Brian Taylor gone in surprise commentary shuffle
In a shock move by Channel 7, strident footy commentator Brian Taylor has been bounced from prime time. Here’s why.
Fiona Byrne
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Strident footy commentator Brian Taylor has been bounced from prime time after a shock clash of TV sporting commitments.
Channel 7’s competing AFL and golf, or rather mini golf, investments have resulted in a production tussle for Taylor’s talents, with the upshot that BT has exited the network’s much hyped, big ratings hope, Holey Moley.
Taylor was a surprise inclusion in the Holey Moley presenters line up which included golfing great Greg Norman, US comedian Rob Riggle and Olympia Valance, but it was hoped ‘Bristle’ would bring some of his gruff “Roaming Brian” unscripted, everyman swagger to the wacky show.
Holey Moley is best described as a madcap mini golf competition on an oversized, comical course.
Taylor had flown to California to film the series in March.
However, a combination of bad weather and then the dramatic escalation of the COVID-19 crisis saw 7 pull the pin and fly the cast and crew home to Australia without even an episode being shot.
The series, along with a junior version of the show, will now be filmed in Queensland at the end of September and into October. The set is currently under construction.
But, the new production dates have put the show on a crash course with the AFL finals, meaning Taylor was suddenly a wanted man.
Something had to give and footy has ultimately given his golfing dreams the boot.
“Due to the change in dates and BT’s AFL commitments he will unfortunately not be available to be part of Holey Moley,” a Seven spokeswoman said.
“This is an AFL season like no other. It’s all hands on deck and BT is absolutely vital to our coverage. We’ll announce in due course who has been recast in that role.”
Norman and Riggle are still involved in the show which will air on 7 in early 2021.