Gold Logie nominee Jessica Marais’ decision on Wednesday to pull out of attending the 2018 Logies is just the latest spanner in the works for this year’s ceremony.

With two days to go until the red carpet kicks off, the 60th incarnation of the local TV industry’s night of nights is an early contender for the most controversial ever.

It has been bedevilled by infighting between networks, uproar about its move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and a thinner-than-usual roster of celebrities.

“It’s showbiz, so it will all be all right on the night. But I imagine there’s sleepless execs at the moment,” a TV insider who has worked at Nine and Seven told The New Daily.

Sylvia Jeffreys (at the 2017 Logies) is “excited” to be hosting. Photo: Getty

Not for Today’s Sylvia Jeffreys, who is co-hosting the event with Sonia Kruger and Leila McKinnon. “I’m from Queensland, so it’s home turf for me. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” she told The New Daily.

Maybe, but the July 1 date clashes with the Gold Coast marathon, putting hotel room prices for stars and a small army of publicists, crews, stylists and hair and makeup artists at a premium.

To sweeten the deal, the Logies’ organiser – Bauer publication TV Week – reportedly offered each network $1000 per celebrity head, with a cap of $75,000 per network.

Host venue The Star seats about 200 less people than traditional venue Crown Melbourne, and while the crunch has made expense-conscious networks happy, the invitation process has left noses out of joint.

“It’s a glamorous version of The Hunger Games,” the TV source said.

“If you’re nominated, you’re on the plane. If you’re not, get the tracksuit out.”

Amid the bruised egos, semi-serious pre-Logies sledging and minor hissy fits, Marais’ situation is the most serious.

Citing undisclosed health reasons, the 33-year-old actor’s management team said in a statement she was “naturally disappointed” to be unable to attend.

The Love Child and The Wrong Girl star is a Gold and Silver Logie nominee this year.

It is not known if Marais’ health concerns are related to the bipolar disorder she has battled since she was 12, as revealed to The Australian Women’s Weekly in 2014. She has asked for privacy.

A source at Nine, which will broadcast the show, told The New Daily last-minute changes to the guest list and presenter line-up is common.

“The Logies is a moveable feast. It’s the Logies. Things change all the time and you just run with it,” said the source.

Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth at the Thor: Ragnarok premiere in Los Angeles last October. Photo: Getty

The network’s pragmatic approach to its telecast was earlier tested on Monday, when Elsa Pataky pulled the pin on being one of the 30 presenters.

The Spanish actor’s commitment to the event had drummed up buzz in the Nine camp that she might bring her husband, actor Chris Hemsworth, as her plus-one, adding international lustre.

“Elsa was coming and now she isn’t, because of scheduling issues,” said the Nine source.

“It’s fine. We’re always going to be able to get someone else. We’re blessed for choice.”

While the source is upbeat, even Nine stars admit they’re not completely on board with the Gold Coast as host.

Last September the Victorian government confirmed it would withdraw its estimated $1 million in annual funding for the event, which was first hosted in 1959 in Melbourne.

“Obviously it’s not perfect for me saying this, but I’ve always loved the Logies in Melbourne,” Today host Karl Stefanovic told The New Daily.

He backpedalled slightly: “Melbourne is the home of TV … but they can get stale and going to the Gold Coast will probably invigorate them.”

This month Stefanovic took a potshot at his rivals on Seven’s Sunrise, who are skipping the Logies because of the expense and logistics: “We don’t want you there anyway. You’re all boring.”

I agree @karlstefanovic we are boring. So boring you can’t stop talking about us on your show…😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/r21lrz7bSF

— Samantha Armytage (@sam_armytage) June 20, 2018

His rant came after Sunrise host David Koch told an Adelaide radio station he isn’t “boycotting” the awards but preferred to do something else.

“It always clashes with football, which is way more important to me than getting on the grog with a whole bunch of TV people,” said Koch.

The ABC will have a smaller presence compared with previous years, according to a network spokesperson.

What’s behind the decision? It is “in line with the reduced scale of the event” and “the need to focus our budget on producing high-quality and distinctive Australian content”, the spokesperson said.