Shane Crawford given SIX HOURS notice to host Ninja Warrior

The COVID-19 pandemic rocked television productions across the country – and Australian Ninja Warrior was no different.

Footy legend Shane Crawford revealed to the Sunday Herald Sun how he was given just six hours notice, ahead of hosting the show filmed at Melbourne Showgrounds.

With co-host Rebecca Maddern having to undergo a COVID-19 test and await the result, Channel Nine contacted the 45-year-old around 1pm on the first day of filming back in March. 

‘I was thrown right into the deep end and I loved it. It is the most fun I have had since the early (AFL) Footy Show days,’ Shane said.

The retired AFL star hosted with Ben Fordham for ‘the first couple of nights’, and then replaced Freddie Flintoff as sideline commentator.

Freddie, 42, returned to his family back home in London due to the pandemic.   

Rebecca was forced to miss out on a few days of filming after she was tested for the virus. 

The 42-year-old went into self-isolation after her Weekend Today colleague Richard Wilkins was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March. 

Thankfully, she tested negative and was able to return to the Ninja Warrior set. 

This season is set to introduce a brand new obstacle called The Power Tower, which will see contestants compete head to head in a Ninja Warrior first.

However, Ben Fordham, 43, has accused her of ‘stealing’ his idea for the new Power Tower obstacle.  

‘This year there’s this thing called the Power Tower. I’m pretty sure it was my idea. I had a dream about it and then I told people about the dream,’ he told News.com.au.

‘What Rebecca has then done is she has heard that and then gone and pitched it officially to producers and they’ve run with it.’ 

But Rebecca has denied stealing Ben’s idea, telling Daily Mail Australia: ‘It’s typical of him to want to put his name to a winner but it’s mine,’ she said.

Australian Ninja Warrior starts Sunday at 7pm on Nine.