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Veteran Channel 7 news presenter announces shock departure

<p>Longtime presenter of Channel 7 news Jodie Speers has announced her departure from the program after 15 years. </p> <p>Jodie has long been the face of the early morning <em>7News</em> bulletin, but has decided to step back after a decade and a half behind the desk. </p> <p>Taking to Instagram on Friday, she announced it would be her final day on the job. </p> <p>Jodie shared a series of photos documenting her highlights from her many years in the role, while candidly sharing why she was calling it quits. </p> <p>“The end of an era! I didn’t expect to feel so emotional today! 💓” she said.</p> <p>“This job has given me so much over the past 15 years. From a stint in federal parliament, another one in the courts, and everything from crime scenes to red carpets, bushfires to brain surgeries, every day was different."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4yhod8yjcd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4yhod8yjcd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jodie Speers (@jodiespeers)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Sometimes sad, often stressful, at times hilarious or completely bizarre 🤪”</p> <p>Speers then spoke of how the job impacted her family life, admitting it had been difficult balancing the unusual hours and being a mother to three kids, who she shared with husband Ben Fordham. </p> <p>“I’ve since spent years reading the early news ... juggling babies and toddlers, getting up at an ungodly hour ... but getting home in time to see my babies wake up."</p> <p>“I’ve been chipping away at a law degree for the last year and now looking forward to a new season ... getting back to court in a different capacity!"</p> <p>“As always, the people make the place — I’ve worked with so many over the years — and can’t think of a single bad egg. It’s these guys I will definitely miss the most ❤️🙏.”</p> <p>Friends and colleagues flocked to the comment section to send their well wishes to Jodie on her next venture, while congratulating her 15-year stint with Channel 7. </p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> weather presenter Sam Mac said, “Going to miss starting our day with you 🙌 But your new profession may come in handy for me one day 🤷🏽‍♂️ congratulations & well done 👏.”</p> <p>“You are incredible! I always loved seeing you if i was ever in Sydney. You are so warm, genuine and kind! Cannot believe you’ve been working, studying law and juggling 3 kids! Amazing! Big love and best wishes for the next chapter x,” former <em>7News </em>presenter Kendall Gilding said.</p> <p>“One of the best in TV! Absolute class act,” <em>Sunrise</em> presenter Shaun White said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

"I was angry": Julia Morris comes clean about Dr Chris Brown's departure

<p>We are all well aware that Dr Chris Brown, beloved former co-host of the jungle rollercoaster known as <em>I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!</em>, bid farewell to the show last year. Host Julia Morris, renowned for her vivacious wit and boundless charm, recently shed some light on her inner turmoil when her long-time partner in jungle antics decided to hop over to rival network Seven.</p> <p>The departure of Chris, after nine glorious seasons of quips and critters, left Julia in a state of bewilderment. "I was shocked," Morris <a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/julia-morris-admits-she-was-angry-when-chris-brown-quit-im-a-celebrity-004322904.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo! News</a>. "I was angry, but I was also fine because it's what my friend needed to do. It was a super confusing time."</p> <p>Morris then faced the daunting prospect of finding a new partner-in-crime; enter Robert Irwin, the youthful wildlife enthusiast and heir to the Crocodile Hunter legacy. After a rigorous audition process involving around six Aussie personalities, Robert emerged as the chosen one. Julia described the moment as if the clouds parted, and a celestial spotlight shone down on young Irwin. "Everybody dissolved immediately and everybody knew it," Julia recounted. </p> <p>Now, the burning question on everyone's minds: Will Julia be just as flirtatious with the sprightly 20-year-old Irwin as she was with Chris? On that matter, Julia has remained coy: "I don't know how and why it's already working so beautifully." she teased.</p> <p>Julia also reassures us that she and Robert have already formed a bond akin to that of two koalas clinging to the same eucalyptus tree. "Now we have fun. I'm learning along the way from Robert, which is fantastic," she gushed. And thus, a new era dawns in the jungle, where critters roam, celebrities squirm and Julia Morris reigns supreme as the queen of quips and camaraderie.</p> <p><em>Image: Network 10</em></p>

“Don’t be alarmed”: Better Homes and Gardens star makes shock announcement

<p dir="ltr"><em>Better Homes and Gardens</em> star Karen Martini has announced she will be “stepping back” from her role on the program. </p> <p dir="ltr">After almost two decades on the show, the 52-year-old admitted she has “so much on my plate” this year as she balances a range of different projects. </p> <p dir="ltr">The chef and restaurateur will be taking a break from the show to focus on work, while also making more time for her teenage daughters, Stella, 17, and Amber, 15.</p> <p dir="ltr">She told <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/better-homes-and-garden-star-karen-martini-makes-shock-announcement-stepping-back-c-13310981">7News</a></em>, “With my two new restaurants— Johnny’s Green Room already open and Saint George set to launch soon — as well as so many other projects on the go, 2024 is shaping up to be my busiest year ever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“My daughters are in their last teenage years too — it’s quite daunting as Stella is in year 12 and also on her Ls.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“With so much on my plate, I’ve made the decision to step back from <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em> (BHAG) this year while I focus on some of my other exciting projects.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“So don’t be alarmed if I’m not in your living room every Friday night.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Karen will continue to make the occasional guest appearance on the show, but will not feature in every episode. </p> <p dir="ltr">After the news of Karen’s departure was announced on the <em>Better Homes & Gardens</em> Instagram account, longtime viewers shared their messages of support to the chef in her next ventures. </p> <p dir="ltr">One person wrote, “Been watching since you joined in 2007 and I’ve loved watching you in the kitchen. All the best.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 52-year-old also shared her excitement over the newest addition to the <em>Better Homes</em> line-up: chef and <em>MKR</em> judge Colin Fassnidge.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m so excited that my mate Colin Fassnidge is entering the <em>Better Homes</em> kitchen,” she went on.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think his cheeky flavour is sure to spice up the show and I can’t wait to see him on air when we are back on Friday, February 2.”</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 14pt;"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-f58c99fe-7fff-4b7e-1eb4-bc9024fbdc3d"></span></p>

