Network Ten has dismissed speculation that Kyle Sandilands' Big Brother hosting job is under threat, saying they expect him back next week.
While Sandilands missed his second eviction show on Sunday night because of a severe chest infection, hundreds of fans took to message boards calling for his stand-in Mike Goldman to become a permanent fixture.
Some speculated Sandilands had already been sacked - and others accused him of faking his illness and some even labelled him a "dog".
But a spokeswoman for Big Brother on Monday said that Sandilands was expected to return on Sunday.
"He had the week off for his radio show as well so he's got quite a bad chest infection," the spokeswoman told AAP.
"With anything like that you determine things day by day, obviously if he's not well enough he won't be there.
"But at this stage we expect him back, we should see him next Sunday."
Sandilands has been lashed by fans since taking over from Gretel Killeen this year with his radio partner Jackie O.
After Sunday night's show threads such as "No More Sandilands Yes Yes Yes" and "Mike Again, Thank You Big Brother" have been growing on the official website.
"A chest infection ???????? haha yeah right whatever LOL He's been sacked !!!!!!!! WOOHOO," grape 45 wrote.
Praise for Goldman continued to flood in.
"Hope you get the full time job," wrote Hendo89.
"Would love you to take over Kyle's job! Kyle your a dog man."
Clubby 200 said: "Let's just have mike he's so kool good by kyle forever," wrote Clubby 200.
Fans praised the chemistry between Goldman and Jackie O and some said that Goldman was more deserving of the job after being with the program since the beginning.
"Now that Kyle's gone, Jackie O started to blossom," wrote yabuuu.
