Coronavirus delays Hadley’s wedding but gives TV news a boost
COVID—19 has delayed 2GB host Ray Hadley’s upcoming wedding, but not all media types are suffering because of the virus. PLUS read how models are managing to work from home.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Like many blushing brides and eager grooms, Ray Hadley and his PA bride-to-be Sophie Baird have had to postpone their June wedding.
The couple, who were due to marry on June 27, will now tie the knot on September 19 at friend John Singleton’s Mount White restaurant Saddles.
The couple have informed family and friends and Hadley last week said: “When we realised coronavirus was here, everyone was happy to shift things around.”
The couple had chosen the date because it coincided with a non-survey period, giving them a two-week window to enjoy a few days away from the 2GB studio in each other’s arms, or so one assumes.
The couple have known each other for 17 years, meeting when both were married to others when Baird started working for the broadcaster.
The morning show host first asked Baird out in 2017 and Baird admits she was initially nonplussed.
“I said to Sophie, ‘Do you think maybe we could go out and have a cup of coffee or something?’,” Hadley previously told us, “And she said: ‘No’.”
He tried again a few months later and had more success.
His marriage proposal last November had the potential to fall equally flat.
“It was about four o’clock in the afternoon and I was about to head off to call the rugby league grand final — Sophie wasn’t coming — and I said to her, ‘Are you happy?’ and she said, ‘Yeah, I’m really happy’ and then I said, ‘Well do you want to get married?’ ”
Baird accepted the proposal unfazed that twice-married Hadley’s proposal wasn’t very romantic. “It was very romantic … for Ray,” she quipped.
MEL DOYLE A WINNER AS VIRUS LIFTS NETWORK NEWS
Melissa Doyle is back spearheading Seven’s ratings push. And it’s working. The deadly coronavirus wreaking havoc around the world is resulting in a big win for television news, with many networks recording record ratings results.
The big winners are A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw, Sunrise duo David Koch and Natalie Barr, and The Latest’s Melissa Doyle.
“There’s a lift in news across the board which is evident not just at 6pm and in COVID-19 specials but in everything from Breakfast TV to The Project, 7.30, A Current Affair, 60 Minutes
and ABC News channel,” TV Tonight editor David Knox told Sunday Confidential.
“Everyone is seeing 2020 highs and in some cases it is their best numbers in three to five years.”
Seven is winning the breakfast and 6pm news timeslots. This week 7 NEWS averaged a combined 1.9 million nationally and 1.24 million metro, while Nine’s weekly five-city metro average was 1,180,000 — up from 833,000 this time last year.
“Seven News is still in front at 6pm, although Nine News has narrowed the gap,” Knox said.
“Perth’s big loyalty to Seven always favours them nationally.”
The number of people viewing Nine’s Today program, fronted by Karl Stefanovic and Ali Langdon is on the rise, however the gap between its rival Sunrise which has recently been hosted by David Koch and Natalie Barr has grown even further.
For the first time in Today’s history the show ran third behind News Breakfast on ABC’s two channels and Sunrise, according to the weekly average looking at both national and five-city metro figures.
Sunrise had an average 615,000 nationally this week and is up 36 per cent year on year nationally.
“Breakfast TV is heavily affected not just by breaking news, but by our morning routine,” Knox said. “So while people are self-isolating and working from home their figures are booming. Sunrise is well ahead of Today, but both have had best numbers in three years.
“News Breakfast, which is locked in a battle with the latter, has also seen record numbers.”
Both Seven and Nine are providing special coronavirus commentary, with Seven bringing Doyle’s The Latest forward from 10.30pm to 7pm and Nine using A Current Affair, which drew in an average audience of 847,000 this week, up 14.2 per cent on this time last year, to inform its viewers on the latest news involving the virus.
Doyle’s return to TV after her Sunday Night program was axed in October has been well received by viewers, with many taking to social media to say how pleased they are to see her back on screens.
Doyle and co-host Michael Usher lured 636,000 viewers on Thursday night and on Friday night had decent figures but still trailing Nine rival ACA.
However, on Friday, The Latest pipped A Current Affair nationally, although it must be noted it is a one-hour bulletin compared to ACA’s half an hour.
“It’s good to see The Latest draw upon the skills of Melissa Doyle, who has plenty of experience in rolling news coverage,” Knox said.
