The Chaser’s Julian Morrow denies ’foyer fight’ with ABC boss David Anderson: court

The Chaser co-founder Julian Morrow has denied in court he had a “foyer fight” with ABC managing director David Anderson.

The Chaser co-founder Julian Morrow has denied in court he had a “foyer fight” with ABC boss David Anderson and that he was asked to leave the public broadcaster’s building upon being informed his show The Checkout would be going on hiatus.

Mr Morrow is suing TV producer Nick Murray for defamation in the NSW Supreme Court and claims his former business partner tried to disrupt plans to renew The Checkout after six seasons.

The court heard on Tuesday that in 2018 Mr Morrow had a meeting with then ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie, who held what appeared to be a briefing document about The Checkout as she talked to him about the budget for the hit consumer affairs series.

The Chaser co-foumder Julian Morrow outside the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Ms Guthrie referred to the briefing document consistently throughout the meeting and at times appeared to be directly reading from it or paraphrasing it, the court heard an affidavit of Mr Morrow’s stated.

“I saw she was holding paper … she did say the budget at The Checkout was higher,” Mr Morrow said while giving evidence.

Mr Morrow also told the court: “I believe she said something like the ABC deals with consumer affairs in a variety of ways.”

Mr Murray’s barrister, Ben Katekar SC, asked Mr Morrow: “Do you understand that the outcome of the meeting, from your perspective, was that Ms Guthrie had indicated to you that the ABC would not be changing its mind to put The Checkout on hiatus for 2018/2019?” to which he replied: “Yes”.

When asked if Ms Guthrie had referred to other programs the ABC was proposing to develop, Mr Morrow said she did not but at one point referred to Julia Zemiro‘s Home Delivery.

Morrow is suing his former business partner for defamation.

The court was told Mr Morrow left the meeting “disappointed” and went downstairs to the ABC building’s foyer where he ran into current ABC managing director David Anderson, who was working as head of TV at the time.

Mr Katekar asked Mr Morrow: “Did you have a confrontation with Mr Anderson in the foyer on that occasion?” Mr Morrow replied: “I did not”.

Mr Katekar then referred to what he said were text messages between Mr Anderson and another person about the foyer.

“She’s referred to what she’s referred to as a foyer fight, do you disagree with that characterisation?” Mr Katekar asked.

Mr Morrow replied: “I do”.

Mr Morrow also denied that Mr Anderson had asked him to leave the ABC building or that any strong words were exchanged.

The court has heard a joint venture between Mr Morrow’s business, Giant Dwarf, and Mr Murray’s company, Cordell Jigsaw, to produce The Checkout ended in 2019.

Mr Morrow argues when Mr Murray heard he was discussing renewing the show with the ABC he tried to disrupt those plans.

The trial continues.