Plate of Origin will have a shortened season after COVID-19 interrupted filming 

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the Australian TV industry – and Channel Seven’s upcoming cooking series Plate of Origin is no exception. 

The program, which has the unfortunate acronym POO, will now have a shortened season after filming was interrupted earlier this year.

Seven’s director of network programming, Angus Ross, told Mediaweek on Wednesday that the season will only have 10 episodes.    

‘We had to modify what we were doing in order to get something to air,’ said Ross. ‘We are quite happy with the way it has worked out.’ 

Starring My Kitchen Rules’ Manu Feildel and former MasterChef judges Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston, Plate of Origin will showcase international dishes. 

Amateur cooks from diverse backgrounds will represent their country’s cuisine and face off against other teams. 

Plate of Origin isn’t the only Channel Seven show to be affected by the pandemic.  

Seven has also had to change shooting locations on upcoming series SAS Australia from New Zealand to the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. 

The show will follow celebrity competitors as they undertake a series of challenges that mirror the selection process for the Special Air Service (SAS) military unit. 

‘We have had to do some juggling because of COVID-19 as have all the networks,’ Ross added to Mediaweek. 

Viewers can still expect Farmer Wants a Wife and The All New Monty: Guys and Gals to air later this year as scheduled. 

However, the miniature golfing series Holey Moley has been postponed until 2021.