Alan Joyce announces shock early departure

<p>Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is stepping down from his position earlier than anticipated, following a period of mounting public and regulatory pressure on the national airline. After dedicating 22 years to Qantas, with a 15-year tenure as its chief executive, Joyce's last day in office was confirmed by Qantas in a statement to the ASX.</p> <p>The airline has been mired in a series of negative headlines for several months, including <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/alan-joyce-grilled-over-cancelled-flights-and-covid-credits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegations of selling tickets for nonexistent flights</a>, exorbitant airfares, high cancellation rates and issues related to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/alan-joyce-grilled-over-cancelled-flights-and-covid-credits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flight credits</a>. Vanessa Hudson, the incoming leader designated to fill Joyce's shoes, will now take on the role of managing director and group chief executive, effective from Wednesday August 6.</p> <p>This unexpected announcement was made on Tuesday morning, with Mr. Joyce stating, "In the last few weeks, the focus on Qantas and events of the past make it clear to me that the company needs to move ahead with its renewal as a priority.</p> <p>"The best thing I can do under these circumstances is to bring forward my retirement and hand over to Vanessa and the new management team now, knowing they will do an excellent job.</p> <p>"There is a lot I am proud of over my 22 years at Qantas, including the past 15 years as CEO. There have been many ups and downs, and there is clearly much work still to be done, especially to make sure we always deliver for our customers. But I leave knowing that the company is fundamentally strong and has a bright future."</p> <p>Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder expressed gratitude to Joyce for his years of service and leadership but acknowledged that the transition is occurring during a challenging period for Qantas.</p> <p>Joyce's decision to step down came shortly after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission initiated legal action against the airline, accusing it of selling tickets for over 8,000 flights scheduled between May and July of the previous year, even after those flights had been cancelled.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

"Family always first": Block judge reveals real reason for sudden departure

<p>Neale Whittaker has shared his frustrations over the premier episode of the new season of <em>The Block</em>, saying a vital piece of information was edited out. </p> <p>Audiences were shocked on Sunday night when Neale told his fellow judges Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer that he had some important news to tell them before commencing their judging duties. </p> <p>Visibly emotional, he confessed that he would be “breaking up the band,” and wouldn’t be able to join them as a full-time judge this season, saying he "can't be here every weekend this year". </p> <p>His longtime colleagues embraced him and told him he had their full support, and then the moved on to judging rooms, with viewers not told the reason for Whittaker’s decision.</p> <p>After the episode aired, Neale took to Instagram to share his frustrations with the edit, and shared the reasoning behind his impending absence to his followers. </p> <p>Sharing a clip of the moment as it went to air, he wrote, “There’s nothing more frustrating than an unexplained decision or an incomplete narrative – especially where health and family are concerned."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvnn9S-vkXO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvnn9S-vkXO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by NEALE WHITAKER (@nealewhitaker)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“This is what went to air tonight on the first episode of <em>The Block</em>’s 19th season, my 17th. I broke the news to Shaynna and Darren that I would be unable to join them each week and explained my reasons. It was an emotional conversation for all of us. Unfortunately those important reasons didn’t make the cut so here goes.”</p> <p>Whittaker explained that he’d “chosen to put family first,” and support David, his partner of 20 years, through “some serious and ongoing health issues.”</p> <p>“Melbourne real estate expert Marty Fox will be standing in for me on the weeks I can’t be there, but I’ll still be popping up from time to time over the next 12 weeks. The good news is that David is making great progress, my <em>Block</em> family has been fully supportive of my decision and I’m looking forward to returning to The Block full time for the show’s 20th anniversary season in 2024,” he continued.</p> <p>The post was flooded with comments of support and well wishes, with previous <em>Block</em> contestants Elise and Matt writing, "Family always first buddy ❤️ when we all heard the news we put David straight into our prayers ❤️❤️❤️ we hope he’s on this way to a full recovery."</p> <p>Another fan wrote, "Family is so important Neale! I’ll be waiting to see you pop in, over the next 12 weeks."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Sam Mac, Nat Barr and Lisa Wilkinson on Kochie’s departure

