The Chaser co-founder Julian Morrow suing Nick Murray

A founding member of The Chaser is suing his former production partner, saying he sought to “destroy him and his relationship with the ABC”.

A longtime production partner of The Chaser co-founder Julian Morrow sought to “destroy him and his relationship with The ABC”, the opening day of a defamation trial between two TV heavyweights has heard.

Morrow is suing Nick Murray, his former business partner and owner of production company Cordell Jigsaw, claiming he defamed him to people including the ABC Managing Director in discussions about The Checkout – the hit consumer affairs show they once jointly produced.

The NSW Supreme Court heard on Monday that the joint venture between Mr Murray’s company Cordell Jigsaw and Mr Morrow’s business Giant Dwarf to produce The Checkout ended in April 2019.

Julian Morrow (left) leaving the Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday. Picture / Monique Harmer

Mr Morrow’s company bought out Cordell Jigsaw’s 50 shares in The Checkout for a nominal $1 per share.

But Mr Morrow claims when Mr Murray heard he was discussing renewing the show with the ABC his ex-partner tried disrupt those plans and in the process not only cost the funnyman income, but also defamed him.

High-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, who is representing Mr Morrow, said emails sent by Mr Murray to the ABC hierarchy sought to “destroy” her client.

“He (sought) to absolutely destroy my client and his relationship with the ABC that had been going for 20 years,” Ms Chrysanthou told the court.

The court heard in emails whose recipients included ABC Managing Director David Anderson, Mr Murray called Mr Morrow “the new millennial’s Steve Vizard”, accused him of “fraud” and “unlawful actions”.

“I was shocked … and very distressed to see the things that had been said to the managing director of the ABC about me, especially because I believed them to be false,” Mr Morrow told the court.

Nick Murray (in the orange tie) exiting the Supreme Court. Picture / Monique Harmer

Mr Morrow’s fellow The Chaser co-founder Chas Licciardello gave evidence in which he said he had “never” seen his former colleague “actively try to mislead someone”.

Ms Chrysanthou said famous talent including former Q&A host Tony Jones and Dr Norman Swan would be providing evidence in support of her client.

Mr Morrow — who rose to fame as one of the faces of The Chaser’s War on Everything — tried “everything” to get the ABC to green light a seventh season of The Checkout.

When whispers the show would be renewed reached Mr Murray in mid-2019, he sent an email to the ABC “point(ing) out how much power his company has and how big his company is and how much bigger and better his company is than Mr Morrow’s”, Ms Chrysanthou said.

Mr Murray is arguing a truth defence to the claims made in his emails.

While the usual limit for defamation payouts is $432,000, Ms Chrysanthou said Mr Morrow was seeking additional damages because Mr Murray and Cordell Jigsaw had “aggravated” the situation.

The case is expected to run for eight days.