Memories of the Way They Were

As is well established, Peter FitzSimons cannot predict the future. But wife Lisa Wilkinson has gone one better.

Fixed that title for you

It seems Wilkinson cannot predict the past:

Wilkinson’s autobiography, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This – which will hit the shelves next month – looks back to her last day with the Nine Network and her seemingly strained relationship with co-host Karl Stefanovic.

The 61-year-old recalled how she returned to work after taking a week off, with her day back in the newsroom marking the first time she had seen Stefanovic since he backed out of attending her 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

Here’s Wilkinson’s version of events:

“Our floor manager counted us down: five, four, three, two … and the red light was on. Then, before I could draw breath, Karl leaned in. ‘Well, good morning, great to have your company on this Monday, October 16.

“'And good news, Lisa has returned from holidays … in fact, didn’t you get married again while you were away? Congratulations!’” she wrote.

“I don’t think the pause I took in that exact moment was picked up by the cameras, but in my mind it lasted an eternity. Now I get the congratulations? Because the cameras are on?

"What did Karl expect me to say? ‘Yeah, I did Karl and I invited you, you said yes, and at the last minute you didn’t show up and haven’t said a single word to me since’?”

Wilkinson wrote she glanced over at [newsreader Sylvia] Jeffreys, who "knew I was upset".

"I took a deep breath, my eyes momentarily widening at what I had just heard, turned to the camera, and said … ‘Yeah, I did Karl, but why would anybody care about that when it’s news time? Sylvia, good morning …’

"And with that, no further words needed to be spoken. Karl knew I had cut him dead, something I had never done on or off air before."

But footage of that opening segment has since emerged – and it doesn’t support Wilkinson’s story. Transcript:

“Good morning folks it is Monday the 16th of October. We’ve got P!nk on today, just for Lisa and her honeymoon return – Lisa, good morning to you,” Stefanovic began.

Wilkinson then said: “How good is that? It’s so lovely to be back, and thank you to everyone for all your beautiful messages. We’ve had a fabulous honeymoon, but back to work today.”

Video is sideways, but you only need the audio:

Here is a ‘clean’ copy of what went to air. I guess it’s like Rashomon- everyone remembers it differently. pic.twitter.com/tN99zDiMo2

— Peter Ford (@mrpford) October 19, 2021

Chat continues:

Stefanovic asked his co-host where she went, to which she replied, “We went to beautiful Byron Bay, because we love Australia”.

“And you guys were in the Tweed on Friday!” she continued, pointing a teasing finger at Stefanovic.

“We went to dinner at the place you guys were at next – we skedaddled out of there just before you guys arrived.”

Just your standard everybody’s happy, typically crappy morning TV.

According to entertainment guru Peter Ford the unearthed footage raises doubts about Wilkinson's claims.

“She’s entitled to her memories and how she remembers things, and how she felt – no one can dispute that," he told 6PR.

"But if you’re going to start putting information out there and details out there, that don’t stand up to scrutiny, people are going to come after you and they are going to challenge you."

Yes. Yes, they will. 

Ford said the footage fails to show the moment she "cut" Stefanovic during the opener.

"None of that happened. It’s not obvious. If you look at the vision, it’s not there, that didn’t happen like she described it," he said.

Correct. Wilkinson additionally claims in her book that Stefanovic didn’t show up at her indulgent re-wedding to FitzSimons after cancelling “at the last minute”.

But she also wrote:

“Karl and his new partner Jas had been invited but dropped out just two days before via a text to Pete saying that they were extending an overseas trip and wouldn’t be attending.”

Not last minute. Two whole days. Further from showbiz reporter Ford:

6PR - ‘None of that happened’: Peter Ford casts doubt over claims made by Lisa Wilkinson https://t.co/tDMgtJdpVf

— Peter Ford (@mrpford) October 20, 2021

And previously from Andrew Bolt:

UPDATE:

Wilkinson also chides Stefanovic in her book for his last-minute cancellation to the nuptials, but it is not clear whether Stefanovic knew that she and Peter FitzSimons were planning to renew their vows at the ceremony.

Many who attended have told The Australian that they learned of the wedding only upon arrival.