<p>Kochie's breakfast show colleagues, and former rivals, have shared their well wishes for the veteran TV presenter after his shock retirement announcement. </p> <p>On Monday morning's episode of <em>Sunrise</em>, Kochie announced he would be stepping back from the show, with his last day in the hosting chair to be June 9th. </p> <p>Viewers were shocked by the retirement announcement, as Sunrise social media accounts were flooded with messages from loyal viewers. </p> <p>Kochie also received messages of support from his famous friends, as Lisa Wilkinson congratulated him on his astonishing career in the media. </p> <p>She wrote on Twitter, “Huge congrats to @kochie_online on a stellar 21yrs on @sunriseon7.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Huge congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/kochie_online?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kochie_online</a> on a stellar 21yrs on <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sunriseon7</a></p> <p>I was lucky enough to work with Kochie in my early brekky TV years & he really is all class. His generosity on & off camera continuing long after I left to join <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheTodayShow</a></p> <p>Enjoy those sleep-ins Kochie.👏👏👏</p> <p>— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lisa_Wilkinson/status/1662979090020986881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“I was lucky enough to work with Kochie in my early brekky TV years & he really is all class. His generosity on & off camera continuing long after I left to join @TheTodayShow."</p> <p>"Enjoy those sleep-ins Kochie.”</p> <p>Nat Barr paid tribute to her co-host later on Monday morning's show, sharing that she and Kochie have been working side by side for 20 years. </p> <p>"The show would not be what it is today without you. It’s been an amazing ride and we’re going to celebrate that in the next two weeks,” Barr said on air, referring to Koch’s last day.</p> <p>“It was not just me who was crying – it was so you as well. Don’t blame it on me."</p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> newsreader Edwina Bartholomew also shared the impact Kochie has had on her career, saying it had been the "greatest pleasure" to work together.</p> <p>“He is one-of-a-kind. Exactly the same on TV as he is off-air,” she wrote on Instagram. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cszf-lrhmns/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cszf-lrhmns/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Edwina Bartholomew (@edwina_b)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“An incredible mentor to so many of us at @sunriseon7. My very first job on the show was helping him locate a suitably awful and vaguely appropriate ‘Joke of the Day.’”</p> <p>“I will always look up to him (literally) as a broadcaster but mostly as a father and grandfather. Family is everything to Kochie, and it’s so wonderful he now gets to spend more time with Lib and the kids.”</p> <p><em>Sunrise’s</em> sports presenter Mark Beretta also sent his well wishes to Kochie online. </p> <p>“Kochie, you have made an enormous contribution to changing the entire tone of breakfast TV for the better,” Beretta wrote </p> <p>“Your generosity, honesty and care for others has made a massive impact on so many. I could never have wished for a better mentor and mate. Love you so much mate. Enjoy this new chapter and thanks so much for all you have given us over so many years.”</p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> weather reporter Sam Mac shared an exchange between him and Kochie after Mac's very first day on the job in 2015. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cszim-YyO3C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cszim-YyO3C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Mac (@sammacinsta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The supportive message praised Mac's weather reporting, as Mac captioned the screenshot, “This was my FIRST Day EVER on <em>Sunrise</em>!” Sam captioned the screenshot. “I didn’t even have the job yet... I had no idea if I fitted in or if I’d bombed spectacularly.”</p> <p>“The only piece of feedback I got that day was from the star of the show, Kochie! (he went to the trouble of finding my number). It may seem like a simple gesture, but in the cutthroat biz of TV, this level of support & kindness is surprisingly rare."</p> <p>“That message meant so much to me, and tells you everything about Kochie’s character.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Belinda Russell lifts the lid on “disappointing” Weekend Today departure

<p dir="ltr">Belinda Russell stunned <em>Weekend Today </em>audiences early in 2023 when <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/today-host-announces-shock-departure">she made the unexpected announcement</a> that she would be parting ways with the Nine breakfast programme. </p> <p dir="ltr">Taking to social media in March, Russell thanked her supporters, shared her hope that she’d “brought some sunshine and joy” to their screens, and expressed her excitement for the opportunity that lay ahead. </p> <p dir="ltr">A month later, Clint Stanaway and Jayne Azzopardi joined <em>Weekend Today</em> as co-hosts.</p> <p dir="ltr">And now, Russell has spoken up about her surprise departure, suggesting in an interview with <em>Stellar</em> that the decision for her to leave hadn’t been one she’d seen coming, either. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It wasn’t the start to 2023 that I was expecting, and that was disappointing,” she confessed. “It’s going to be a bit of a knock to your confidence and self-esteem but you do then think ‘well, what’s next?’ </p> <p dir="ltr">“You’ve got to trust the universe and back yourself.”</p> <p dir="ltr">But rather than dwell on the negative side of her situation, Russell is determined to focus on the benefits, primarily what it means for herself and her three young daughters - 16-year-old Maddi, 13-year-old Tallulah, and 11-year-old Coco. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You have setbacks in life, but it’s how you bounce back that matters,” she explained. “[It’s good] for my girls to see that and learn about resilience.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Russell made note as well of how she hadn’t quite understood “how powerful it can be bringing a bit of hope and joy and brightening someone’s day” until someone approached her at an event and thanked Russell for getting her through Covid.</p> <p dir="ltr">And it’s those takes that the 44-year-old brings to her ongoing work at Nine, with Russell adding that “TV is so subjective. One person might think something but then a million others might disagree. That’s the way the cookie crumbles and I’m not going to cry about it. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It is what it is, but what’s next?”</p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to the future, Russell is keeping her options - and her eyes - open, explaining to <em>Stellar</em> that if an opportunity arose to host something in the realm of entertainment, “to have fun and explore that zest for life”, then she’d be prepared to give it a go. </p> <p dir="ltr">And that she isn’t keeping her options limited to just television, either. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I work at Channel Nine and for Channel Nine, but I don’t think any particular role belongs to me,” she revealed. “You hope your ability means you’re put in roles that you can shine in, but my eyes are wide open. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If I don’t work in the TV industry any more or I leave Channel Nine, life is still going to be good.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Today host announces shock departure

