What’s the Buzz: Channel Nine to bring back Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin to The Footy Show

WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Channel Nine producers are desperate to bring back Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin to host The Footy Show with ratings in decline since his departure.

Paul Vautin. Photo Ric Frearson.

CHANNEL 9 producers want to bring back Footy Show legend Paul “Fatty” Vautin when host Erin Molan takes time off in early June for the birth of her first child.

The problem is they fear Vautin will knock it back because he’s still dirty about being sacked while on an overseas holiday last November after 23 years in the chair.

“It would take some ego massaging,” said one network insider.

Molan’s baby is due in the first week of June, around State or Origin time.

Nine producers want to bring back Paul Vautin to The Footy Show. Photo Ric Frearson.

“I’m not sure how much time I’ll take off,” Molan said, “I’ve been thinking four to six weeks but it just depends how bubba is and how I am.

“I have no idea what to expect. Whether the baby will settle, and feed and sleep. All that stuff.

“If I’m breast feeding I can bring the bub into work with me.

“The main thing is I have wonderful support from Channel 9 for whatever we need.”

Vautin’s name was tossed up at a recent production meeting when the names of all possible hosts were thrown around and discussed.

The “HE’S BAAAACK” line of promotion would no doubt be a ratings winner around the man who hosted the show for more than two decades before the format changed to a more post-match Thursday night show.

Erin Molan will take time off for the birth of her first child. Picture Rohan Kelly.

Ratings have been in decline since Vautin’s departure although there was a spike last Thursday after the Panthers-Cowboys game and the show won its timeslot in Sydney.

It obviously helped being on a non-school and work night.

Whatever happens, Nine’s director of sport Tom Malone has told Molan she will resume all her normal duties when she is comfortable to return.

SUPER EFFORT, CHEERS GAV!

WE often criticise NRL referees but next time you want to boo Gavin Reynolds, spare a thought for what he’s doing away from the game.

Reynolds is raising money for breast cancer treatment and awareness to support his sister, Christy, who was diagnosed in November last year and has since had two rounds of surgery.

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NRL referee Gavin Reynolds with his sister Christy. Gavin is going to have his head shaved to raise money for his cancer-suffering sister. Picture: Brett Costello

To show his support, Gavin will shave his head after Monday’s Wests Tigers-Parramatta Eels game at ANZ Stadium to raise money for the McGrath Foundation. He started out with a goal of raising $1000.

Since the refereeing community started throwing in, he has already raised $5000.

“It started with a Facebook post, just for my friends to see,” Reynolds said. “I just wanted to start the fundraiser and help out in a way that would hopefully make a difference for Christy and others.”

Christy is so proud of what her brother is doing.

“I’m just hoping to share my story and raise awareness,” she said. “Even if I can get my friends to be conscious (of the need to check), I’ve done my job.

“Gavin’s original target was $1000 but he got that in one afternoon. All the referees started donating. It’s amazing. Two weeks later he has smashed the target and $5000 already.

“I’m so overwhelmed and shocked by the support of everyone.

“I’ve always been Gavin’s number one supporter with his refereeing and I am just so proud and honoured that he is now my number one supporter in the cancer fight — by shaving his head in honour of me and raising awareness and much-needed funds in the process.”

The great news is that Christy is progressing well. She is cancer- free after two rounds of chemotherapy with more treatment to come.

Donations can be made at the gofundraise page

VIEWERS SWITCH ON TO SEE ‘AUSTRALIA B’

WHO said Australian cricket’s TV broadcasting rights would be affected by the ball-tampering scandal?

Friday night’s coverage of the opening day of the fourth Test match in South Africa was up a remarkable 61 per cent compared to the first day of the previous Test when Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were still in the side.

Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates the wicket of Aiden Markram during day 1 of the 4th Test match between South Africa and Australia.

The audience was 153,000 compared to 95,000 for the previous Test match.

The Friday night figures were almost identical to the first two Tests which didn’t have competition for eyeballs from NRL and AFL.

Before the cricket scandal, CEO James Sutherland was in the final stages of negotiations with all free-to-air networks and Fox Sports for a $1 billion TV deal.

Channel 9 has had Test and one-day cricket for 40 years but its decision to grab the Australian Open tennis from Channel 7 has changed the landscape for the cricket deal.

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EARLY WARNER WARNING

BEFORE he passed away, New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe warned us all about David Warner.

Back in 2015, Crowe wrote a column for the Cricinfo website about the behaviour of the Australian opening batsman.

“Warner can play, but he is the most juvenile cricketer I have seen on a cricket field,” he wrote.

“I don’t care how good he is. If he continues to show all those watching that he doesn’t care, he must be removed.

“The more he gets away with it, the more others will follow his pitiful actions.

“Already we see one or two of his teammates enjoying being close to his hideous energy.”

Australian cricketer David Warnerat a press conference held at Cricket NSW in Sydney following his return from the South African tests ball tampering saga. Picture: Richard Dobson

HONEST HOME TRUTHS

DAVID Warner has been accused of hiding from the media by staying at Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel. It’s not the case.

His multimillion-dollar South Coogee home is having major renovations which won’t be completed until July, when the family was originally expected home from the IPL in India.

The family chose not to stay with in-laws when they returned home to Sydney because of interruptions caused by the worldwide media scrutiny.

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Channel Nine to bring back Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin to The Footy Show