Police issue AVO to protect Larry Emdur from alleged stalker

Days after winning Australian TV’s highest honour, NSW Police have moved to protect gold Logie winning presenter Larry Emdur after a man entered the Channel 7 headquarters without security clearance.

Days after winning Australian television’s highest honour, NSW Police took out an AVO to protect gold Logie winning presenter Larry Emdur after a man entered the Channel 7 headquarters and got into a lift without security clearance.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that police were so concerned for Emdur’s safety after the disturbing incident at Seven’s Eveleigh Studio last Thursday that they took out the order to protect The Morning Show host.

Victorian man Rodney Pearce, 52 — whose birthday was also on Thursday — allegedly walked into the Central Ave building, past a security desk and got into a lift before demanding to see the much loved TV host.

Pearce was unable to access the upper floors of the building, where Home & Away and Sunrise are filmed, because the lift requires a security pass.

Channel 7 security removed Pearce from the lift and the building before police arrested him.

Gold Logies winner Larry Emdur, who got a tattoo live on air during The Morning Show afterwards. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Pearce was charged with unlawful entry into enclosed lands and possessing almost 3g of cannabis.

According to court documents at the Downing Centre Local Court, the incident occurred after 11.15am and Pearce spent the night behind bars.

The 52-year-old faced the court on Friday and was granted strict conditional bail by Magistrate Greg Grogin.

Larry Emdur and his wife Sylvie attending the 64th TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star on August 18. Picture: Getty Images

As part of the conditions, the magistrate banned Pearce from entering Central Ave, the entire suburb of Haymarket and ordered him “not to go within 200m of that area or Channel 7”.

Pearce was also ordered to report to Redfern Police every day between 8am and 8pm.

According to court documents, Pearce lives in public housing in the Victorian suburb of Corio, which is near Geelong.

It is unclear if Pearce travelled to Channel 7 headquarters from Corio or if he was already based in Sydney.

“Police were called to Central Ave in Eveleigh about 11.15am on Thursday 22 August 2024, after a man allegedly gained entry into a building,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

“The man was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment before he was taken to Surry Hills Police Station.”

The Morning Show’s hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

When contacted, Emdur and Seven declined to comment because it is now a legal matter before the courts.

The arrest put a damper on Emdur’s celebrations from his Logies win on August 18 where he took home the Gold and Silver trophies from his first nominations in his four decade career.

The Eveleigh premises is where Emdur co-hosts top rating The Morning Show from 9am to 11.30am weekdays alongside Kylie Gillies.

The Morning Show had long been broadcast out of Seven’s Martin Place studios before shifting to Eveleigh just over a year ago.

The Martin Place studio allowed onlookers to see shows being filmed live to air while Eveleigh is shot in an enclosed space.

On Monday, after the Sunday triumph, Emdur made good on his promise to have the initials of his fellow Gold nominees tattooed on his bottom live on air.

2024 Gold Logie Award nominees Sonia Kruger, Tony Armstrong, Andy Lee, Robert Irwin, Larry Emdur and Julia Morris. Picture: Richard Dobson

He now has a permanent reminder of the night with JM, AL, RI, TA, SK and AK on his behind, representing Julia Morris, Andy Lee, Robert Irwin, Tony Armstrong, Sonia Kruger and Asher Keddie.

Pearce will next face the Downing Centre Local Court on September 5 while the AVO matter will be heard in the same court on September 16.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]