<p>Belinda Russell has shocked viewers after announcing she will be leaving her role as co-host on <em>Weekend Today</em>. </p> <p>The 44-year-old presenter announced the news on Instagram along with a highlights video of her time on the show.</p> <p>“Hello friends. A little career update for you,” Russell wrote. </p> <p>“My time on <em>Weekend Today</em> has come to an end. Thanks to those who tuned in. I hope I brought some sunshine and joy to your weekends."</p> <p>“I have loved the last year and am looking forward to future opportunities at Nine. Good luck to the team for 2023 and beyond!”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpZzKlljG7O/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpZzKlljG7O/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Belinda Russell (@belinda.russell)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Her Nine colleagues flocked to the comments section to offer support, including <em>Today Extra</em> co-host David Campbell, who posted a series of love hearts and the words: “My sister.”</p> <p>Belinda didn't provide any reason for her sudden departure, leaving fans wondering if the decision to leave was made by the Nine bosses amid the ongoing shake up of hosts. </p> <p>Russell has been on air at Nine since 2007, when she began as a reporter for <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>Belinda last appeared on <em>Weekend Today</em> on Sunday February 26th, but made no mention of her imminent departure and didn’t receive a send-off from her colleagues. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Karl Stefanovic responds to Ally Langdon's departure

<p dir="ltr">Karl Stefanovic has responded to the news that his <em>Today Show</em> co-host Ally Langdon would be leaving to take on the job of hosting <em>A Current Affair</em>, joking that she was “turning her back” on breakfast television.</p> <p dir="ltr">Stefanovic kept up the jokes throughout Monday’s episode, the first since it was announced that Langdon would take on the hosting gig over the weekend and follow on from long-term host Tracy Grimshaw.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Alison Langdon, everyone – the new host of <em>A Current Affair</em>, of course. Congratulations, Ally,” he announced at the start of the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wasn’t sure what you would do this morning … I knew it would be something,” Langdon replied.</p> <p dir="ltr">He quipped that he’d “spent the whole weekend working” on his short acknowledgement of Langdon’s new role, which starts on January 30.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I could tell. The production value had your name all over it,” Langdon quipped.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s all the <em>Today </em>show’s production value is. That part of the reason you have moved on?” he asked, before telling Langdon that they had a “big week planned for you … don’t go anywhere, not as if you can anyway”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The jokes didn’t stop there either, with Stefanovic declaring his co-host was “turning her back” on breakfast television during an interview with Jacqui Lambie, and quipping that it was “out with the old and in with the new” following a promo teasing Sarah Abo as Langdon’s replacement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you say things like that I can’t wait to go,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And we can’t wait to shove you off. It’s going to be a wonderful week of celebrations,” he responded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Further into the episode, Stefanovic took another playful dig at his co-host and the “countdown” until she leaves.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The countdown is on for Ally to leave breakfast television. We’ve cleared her desk, taken her car park and thrown out her Jimmy Choos... and good riddance, I say,” he said, before claiming that her time on the show only equated to one year, not three, “when you take out all her leave and sick leave”.</p> <p dir="ltr">While it was a show filled with plenty of jokes, there was also plenty of emotion too.</p> <p dir="ltr">After she was joined by her replacement, <em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo, Langdon broke down in tears while speaking about how bittersweet it was that her late father-in-law, Mike Willesee, wasn’t alive to see her take on the same role he had.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a pretty special thing to the family if I’m honest. A special thing for Mike which has sort of surprised me how much emotion he’s had around it,” she said, referring to her husband, Michael Willesee Jr.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s the thought of how nice it would be had he been here,” she said, before the tears began.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for her replacement, Langdon shared some advice for how to deal with Stefanovic.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Call me for a counselling session and I’ll say, ‘What did he do now?’ That’s how I’ll answer the phone,” she told Abo.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement released on Sunday, Stefanovic described his co-host as “extraordinary” and referenced the brutal knee injury she suffered during a segment on watersports in early 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ally has been extraordinary over the last three years. Battling through some tough personal physical obstacles to broadcast to the country during really difficult times. She’s an incredible broadcaster and I’ll miss working with her tremendously. Though, I won’t miss her dancing,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The breakfast show host said his new co-host was a “brilliant interviewer” with the “most wicked sense of humour”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can’t wait for the country to see all of those wonderful qualities every day at breakfast,” he said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f04fbd68-7fff-d1cf-8acf-e0d065767418"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Today</em></p>

