Top 5 candidates for Australia’s next "Bondi Vet" revealed
Since "Bondi Vet" first aired in 2009, Dr Chris Brown has become a national sensation.
Now, five doctors have been shortlisted by producers WTFN to succeed him as the "Bondi Vet".
Dr Peter Ricci from Western Australia is currently the fan favourite and was voted into the top five by a public vote. He works at Murdoch University Emergency Pet Hospital and Perth Zoo.
Dr Peter Ricci from Western Australia
Over the next few weeks, each candidate will be filmed to test their suitability for the role.
WTFN’s Director of Content, Steve Oemcke, said, “The level of competition in the latter stages was incredibly high. Everyone we looked at has a unique skill set and story to tell.
“It is very pleasing to see vets across four Australian states make it to the Final Five stage.
“We always said we’d consider people from across Australia for this exciting opportunity.”
Sydney’s Dr Lewis Hunt, who works at Collaroy Plateau Veterinary Clinic, is also in the running for the role.
A client of his told WTFN, “Incidentally, he looks like Dr Chris Brown.”
Dr Alex Hynes and Dr Anthony Cassimatis, both from Queensland, are also in the top five.
Dr Anthony Cassimatis from Queensland.
Dr Cassimatis works in Brisbane’s Manly suburb. One of his clients said, “'Anthony from SuperVets has very high energy and is very animated. Above all he is very informative and shows our pets absolute love... could not think of a more worthy candidate.”
Dr Alex Hynes from Queensland.
Dr Alex Hynes works for the animal emergency service and wants to show “future generations of girls what’s possible”.
Dr Danni Dusek from Victoria.
Dr Danni Dusek from Victoria pursued acting and singing before finishing veterinary school.
"What are the chances of being able to combine the two things I love the most," she said.
The producers have revealed that they are open to tweaking the show considering there are finals from various states in Australia.
“We think 'Bondi Vet' is more about the spirit rather than the location of the programme. Whether it’s someone who relocates or works out of Bondi…. for a period of time, potentially that is how it will work,” WTFN CEO, Daryl Talbot, recently told TV Tonight.
“But we’re not going to lock ourselves into the format, or to be blunt even in the title. It will be driven by the talent.
“What the show looks like and what it’s called will be flexible.”
Dr Chris Brown previously explained that he wouldn’t be returning to the show as his workload hosting “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” and “The Living Room” became too much.
He said that although he won’t be hosting the show, his day job as a veterinarian will always be his priority.
“I've always been hugely proud of the 'Bondi Vet' TV show and it will always be a big part of who I am.
“But for now, I will just be a Bondi vet rather than the host of 'Bondi Vet'.”