Foxtel Insider broke the news via an official Press Release on Monday, December 12: "Foxtel’s signature success stories, The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Grand Designs Australia, Selling Houses Australia, Gogglebox Australia, Coast Australia, The Great Australian Bake Off, Crimes That Shook Australia and Stage & Screen, will all be back in new seasons.
Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh said: “Foxtel is passionate about storytelling and we continue to look for those quality productions which meet the audience appetite for Australian stories and tell them in an impactful and meaningful way.
“Our commitment will fund new Australian productions including the event dramas, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Australia Day, factual titles Lawless: The Real Bushrangers, Court Justice, Demolition Man and The Real Housewives of Sydney, to name a few.
So far there's no word on who will be returning to Season 4, but at the moment the only confirmed cast member not returning is Chyka Keebaugh.
Back in May, Keebaugh took to Instagram to confirm her exit from the show after the third season finale episode aired on Foxtel's Arena network to focus on family, hospitality business and her lifestyle brand.
"To all my friends on social media, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful posts and connections shared over my four year journey as a Real Housewife of Melbourne, I've had so much fun!! Reality TV is a ride and I have enjoyed it thoroughly, but that ride for me is now over," wrote Chyka.
She continued: "I have decided to close this door in order to make way for some exciting new opportunities within the lifestyle arena, for the “Chyka Home and Life” mediabrand."
"Please know I have had a ball - laughed, cried, dressed up, been places and done some things I never expected. No regrets, only brilliant memories. I have loved your constant online friendship and support, I can only hope we stay connected."
She added: "My friendships made during the show won't change either , and I'll look on with such pride as the girls film many more seasons full of drama, frocks and shocks!! For me, I'll just have a little more time for my family, businesses and will be able to focus on moving forward with "Chyka Home and Life" Love Chyka xx"
Chyka is the second Housewife to leave the Foxtel reality series following Andrea Moss' departure after Season One in 2014.
Back in June, Gina Liano confirmed the show will 'definitely' be back, but didn't reveal which cast members would be returning.
"Definitely there will be a season four,'" she told The Sydney Morning Herald. "Who comes back, I don't know."
The third season of RHOMelbourne wrapped in Australia with a 90-minute reunion special. The series also gained a decent audience in America, with 414,000 viewers for the premiere episode.
Meanwhile, the fourth season was put on hold for The Real Housewives of Sydney and The Real Housewives of Auckland. All three shows are produced by the same production company, Matchbox Pictures. RHOSydney is set to premiere early next year while RHOAKL's future is still unknown despite gaining good ratings.
However, back in October, a new source claimed that casting for the forth season is currently underway. “Only the originals have been asked back,” an insider told our good friends over at TV Deets. “Lydia is the one producers really want back but she’s worried about being attacked like she was last season.”
“I’m not sure if [Lydia] will come out guns blazing or take a back seat,” says the source, explaining that she remains shocked by the backstabbing that took place in her eyes. “They are definitely talking about season 4 but no firm commitment has been made.”
The source claims that “[Producers] want to shake things up,” explaining that producers still want to see how things play out among the women following the explosive third season finale.
I think the same cast as Season 3 should all return to season four including Gamble Breaux, Pettifleur Berenger and Susie McLean. I really hope they don't do major revamping and cast changes, I think the cast is perfect as is. These girls always bring it, and we love them all for it!
Who do you want to see back on Season 4? Sound off in the comment section below!
Photo Credit: Foxtel