Home and Away star announces shock departure

<p>Lukas Radovich, of long-running show Home and Away, has announced his departure from the Channel Seven show.</p> <p>The 27-year-old actor revealed on Instagram he will be leaving the soap after five long years. 'What an incredible ride. I can't really express how the last 5 years has felt or impacted my life so I'll keep it short. I'll miss the job, but most importantly I'll miss the people,' Lukas wrote.</p> <p>'A special mention to @tony_gardiner for directing my final block with empathy. And thanks to the FANS OF THE SHOW who've made the experience unforgettable.'</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdIE8vApkG3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdIE8vApkG3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Luke (@lukas.radovich)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>‘Also having my parents and @liamforcadilla appear as extras in my final episodes fills my heart. Until the next thing - catch you on the flipside.'</p> <p>Lukas has played the role of Ryder Jackson on Home and Away since 2017.</p> <p>In January, Lukas revealed the most challenging scene to film was last year's season finale which saw Ryder buried alive in a coffin for a video challenge.</p> <p>In the episode, Ryder was buried alive by his friend Theo, played by actor Matt Evans.</p> <p>'When I saw that the call sheet just had my name on it for the entire day, I knew it was going to be big,' he said.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Delta Goodrem finally reveals why she REALLY left The Voice

<p>Delta Goodrem has finally opened up about her surprise departure from her role as a coach on <em>The Voice</em>. </p> <p>After eight long seasons on the show, Delta revealed she was keen to "find a new chapter creatively", after being part of of the franchise since 2012. </p> <p>Delta started on the show on the first season, skipped season three and then returned for season four until the ninth season in 2020. </p> <p>Following the 2020, the future of <em>The Voice</em> took an unexpected turn, as rival network Seven poached the series when the Nine Network failed to pick it up.</p> <p>After months of speculation, the new coaching panel was revealed for the 2021, with Delta nowhere to be seen. </p> <p>“[The Voice] took up a lot of the year for me but I loved the show,” Goodrem says in a new interview for <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au">Marie Claire’s January issue</a>.</p> <p>“I gave it my absolute everything. I gave the artists everything I had. I was there from the very start and I was proud to be an anchor on the show.”</p> <p>However, when Delta hit the 150-episode mark, she knew it was time to move on. </p> <p><span>“In my heart I was like ‘thank you for this, now let’s finish the season, then it’s time for me to find a new chapter creatively’,” she said.</span></p> <p><span>The show's 10th season was an unlikely success for Channel 7, which was a bitter blow for the Nine Network. </span></p> <p>“Unfortunately due to the age of the show and its declining demographic profile, The Voice had become by far the poorest financial performer on our slate. We wish Seven well in their quest to revive yet another Nine show,” a Nine spokesperson said at the time of the dramatic poaching.</p> <p>Delta claims her exit from the show has given her time to focus on her music career, with her latest release hitting the top of the charts. </p> <p><span>“I’ve been proud of being my authentic self the whole way through my career. Living boldly is how I want to approach my life and, for now, first and foremost, that means getting back on stage and doing live music,” she said.</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Hamish Macdonald's shock departure

<p><span><em>Q+A</em> host Hamish Macdonald has announced he is leaving the <em>ABC</em> after 18 months in the job.</span><br /><br /><span>The TV journalist, 40, replaced veteran Tony Jones on the popular program in late 2019.</span><br /><br /><span>He left his coveted position as <em>The Sunday Project</em> host on Channel 10.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842539/daily-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/72306f6f871b4a948248e6ed68140c7a" /></p> <p><em>Hamish on Q+A. Image: Supplied</em><br /><br /><span>While Macdonald has not detailed what is next for him after <em>ABC</em>, the star’s departure follows months after he revealed an extreme amount of online abuse.</span><br /><br /><span>In a chat with Stellar in January, Macdonald said his role on <em>Q+A</em> through 2020 saw him receive the most hate on social media he has ever encountered.</span><br /><br /><span>“If you’re someone who sits in the middle of those exchanges in your day job, you end up copping it from every direction. I’ve never had more abuse for the interviews I’ve conducted than I had last year,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“And the abuse has come from left-wing people who don’t like you asking difficult questions of Dan Andrews, and it’s come from people on the right who don’t like you asking difficult questions of the federal government. I’ve definitely learnt you can’t please everyone.”</span><br /><br /><span>In a public announcement, Macdonald said he is “enormously grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to host <em>Q+A</em> and to work alongside wonderful, talented and passionate people.</span><br /><br /><span>“I am really proud of what we’ve achieved together during these extraordinary times.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’d also like to thank the incredible<em> Q+A</em> audience for all they contribute to this program each week. It is, after all, their show. Their questions and stories from all corners of Australia are inspiring, revealing and clever – and it has been a privilege to receive and read them.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m really excited to be moving on to a new opportunity, and working more with the <em>ABC</em> in the future.”</span><br /><br /><span><em>ABC’s</em> director of news Gaven Morris said in a statement: “Everyone at the <em>ABC</em> thanks Hamish for the incredible job he has done.</span><br /><br /><span>“At one stage during the lockdown he was presenting a live panel discussion program that wasn’t allowed to have either an audience or panellists in the studio. His experience and versatility came to the fore.</span><br /><br /><span>“Hamish has long been a part of the <em>ABC</em> family and we look forward to continuing that relationship when opportunities arise.”</span><br /><br /><span>When the TV personality was appointed host of <em>Q+A</em> in November 2019, it was believed he’d continue to host <em>The Sunday Project.</em></span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842544/daily.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2f7ceff0e6564bf49e3f5e808f592354" /></p> <p><em>Hamish and Lisa Wilkinson on The Sunday Project. Image: Channel 10</em><br /><br /><span>However, reports quickly emerged that he was forced to step down entirely and would only appear on the program in an occasional capacity.</span><br /><br /><span>“We’re largely reliant on the goodwill of the <em>ABC</em> if he’s going to continue with <em>The Sunday Project</em>,” Ten’s executive director of news and current affairs Peter Meakin told <em>The Australian</em> at the time.</span><br /><br /><span>Macdonald has hosted a series of programs since his career began to take off in 2010, when he was appointed senior correspondent and fill-in presenter on <em>6:30 with George Negus.</em></span></p>

