Channel 9 launches investigation into staff complaint about Georgie Gardner

Channel 9 has launched a formal investigation into claims of a heated incident on set between top newsreader Georgie Gardner and staff when the host came off air last month.

Channel 9 has launched a formal investigation into claims of a heated incident on set between top newsreader Georgie Gardner and staff when the host came off air after reading the bulletin last month.

The Sunday Telegraph has confirmed a complaint was made by a junior staff member to Nine and the network has launched an internal investigation.

“It is the talk of the newsroom at the moment,” one insider said.

Nine has launched an inquiry into claims of an incident with top newsreader Georgie Gardner. Picture: John Feder

When contacted for comment, Gardner did not respond to The Sunday Telegraph’s questions.

Nine made no comment on the alleged incident, instead issuing a statement from Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs Fiona Dear, who said: “Georgie Gardner is a highly regarded longstanding member of our Nine News team. We offer no further comment.”

Many who witnessed the alleged incident thought it may have been the reason Gardner was absent from the air in the two weeks which followed.

However they later learnt Gardner had instead taken “scheduled leave”.

“People were upset by the incident, but when they thought she had been stood aside for a few weeks, could stomach it,” one insider said.

Gardner was on air reading the news on Friday and Saturday night.