments she made Big Brother look classy," he said.
"She was a professional operating with a live audience on a very high-rating show, with someone in her ear giving her instructions at all times.
"She managed to steer house mates through some very difficult and emotional situations.
"She was firm with the boys and a mother to the girls."
The latest Big Brother series attracted an average audience of 1.9 million viewers, down from its peak of 2.9 million in 2004.
And while Killeen enjoys a large fan base, some have used online blogs to criticise the long-running host as being too harsh on the show's contestants.
Brunero said: "Sure, she had her moments where she was ratty with some of the boys but after over 100 interviews with evictees I think she's allowed to make a mistake or two.
"When I was on the show, people talked about the prize and maybe winning the money and being famous, but they also all talked about how excited they were to sit be able to on stage with Gretel."
"Working on Big Brother has been an extraordinary, challenging and rewarding experience," Killeen told the Sunday Telegraph.
"I'm really proud of what we've achieved but I now have the seven-year itch and am busting to get on with a million new things, including my first feature film, which we're shooting in the new year."
Killeen, 46, departs after seven years as host as part of a major re-vamp for the show.
Sandilands had his appearance as an intruder on the 2007 show shortened due to a migraine.
The Ten Network series has struggled under falling ratings and an industry source said Killeen was the "the first on the list" to go.
But BB 2005 runner-up Tim Brunero told ninemsn that the show would be losing a "huge asset" in Killeen, whom he said brought an "enormous gravitas and intellect to the show".
"She's a highly intelligent woman and in its most crass moments she made Big Brother look classy," he said.
"She was a professional operating with a live audience on a very high-rating show, with someone in her ear giving her instructions at all times.
"She managed to steer house mates through some very difficult and emotional situations.
"She was firm with the boys and a mother to the girls."
The latest Big Brother series attracted an average audience of 1.9 million viewers, down from its peak of 2.9 million in 2004.
And while Killeen enjoys a large fan base, some have used online blogs to criticise the long-running host as being too harsh on the show's contestants.
Brunero said: "Sure, she had her moments where she was ratty with some of the boys but after over 100 interviews with evictees I think she's allowed to make a mistake or two.
"When I was on the show, people talked about the prize and maybe winning the money and being famous, but they also all talked about how excited they were to sit be able to on stage with Gretel."