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Studio 10 announces another shock departure

<p>There wasn’t a dry eye in the Studio 10 studio after Joe Hildebrand announced his departure from the show. </p> <p>“I am leaving Studio 10,” Hildebrand, who been on the show since it started in 2013, said on air. “I have given it a huge amount of thought. It has been really hard.”</p> <p>Last month, Channel 10 announced that Studio 10 was undergoing a massive shake-up due to cost cuts with Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling set to leave the show.</p> <p>Hildebrand was offered a lesser role than the one he has now and spent the last few weeks weighing out his future.</p> <p>“We all know the show is getting a bit of a shake-up,” he said on Studio 10 today. “Channel 10 and my lovely bosses asked me if I would stay in a new role. We talked warmly and openly about what that might look like, and they were really keen and really lovely about it.”</p> <p>But in the end Hildebrand decided it was better to leave the program and “give the new show, whatever it may look like, a chance to breathe and have a fresh start without me hanging around”.</p> <p>His last day on air will be tomorrow.</p> <p>Hildebrand became emotional as he praised Sarah Harris, who he called his “best friend, my work wife”.</p> <p>He also thanked the show’s viewers, saying: “People often stare down their nose at daytime television because it is only watched by pensioners at home or … housewives. They’re the people I love. They’re the battlers. They’re people who have often had really tough lives and they’ve overcome that and I just draw great strength and inspiration from them.”</p> <p>As for what he’ll do next, Hildebrand said: “I’m talking to other people about exciting stuff that I can do.”</p>

Duchess Camilla speaks out on Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s departure

<p>Duchess Camilla has spoken out on Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s departure from their senior royal roles.</p> <p>The Duchess of Cornwall was visiting Prospect Hospice in Swindon on Monday when <em>ITV News </em>royal editor Chris Ship asked about her stepson and daughter-in-law.</p> <p>“Will you miss Harry and Meghan?” the reporter asked.</p> <p>Duchess Camilla paused before responding, “Hmm. Course.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Watch Camilla’s face closely as she answers the question: “Will you miss Harry & Meghan?”<br />The Duchess of Cornwall smiles, pauses, then says “Hmmm. Course!” 😳😳<a href="https://t.co/CbPbb92bAL">pic.twitter.com/CbPbb92bAL</a></p> — Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisshipitv/status/1219319844631384065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Despite being involved in the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Duchess Camilla was not part of the Sandringham Summit that the Queen held last week to discuss the Sussexes’ future.</p> <p>Duchess Camilla’s husband Prince Charles will “still continue to offer private financial support” to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, according to royal reporter Omid Scobie.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">— Prince Charles will still continue to offer private financial support. <br />— They’ll still happily attend engagements for the Queen (such as Trooping the Colour).<br />— Details, including security and using the name “Sussex Royal” will be shared in due course.</p> — Omid Scobie (@scobie) <a href="https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1218609287246831619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The majority of Prince Charles’ income comes from the <a href="https://duchyofcornwall.org/frequently-asked-questions.html#question_10">Duchy of Cornwall</a>, a private estate exempt from corporation tax.</p>

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Longstanding Seven Sunrise host scales back role due to “gruelling schedule”

