The Scoop: Rogue Lexa has security in a spin at major event
Alexa Leary has proven she can’t be stopped in or out of the pool after multiple security guards couldn’t contain the renegade dancing queen. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Paralympic swimming star Alexa Leary has proven once again she’s unstoppable both in and out of the pool.
Crowned the Gold Coast Bulletin Woman of the Year for 2024 at The Star Gold Coast on November 16, Leary turned the celebration into an unforgettable spectacle.
After accepting the award, Leary’s exuberance led her straight to the DJ booth, where she broke into an impromptu celebratory dance. The only problem? The stage was strictly off-limits to guests. Three security guards, apparently unaware of the gold medallist’s celebrity status, attempted to escort her off the stage. But once the head of security was alerted to her VIP status, the rules shifted. In a compromise that kept everyone happy, a security guard was stationed beside her to ensure safety while she continued her celebration.
SWIMMING FEAT IS OFF THE CHARTS
Queensland’s craziest swimmer, Lynton Mortensen, has just chalked up another amazing aquatic achievement after completing his latest ice swim in Antarctica.
Dubbed the ‘Sea Bull’ for his extreme swimming exploits, the 60-year-old retired Brisbane lawyer swam a “polar ice mile” in 1C water alongside penguins, wearing just his “budgie smugglers”, cap and goggles.
He warmed up for the feat with a 2.5km crossing of the Beagle Channel from Chile to Argentina in relatively balmy 6-8C water before a 250m test swim in subzero temperatures and an “ice kilometre” in 1.4C water during which he was bashed by floating blocks of ice.
Mortensen has now completed zero ice miles (a solo 1.6km swim in sub-1C water) in both the north and south poles as well as two crossings of the Beagle Channel in 10 months.
He’s the first and only open water swimmer to achieve an “Oceans Ice Extreme” award and marathon and ice swims off all seven continents.
NEW ROLE FOR TITMUS IN WAKE OF SEVEN DRAMA
It was certainly a week of highs and lows for Channel 7 Gold Coast anchor Amanda Abate and her colleague, Olympic gold medallist turned sports presenter Sally Pearson.
Both were caught up in the brutal axing of Seven’s 5.30pm Gold Coast bulletin on Tuesday.
It came just a day after Abate celebrated her 39th birthday with her partner and two young children.
New Seven news boss Anthony De Ceglie’s axe also fell the day after Pearson was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, alongside fellow Gold Coaster Mick Fanning, at a ceremony in Melbourne.
While some junior staff lost their jobs in the fallout, some have already landed on their feet including Steve Titmus who has a confirmed new role.
Abate is also in demand for corporate hosting gigs and was an ambassador for this year’s Magic Millions racing carnival.
Meanwhile, Former 7 Gold Coast reporter Bianca Stone – who was recently appointed a chief of staff in the new Crisafulli government after unsuccessfully standing for the LNP against former Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in the Gold Coast seat of Gaven – weighed in on the bulletin’s demise on Facebook.
“TV is a fickle game,” she posted above pics of her and colleagues from her old Seven days.
“My heart goes out to all of my former colleagues who put their heart and soul into that news bulletin. Local news is so important but apparently not profitable. It was fun while it lasted.”
BLEIJIE’S BLACK EYE
It started as a barely noticeable mark under the newly-minted Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie’s left eye. But within days it seemed the LNP attack dog had developed somewhat of a black eye. The cut and thrust of politics can be wounding but how robust had the LNP’s first cabinet meeting been?
Mr Bleijie confirmed he had indeed been in a biffo – with a curtain rod in his house. It’s alleged the wayward home decor flew off its holdings when a vigorous storm came through the Kawana electorate the evening before Mr Bleijie’s big CFMEU BPIC speech.
HOCKINGS IN FRAME FOR NINE GIG
After weeks of speculation, it appears Brendan Hockings, the current Executive Producer of Channel 9’s QTQ News, has secured the top job as Queensland News Director, replacing Amanda Paterson.
Sources within the network have confirmed to Scoop that Hockings is set to step into the role, following a wave of rumours about potential contenders, including Michael Best and Chris O’Keefe.
Paterson’s sudden departure earlier this month has left the media giant in a state of flux, with Channel 9’s National Director of News and Current Affairs, Fiona Dear, declining to elaborate in an internal staff email on the reasons behind Paterson’s exit, citing it as a “private matter.”
The shake-up comes amid a turbulent year for the network.
Paterson’s departure coincided with revelations that she had allegedly been in a prior relationship with former Nine news boss Darren Wick, who left the network earlier this year under a cloud of allegations related to inappropriate behaviour.
Hockings’ rumoured appointment couldn’t come at a more critical time for Channel 9’s Queensland newsroom.
Insiders suggest his leadership could be the steady hand needed to bring some calm to a pretty chaotic chapter.
Tempers simmer over summer presenter
Tensions are reportedly high at Brisbane’s 4BC as breakfast host Peter Fegan (pictured) has an issue with the station’s decision to enlist Shane Doherty as a summer fill-in presenter.
Doherty, a former senior media adviser to the Palaszczuk government, will temporarily replace Drive host Gary Hardgrave while both he and Fegan are on leave.
Sources close to the station reveal Fegan and Doherty share a frosty history.
Both Fegan and Hardgrave have been vocal critics of Ms Palaszczuk.
The move to bring Doherty on board is understood to have been driven by execs in Sydney, bypassing local reservations.
Kylie and Jackie O coming to Brisbane?
The future of Brisbane breakfast radio is under scrutiny, with speculation swirling that Sydney’s Kyle and Jackie O Show could replace Robin and Kip on KIIS97.3 in 2025.
Despite strong denials from the Australian Radio Network (ARN), industry insiders remain unconvinced, citing recent structural changes at the station as potential indicators. The redundancy of Robin and Kip’s executive producer, Ruth De Glas, this week has fuelled rumours of an impending shake-up.
In a heartfelt social media post, De Glas confirmed her departure.
“After nearly five years in the ring, blood, sweat, and tears, and plenty of heart and soul — my time as Executive Producer at KIIS97.3 has come to an end,” she wrote. “The EP role has been made redundant in a content restructure.”
Veteran Brisbane radio presenter Spencer Howson said ARN’s record-breaking $100m investment in Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson makes a national rollout inevitable.
“We know Kyle wants it to be a national show, and given the money ARN has spent on K & J, it makes financial sense,” he said.
However, Howson warned of risks, including the potential fallout if Robin and Kip were to join a competitor like Nova.
“Imagine if Robin and Kip were to join Ash and Luttsy on Nova in Brisbane. That would be a setback for K & J as Robin and Kip would take a chunk of their listeners with them,” Howson noted.
Dr Ashley Jones, senior lecturer in broadcast journalism at the University of Southern Queensland, criticised the trend of replacing local content with syndicated shows.
“It is the most dangerous trend to adopt,” Dr Jones said. “Local markets want local content, conversations that are about them.”
A former Brisbane Broncos star was announced at the pair’s new co-host on Monday, but will Oates in the morning be enough to save the show?
More Coverage
Celebrity matches and hatches in 2024
It’s been a year of new babies and lavish wedding ceremonies for many Aussie celebrities — and most couldn’t wait to tell the world.
The 25 films we NEED to see sequels to in 2025
From 1980s classics to 2024 blockbusters, these are the films fans are desperately wanting a sequel for.