‘The show must go on’: Channel 7’s Spotlight returns despite court-aired accusations

Seven investigative program Spotlight will make its return on Sunday despite concerns it faces a public backlash in the wake of scandalous claims.

Seven’s investigative program, Spotlight, will make its return on Sunday despite concerns the fact the ­beleaguered current affairs show could be hit by a public backlash over scandalous claims that emerged about the network last week.

The prime-time show will air its first episode of the year on Sunday, although The Australian understands it will be a “soft launch”.

“There will be no big promo, no ads that scream, ‘Spotlight is returning for 2024’,” one insider said.

“But the show will go on. What else can we do? We have heaps of content in the can, and it’s ready to go. As it currently stands, neither Seven nor anyone at Spotlight have been found to have done anything wrong.

“So the dogs keep barking but the caravan moves on.”

Another senior Seven figure, who asked not to be named, told The Australian that Spotlight staff had been discussing the show’s ­future in recent days and believed that, if Nine’s 60 Minutes survived the “Beirut scandal” in 2016 – when four Nine staffers were arrested in Lebanon on allegations of child abduction – then Spotlight could weather the storm ­surrounding the Bruce Lehrmann interview.

Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn. Picture: Instagram

“That puts things in perspective,” the senior figure said.

But other Seven insiders told The Australian they were “shocked” that Spotlight was returning so soon after allegations that Seven reimbursed ex-producer Taylor Auerbach and Mr Lehrmann for expenses relating to the use of prostitutes and drugs.

“It probably would have been a good idea to put that show into storage for a while, until this all dies down,” said one source.

Seven denies it paid for prostitutes and drugs for either of the men, and Mr Lehrmann denies he was with Mr Auerbach on the night in November 2022 when the payment for the services of two Thai masseuses was allegedly put on a network credit card.

Federal Court judge Michael Lee is expected to hand down his findings in the defamation action brought by Mr Lehrmann against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson as early as this week, and his assessments of Seven’s conduct in relation to its handling of Mr Lehrmann will be closely scrutinised by Seven executives.

It’s understood Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn has not faced any disciplinary action over the revelations aired in court last week, and the network is standing by him for now.

Multiple sources have confirmed to The Australian the program will return on April 14 with an episode that focuses on the pros and cons of the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic.

Seven was asked numerous questions on Sunday about Spotlight’s future but did not give any response.

Mr Llewellyn declined to comment, as did Seven’s billionaire owner, Kerry Stokes.

Originally published as ‘The show must go on’: Channel 7’s Spotlight returns despite court-aired accusations