Channel 10 has been brutally called out for letting go of long-time weatherman Tim Bailey.
The network has confirmed they will be giving the legendary reporter a proper, well-deserved send-off after he became the latest victim to Channel 10’s brutal budget cuts.
The 57-year-old was promptly replaced with a female weather presenter on 10 News first on Tuesday evening but a spokesperson has affirmed Tim will recieve the goodbye he deserves.
“Tim is taking a break for the rest of this week and is on leave next week. His leave next week has been planned for some time,” the spokesperson told Tv Tonight on Wednesday.
“Tim has been a valuable member of the 10 team for many years. He and 10 are in discussions about when he will leave the network.”
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The statement comes after KIIS FM host Kyle Sandilands brutally called out the network for retiring the much-loved presenter after his 30 years of service.
“There is no other weatherman, at least in Australia, nearly as good, as passionate and as enjoyable to watch as Tim Bailey,” Kyle said on air on Wednesday.
Tim enjoyed an illustrious career as the network’s eccentric reporter and weather guru, and has earned an army of fans since the early 1990s.
Kyle went on to mention that he was taken aback when he learned the star was axed and was not present on Tuesday’s 10 News First.
“I tuned in to watch his final bulletin last night, and he was gone. Not even there,” Kyle said.
His co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson agreed it would have been respectful for Tim to give a proper sendoff to his loyal viewers.
Kyle went on to question why Tim would be replaced in favour of another weather person for a national bulletin.
“Why don’t they [Channel 10] use the best in the business? Why can’t Tim go on and do the weather for the whole country?”
Kyle added: “The Pleasure in watching a talent like Bailey is hard to replace.”
Tim became a familiar face on Channel 10 after he scored a gig on Good Morning Australia with Mike Gibson and TV veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley back in 1980.
Prior to being axed, Tim reported the weather on-location around New South Wales towns for Ten News at Five.
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He also acted as a cover reporter for Ten Network.
Tim, along with at least 24 other stars, including Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne and journalist Natarsha Belling, were let go in the brutal afternoon of budget cuts.
Staff members were informed that the news and operations department was being “restructured” as a result of the sharp decline in advertising revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes are expected to be effective from Monday, September 14.