“At 7pm it’s seeking to take on ABC News and A Current Affair, but I suspect the one-hour strategy is also to try to lure some viewers away from Married At First Sight.”
Seven Network director of news and public affairs Craig McPherson, said it was great to be using Doyle’s experience in live television.
“Mel is doing a terrific job in a different role,” McPherson said.
“The Latest would be the most streamlined program on television and adding Mel to the team has really helped the coverage.
“Michael and Mel are finding their groove and doing a great job in getting on the decision makers and those at the frontline in the battle with this virus.”
FASHION EXPORTS SEE OUT CRISIS ON HOME TURF
Our best-known modelling exports have been forced to return home in droves due to coronavirus.
Among them are Jil Sander model Hannah Wick, lingerie model Sarah Stephens, swimwear model Natalie Roser, Victoria’s Secret model Georgia Fowler and Dior model Stephanie Field, who is currently self-isolating at her family’s Jugiong property.
Field, who has been based in New York for the past seven years, returned home on March 16, the same day Prime Minister Scott Morrison introduced a mandatory
14- day isolation period for travellers arriving in the country.
“As we were flying, an attendant announced that any planes coming in after midnight would have to quarantine for 14 days,” Field said.
“A lot of models have decided it is safer to come home.”
Field joins a bevy of beauties who are potentially out of work for the next six months.
“I don’t have anything booked for a while, so I am just enjoying time with my family,” she said. “I think it is going to come as a huge shock to a lot of the girls and I think it will take a while for people to get back on their feet.
“Maybe I will do some studying during my time off and figure out what I enjoy and what I want to do after modelling.”
MODELS UNLOCK THE POWER OF ONE
It’s not only restaurants and gyms that are showing initiative during the coronavirus lockdown. The modelling and fashion industries are also turning decade-old practices on their
head and exploring new ways to do business.
Designer clothing brands and local labels including Lorna Jane, Glassons Verge Girl, Hello Molly and Cotton On are sending their stock direct to self-isolating models to be worn and photographed in the comfort and safety of their home.
It is not uncommon for up to 40 cast and crew to be on the set of a clothing or beauty shoot, which means even high-profile models haven’t had work in months due to social distancing rules.
This has forced both the fashion and beauty industries to change how they do business in a bid to secure models work and brands content.
Instead of including stylists, make-up artists, photography assistants and a bevy of other people on set, agencies are facilitating shoots with just one model and whoever they have at home to take photographs.
“I am so grateful that clients trust me with creating content for them — I have great relationships with my regular clients and we have been working together for years so I know their style,” Chic management model Natalie Sole said.
“Marcus, my boyfriend, keeps threatening to start charging me for his time taking the shots.”
The results are being used on brands’ social media accounts.
“We at Chic are helping the clients produce content with the models at home,” co-owner Kathy Ward told Sunday Confidential. “So we help pull the shoot together.”
Fashion insiders say coronavirus is going to have a hugely detrimental impact on the fashion industry, with many members struggling to keep their head above water even before the pandemic.
Both local and international brands reportedly have stock waiting on docks in Asia and
are not expecting it to arrive for months.
“This will mean all their new season stock will be old by the time it gets here,” one source said. “This is going to really hurt so many designers. Sadly, there will be a lot of labels Australians know and love which will not survive this.”
FANS SAW END FOR ‘BORING’ TIGERLILY
It’s been loved by millions of women for two decades, however the writing was on the wall according to fans of newly defunct label Tigerlily.
The 20-year-old fashion label fell into voluntary administration this week, less than four months after an ambitious rebrand which included a new logo, new packaging, new website and a range created by recently poached former Zimmerman head designer, Lesleigh Jermanus.
The brand, which was founded by Jodhi Meares in 2000, is owned by Sydney-based private equity firm Crescent Capital, which bought Tigerlily from debt-laden Billabong International for about $60 million in 2017.
Coronavirus was mentioned as one of the reasons the label was placed into voluntary administration this week. However, according to some of its diehard and loyal fans, the shutdown was a long time coming. According to some, the relaunch was a little too late for the label with several fans expressing their feelings on Facebook.
“I think this would have been their fate even before coronavirus,” Carly Simone posted, while Lahnee Atkins lamented: “They lost their unique design/fabric edge and became boring.”
Long-time customer Claire MacMahon wrote: “They have forgotten what the Tigerlily buyers want and why we loved it in the first place. So sad.”
The brand will reportedly trade on a “limited basis” through the administration process.