<p>Fans were shocked as a major departure was announced from Seven’s hit breakfast show<span> </span>Sunrise.</p> <p>Basil Zempilas has been with the network since 1994 but is set to “scale back” his current duties as the host of Weekend Sunrise.</p> <p>According to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7368223/Major-departure-Sevens-Sunrise-longstanding-host-scales-duties.html" target="_blank">TV Tonight</a></em>,<span> </span>the Perth-based broadcaster will remain “part of the Sunrise inner circle” but is focusing more on his family due to the “gruelling schedule” which seems him travelling between Sydney and Perth every weekend.</p> <p>Zempilas has a tough schedule at the moment, as he is flying to Sydney each weekend for<span> </span>Weekend Sunrise<span> </span>while presenting weeknight sports reports for Seven News in Perth.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byv2cAWjlGs/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byv2cAWjlGs/" target="_blank">TO OUR TWO JAMES... We salute you 👨🏼‍✈️👮‍♂️ @sunriseon7 @channel7</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by @<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/basil_zempilas/" target="_blank"> basil_zempilas</a> on Jun 15, 2019 at 3:45pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He also has a top-rated breakfast radio show with Steve Mills on<span> </span>6PReach weekday morning in Western Australia.</p> <p>TV Tonight claimed that his “gruelling schedule” is most likely the reason for his revised workload for Seven.</p> <p>The father of three has been co-hosting<span> </span>Weekend Sunrise<span> </span>since March 2018 but acknowledges that he would not have been able to host the show without the sacrifices made by his family.</p> <p>“There's no doubt that [my wife] Amy and my family, the three kids have sacrificed a lot for my career, all of it I suppose,” he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/basil-zempilas-racks-up-25-years-with-seven-ng-b881113249z" target="_blank"><em>The West Australian</em></a>. </p> <p>“All of my children have been born in the time that I have been travelling away interstate. I'm very aware had it not been for their support and flexibility I wouldn't be able to do the things that I'm doing.”</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2019/8/17/sunrise-on-the-hunt-for-new-host-as-basil-zempilas-steps-aside" target="_blank"><em>TV BlackBox</em></a><span> </span>reported that Sunrise is “on the hunt for a new host” as negotiations between Zempilas are continuing and the expectations are that he will still appear on the show, just as a more flexible guest presenter role instead of the co-host role he has now.</p> <p>Zempilas will continue to play a key role in Seven’s coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.</p> <p>Commitments are set to be scaled back before the end of 2019, but a replacement host for<span> </span>Weekend Sunrise<span> </span>is yet to be confirmed.</p>

Studio 10 panellists choke back tears as co-host announces departure

<p>It was a sad day on the<span> </span><em>Studio 10<span> </span></em>set on Tuesday as the panelists struggled to choke back tears after hearing their beloved co-host would be departing. </p> <p>Network 10 star Denise Scott was holding back tears herself as she announced she would be leaving the morning program’s Sydney panel to take on a part-time role as a Melbourne correspondent for the show. </p> <p>The 64-year-old revealed the decision to leave the panel, which is filmed at Channel 10's studios in Pyrmont in Sydney, was because she wanted to return back to her hometown in Victoria. </p> <p>Halfway through the program on Tuesday, Scott revealed the sad news to her co-hosts and the<span> </span><em>Studio 10</em>audience. </p> <p>“I'm going to take a break from being on the panel and I'm going to do some reporting from Melbourne,” Denise said. </p> <p>However, it wasn’t too long before Sarah Harris, Angela Bishop and Joe Hildebrand bantered with the stand-up comedian. </p> <p>The show’s entertainment reporter Angela joked viewers at home would be seeing Denise in the next season of<span> </span><em>Survivor</em><span> </span>after competing on 2019’s season of <em>Dancing With The Stars</em>. </p> <p>“OK yeah, because I'm really cut out for that show. I'd love some more humiliation in life,” Denise responded. </p> <p>Reflecting on her time, the 64-year-old said: “I had had the most wonderful time sharing [this experience]. I had never done this kind of show before.</p> <p>“At my age to get such an opportunity to work with you wonderful, wonderful people [is delightful].”</p> <p>Denise joined the panel in April 2018 following the shock exits of Jessica Rowe and Ita Buttrose.</p>

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Sylvia Jeffreys is back! Returns to TV for first time since Today show departure

<p>It’s her first appearance since her very public sacking from he<span> </span><em>Today</em>show, but Sylvia Jeffreys has found a new home on Channel 9.</p> <p>Jeffreys has begun her new role with Channel 9’s <em>A Current Affair,<span> </span></em>with her first story airing on February 22 about Australian model Madeline Stewart.</p> <p>Speculation about Jeffreys' new role has been around since late December, when it was announced that she wouldn’t be a part of the 2019 <em>Today</em><span> </span>show lineup.</p> <p>However, earlier this month, Nine confirmed to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/sylvia-jeffreys-is-back-on-screen/news-story/928c8b09ed15dd778399ebe10fef1a06" target="_blank">news.com.au</a> that Jeffreys would be spread across a “few departments”. We now know this includes <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>“Sylvia is working on some projects close to her heart across a few departments, including<span> </span><em>A Current Affair</em>. We’ll have more to announce soon,” a Nine spokesman confirmed.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Inspirational Madeline! From the catwalks of New York and Paris to the health scare that almost ended it all. <br /><br />Her incredible story TONIGHT on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9ACA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9ACA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SylviaJeffreys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SylviaJeffreys</a> <a href="https://t.co/lPEeiuMhyq">pic.twitter.com/lPEeiuMhyq</a></p> — A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9/status/1098784631573364737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>News director Darren Wick shot down speculation that Jeffreys was leaving the network, saying that she’s “a huge part of Nine’s plans for 2019 and beyond”.</p> <p>Wicks elaborated on his comments, saying that “she is contracted with Nine until the end of 2020. Any reports or speculation that she is leaving Nine are incorrect.”</p> <p>Jeffreys’ additional duties outside of her new<span> </span><em>ACA</em><span> </span>gig are yet to be announced, but the host is excited about her new role within Nine.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuKxaFknMsw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuKxaFknMsw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">@madelinesmodelling_ has been busy conquering the world since we last met, but a terrifying health scare over Christmas nearly ended it all. Maddy & her mum share their story tonight on @acurrentaffair9 & reveal what’s next for this beautiful game changer. They also drag me through a work out just to prove that she’s well and truly back on track. 😅 See it tonight @ 7pm 📺</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/sylviajeffreys/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Sylvia Jeffreys</a> (@sylviajeffreys) on Feb 21, 2019 at 7:04pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’m thrilled to sink my teeth into a brand new project,” Jeffreys said.</p> <p>“Opportunity often knocks when you least expect it and I’m ready to dive right in to what’s ahead of me.”</p> <p>Will you be watching Sylvia Jeffreys on<span> </span><em>A Current Affair</em>? Let us know in the comments.</p>

