The pair were unveiled at Seven’s Upfronts in Sydney on Thursday, 22 October. The appointment gives the Australian series a completely different hosting partnership after Julia Morris and Robert Irwin’s time in the jungle.

In its official announcement, Seven confirmed the hosts will oversee an all-new celebrity cast in South Africa. The contestants and exact premiere date have not been announced.

A New Pairing For The Jungle

Ricki-Lee brings her Australian Idol presenting experience to the role, while comedian Jefferies is already familiar to Seven viewers through The 1% Club Australia.

In announcement comments carried by TV Tonight, Ricki-Lee said she was looking forward to her first trip to Africa and experiencing a show she has watched from home. “I’m such a massive fan and it’s a huge honour,” she said.

Jefferies sounded equally enthusiastic about watching celebrities tackle the challenges. “It sounds like my ideal holiday,” he said.

Seven’s director of unscripted content, Majella Hay, said the hosts’ contrasting personalities were central to the pairing, promising a fresh energy for the series.

The announcement settles the hosting question after Morris had left the door open to returning. She has since publicly wished her successors well.

TV Tonight says the Seven series will screen later in 2027 than the franchise’s usual January and February slot. Viewers will be able to watch on Seven and 7plus.