An end of an era! The Herald Sun is reported that Gina Liano is quitting The Real Housewives of Melbourne. The glamorous barrister is leaving the series the same week the series is about to commence filming Season 5 after being on hiatus for over a year due to the global pandemic.
The publication reports the following: “Melbourne’s reality TV queen has quit the Real Housewives Of Melbourne as part of a seismic shake-up of the show,” reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.
In a shock move sequined style icon Gina Liano has turned on her stiletto heel and sashayed out of the Real Housewives abode.
Liano, a lawyer and civil celebrant, was one of the original housewives and parlayed her popularity into products including perfume, jewellery and shoes.
However the G-train has come to a halt with Liano choosing to exit the show which will start filming on its long delayed series five within a matter of days.
It is understood she is focusing on her legal career.”
The publication continues, “Liano’s departure will be formally announced at the Foxtel show’s start of filming bruch on Wednesday, where a number of new faces in the franchise will be revealed.
In fact, sources hint that up to four new housewives could be announced in the biggest overhaul of the cast in the show’s history.”
The Herald Sun added, “Series five was originally set to start filming around March last year but the COVID-19 crisis saw the production postponed. At that stage, the cast comprised Liano, Gamble Breaux, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello, Cherry Dipietrantonio, Kyla Kirkpatrick and Anjali Rao. Now, more than 12 months later, the show is back on track, albeit with some fan favorites missing.”
In March 2021, it was reported that Liano was planning to quit the series after wrapping up filming the upcoming fifth season. Sources said via New Idea that Matchbox Pictures, the production of the series, barely managed to convince the mother-of-two to return for another season, but she made it very clear that “this season is [her] swan song.”
A source also previously revealed that Pettifleur Berenger had also been wanting a chance to shine, and it was said she had been “begging” I’m A Celeb producers for a spot in the jungle for years to relaunch herself after leaving RHOMelbourne.
“For so long, Gina was the queen of Melbourne and reality TV ... with Pettifleur always in the shadows. But now I’m A Celeb ... has pushed her ahead of Gina in the race,” the source told New Idea, who insists the cherry on top has been RHOM’s filming delay, with Victoria’s recent COVID-19 restrictions putting a hold on the upcoming season.
However, the source insists it was, in fact, Liano who Network 10 originally wanted for the show.
“Gina’s the superstar and fan favourite and was always the housewife on top of their wish list. But she has always decided it’s not her thing and turned it down."
Photo Credit: Courtesy via Chemist Warehouse