Samantha Armytage’s old employer Channel 7 is reportedly “determined” to hire her estranged husband Richard Lavender for a shocking new TV role.

Samantha Armytage’s ex-employer Channel 7 is reportedly “determined” to lock in her estranged husband Richard Lavender for a revamp of Farmer Wants a Wife.

Armytage, 48, announced her separation from Lavender, 61, in December just weeks before their fourth wedding anniversary.

The split came months after Armytage’s equally shocking professional separation from Seven in favour of a plum new gig hosting The Golden Bachelor on rival Channel 9.

The Golden Bachelor is a new twist on the popular Bachelor dating franchise and will see a group of older Australians competing for the hearts of Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden, a widower in his 50s from Manly in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Sam Armytage separated from husband Richard Lavender in December. Picture: Supplied.
Seven is reportedly planning to revamp the 2026 season of Farmer Wants a Wife Australia – which Armytage previously hosted – to feature older farmers and take on the Golden Bachelor head on.

According to a Seven production source who spoke to New Idea magazine on Monday, Armytage’s estranged husband is at the top of the casting list.

“Production doesn’t want the format becoming stale, and they’re desperate to give the show a fresh new look and format in a bid to rival its growing competitors,” the source said.

“Channel Seven is determined to convince former Farmer host Samantha Armytage’s ex-husband Richard Lavender to front a Golden Farmer series.”

Samantha Armytage confirmed her exit from Seven in August and split from Lavender months later. Picture: Getty Images for Australian Turf Club.
The source claimed that Armytage would likely see the move as an insult, especially after Lavender shunned the spotlight throughout his marriage to the ex-Sunrise host.

“Sam wouldn’t love the idea of Richard being involved in Farmer, in fact she would probably see it as a bit of an insult, but she is the one that had him pose for magazine covers and put his name in the spotlight, he’s of interest because of his high profile marriage and separation to Sam,” the source said.

The split shocked some industry insiders, especially after Armytage herself told Woman’s Day that she quit her role hosting breakfast television show Sunrise to live at Lavender’s 40-hectare estate in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands.

Following the break up, sources told Daily Mail Australia that a contributing factor to the split was allegedly tension between Lavender’s adult children and Armytage.

It is understood the TV star has left the countryside and decamped back to Sydney’s eastern suburbs amid her divorce.