News

Celine Dion's emotional departure from Paris

<div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Celine Dion was staying in Paris for the duration of her two-month European tour which saw her perform in the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. </p> <p>On Wednesday, Celine had an emotional departure from the city as she left to return to her home in the States with her twin sons, Eddy and Nelson. </p> <p>The 49-year-old was met with confetti and a large crowd of cheering fans as she left the Royal Monceau hotel for the final time. </p> <p>The singer was visibly emotional as she was greeted with a swarm of adoring fans. </p> <p>The crowd threw handfuls of white confetti over the singer, as she waved them goodbye. </p> <p>Celine took selfies and kissed her fans on the cheek and then posed for a photo with her six-year-old twin sons outside the hotel. </p> <p>The European tour, titled <em>Celine Dion Live</em>, marked a relaunch of her career after a devastating 2016 when her husband of 22 years, René, passed away after a long battle with cancer. Her brother, Daniel, tragically passed away from cancer two days later.</p> <p>Celine revealed that her sons had helped her through her difficult time. </p> <p>She told <em>The Sun</em>, "I organise myself to not feel lonely, so I got myself a huge, huge, huge bed and I sleep with my twins. They are comforting me a lot. I need them. I need them close." </p> <p>"When it’s time for them to say they want their room, their room’s ready. But we watch a lot of TV together. I’m discovering Disney."</p> <p>Celine has also returned to the limelight with a new sense of style. She has enlisted the help of stylist Law Roach, former <em>America's Next Top Model</em> judge, proving that Celine is ready to get back to her best. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Celine Dion via Instagram</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Music

Are passports on the way out?

<p>Last month brought the <a href="/travel/international-travel/2017/06/departure-cards-to-be-phased-out/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">much-celebrated news</span></strong></a> that those pesky green outgoing departure cards were to be scrapped. Now, it seems, the government may be looking at getting rid of even more paperwork.</p> <p>Current trials of contactless biometric authentication technology, if successful, may lead to passports being phased out altogether. The technology makes use of facial recognition cameras and eye and fingerprint scanners to authenticate a passenger’s identity, making passports somewhat obsolete.</p> <p>“Our goal is for 90 per cent of eligible travellers to self-process through the border by 2020,” a spokesman for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said of the new streamlined strategy.</p> <p>While some experts believe the passport may not disappear for decades, given it is currently the only universal form of identification, others believe it’s only a matter of time before other countries begin seeing the documents as little more than “security blankets” for passengers.</p> <p>“It’s nice to have a passport at different stages along the way because people are used to it but it’s really not necessary,” Director of Security Programs at Unisys, John Kendall, told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/departure-cards-scrapped-will-passports-be-next/news-story/7d36fd2ebf481357523a728d85eced80" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">news.com.au</span></strong></a>. “It would be nice to know you could keep your passport in your bag, have it there when you need it but not be required to pull it out every step of the process.”</p> <p>And there’s a lot to be said for biometric technology – it’s a lot easier to lose your passport than a fingerprint or eye, after all – especially its security benefits. “Biometrics can be compared against extensive databases, harnessing aggregated data to confirm a traveller is who they say they are,” Kendall explained. “By analysing more complex biometric data, border security processes will be faster and more efficient, creating a better experience for passengers and adding greater security.”</p>

International Travel

The most annoying feature about overseas travel to be phased out

<p>The most annoying feature about overseas travel is about to be phased out.</p> <p>The green departure card, or Outgoing Passenger Card (OPC), has become obsolete and soon will disappear altogether. And that will be quickly followed by the orange Incoming Passenger Card (IPC).</p> <p>But as recent international travellers would already know, filling out the green paper no longer seems to be mandatory. Officers do not collect the cards at some departure points and for travellers using the automated SmartGate passport reader, there’s no penalty if you fail to place the card in the box.</p> <p>The cards are often a source of frustration for travellers who forget to fill out the card on board and then must quickly scramble to find a pen, their passport and flight numbers.</p> <p>The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) confirmed to news.com.au that it would remove the cards, but did specify a date.</p> <p>“Removing paper-based manual processes is integral to achieving a seamless and automated traveller experience,” the DIBP said in a statement to news.com.au on Tuesday.</p> <p>“The DIBP has been reviewing the use of paper-based passenger cards.</p> <p>“Recognising the importance of the data collected on paper-based cards, DIBP has worked closely with the Australian Bureau of Statistics to identify and successfully test alternate data sources instead of relying on manual collection by paper-based cards.</p> <p>“The Government is focused on low contact automated border clearance processes and technologies to manage the 50 million travellers expected annually by 2020.”</p>

International Travel

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