Ita Buttrose’s sudden exit from Studio 10: “Why I left”
Ita Buttrose departed Studio 10 yesterday after four and a half years on the Channel 10 morning talk show.
The sudden news was only announced on Tuesday, just weeks after Buttrose’s co-host Jessica Rowe stepped down from the panel show, citing the wish to spend more time with her family.
Yesterday, the 76-year-old media icon explained on-air why she’s making such a sudden departure.
"It was such a shock. It was a shock to hear you’re leaving," said her co-host Sarah Harris during a segment on Studio 10.
"There comes a time in your life where you have to decide what else you want to do with your life," said Buttrose. "I've got five grandchildren ... I want to spend a bit more time with them."
She added: "I've come to an agreement with a publisher to write a couple of books."
Co-hosts Harris and Joe Hildebrand sung the Buttrose’s praises during her last show yesterday, but Denise Drysdale remained noticeably quiet during the discussion.
She only spoke when Buttrose joked that Hildebrand’s stubble made him look like George Michael.
“He’s dead,” she quipped.
“He’s dead? Thank you, Denise,” said Buttrose.
The pair’s minimal interaction did very little to squash a rumoured feud, which made headlines earlier this year and resulted in the exit of the show's executive producer Rob McKnight.
In the wake of her departure after the Anzac Day programme, Ten Chief Content Officer, Beverley McGarvey said: "We are very sad to see Ita leave Studio 10. She has been with the show since day one and has been a wonderful member of the team."
"Ita is a true legend of the Australian media and a great colleague. Everyone at Studio 10 and Network Ten, as well as her many fans, will miss her but we fully understand and support her decision to step away from the show. She is, of course, welcome to come home to Studio 10 at any time,” she added.
As a veteran of Australian media in both publishing and television, Buttrose was one of the original cast members of the morning show.
It is beleived that Denise Scott will join Studio 10 appearing every second week alternating with Drysdale.