LIONS, WARNIE & THE LOGIES
COAST PRODUCER SPILLS DIRT
A LOGIE-nominated Gold Coaster from I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here says he’s still peeved with Bernard Tomic and only a few Shane Warne anecdotes were suitable to air.
Broadbeach executive producer Alex Mavroidakis is part of the team of more than 100 Australian crew who fly to the African jungle each year to help out with the show.
He was there when Bernard Tomic walked out after three high-rating days in 2018, saying he had to get back on the tennis court.
And also when Shane Warne struggled to keep his stories PG in 2016.
“Warnie told a lot of stories he wasn’t supposed to – 20 per cent of them went to air,” Mr Mavroidakis said.
“(Tomic), we felt desperately sorry for him. For him to leave after three days was a disappointment.
“I don’t think he knew what he was getting into. He really could have flourished in there. Half of me feels sorry for him, half of me feels angry with him.”
Mr Mavroidakis will be at The Logies at Star Gold Coast this Sunday as a producer for some of Australia’s most popular reality television shows, including Love Island, but he’s come to terms with his chances of winning.
“It’s our fourth nomination for I’m A Celebrity, (but our chances are) not very good – I’d say 50 to one,” he said.
Every year he and fellow producers have to deal with the threat of lions, hippos and wild weather.
Almost every year The Block wins Most Popular Reality TV Show at The Logies. It’s an irony that leaves a bit of a sour taste in his mouth.
“There really are lions, leopards, rhinos, it’s really full on,” Mr Mavroidakis said.
“You’re living in shacks in the middle of nowhere eating rice and beans all day. It’s also a 24-hour turnaround show. We have 10 hours in the edit suite each episode.
“A lot of people don’t understand and appreciate how crazy it is to get it to air.
“We’re up against The Block. People who vote for The Logies are very much Block fans.
“It’s just a Logie, we’re almost certainly not going to win it, but having the recognition to be nominated with everything that goes into the show (I’m A Celebrity) is at least something.”
The Logies airs on Channel 9 from 7pm.
WARNIE TOLD A LOT OF STORIES HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO – ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THEM WENT TO AIR PRODUCER ALEX MAVROIDAKIS