Lisa Wilkinson’s demands after being dropped from The Project

Lisa Wilkinson’s agent wanted Ten to ensure she interviewed A-list celebrities to “soften the blow” of being dumped by The Project.

Lisa Wilkinson’s agent wanted Network Ten to ensure she hosted the coronation of King Charles and interviewed A-list celebrities including Michelle Obama to “soften the blow” of being dumped by The Project.

Agent Nick Fordham’s emails with Ten’s CEO Beverley McGarvey have been published by the Federal Court detailing the wrangling behind the scenes after she was “removed” from The Project.

The publication follows Ms Wilkinson’s court victory over forcing Ten to pay her legal fees that were $700,000 before the trial and now estimated at up to $2 million.

At the time she was stood down on full pay in November 2022, she was also given a reduced clothing allowance of $40,000 - down from $100,000 a year.

“This is disappointing but we accept the decision Network Ten has made on this,” her agent Nick Fordham wrote in November, 2022 in relation to The Project “removal”.

He accepted the reduced clothing allowance given she was not on air and said she would not “abuse the privilege”.

Agent Nick Fordham pictured with Lisa Wilkinson. Picture: Instagram

“The fallout from the Higgins trial has been distressing and unnecessarily enduring. Lisa has felt all but abandoned on multiple occasions when, as you know, she was simply performing her employment duties to The Project and Network Ten – always to the highest professional standard,” he wrote.

“As you have acknowledged, everything Lisa has done, at every stage, was signed off and encouraged by The Project, Network Ten and Network Ten’s legal team. “And right now, Lisa is the only one who is publicly paying the price.”

The agent observed it was “deeply unfair, that this whole imbroglio began because of the sheer excellence of her ground-breaking interview with Ms Higgins, which won this peer-voted Logie in the first place.”

“Damaging lies have been endlessly repeated about her in the press, often by the same commentators, with no known attempts from Network Ten to background those journalists in order to limit that damage,” he said.

“We have heard a lot about a “crisis comms team” working behind the scenes on the situation, but as yet, despite repeated requests, neither Lisa nor I have been introduced to them, let alone been able to engage with them.”

Lisa Wilkinson with top defamation silk Sue Chrysanthou SC. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Mr Fordham then writes that in respect of the proposed interview series, “I must say I am not overly confident Network Ten will be able to adequately deliver on this.”

“With that in mind we would only agree to this proposed interview series with firm commitments: a high level of production, a dedicated and qualified Senior Executive Producer and a clear understanding of what is involved and the level of promotion it would receive,” he said.

“Regarding the proposed talent for the interview series, again as you suggested, the calibre of interviewees would need to be the likes of Michelle Obama, world leaders and A + list celebrities. Lisa’s contract is for work on The Project, and to soften the very real blow this change will have on Lisa’s standing.”

Ms Wilkinson has never appeared on screen again since November, 2022 and no producer had ever been appointed by Ten.

Her contract expires in December, 2024, according to court documents.

In response, Ms McGarvey wrote that Wilkinson, her husband Peter FitzSimons, Mr Fordham, and Wilkinson’s lawyer were consulted “every step of the way”.

“We accept that more could be said or done in an ordinary context absent a serious criminal trial,’ Ms McGarvey wrote.

‘[But] overall, I am comfortable that we used our best efforts to support Lisa during this very difficult period.’

Ten’s CEO Beverley McGarvey. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Last week, court documents revealed Lisa Wilkinson was “almost hysterical” and “sobbing” as she detailed her fears she would have to sell her multimillion-dollar Cremorne mansion to pay her legal fees according to her boss Network Ten CEO Beverley McGarvey.

The bitter battle behind the scenes over Ms Wilkinson’s decision to hire top defamation silk Sue Chrysanthou SC and her own legal team has been detailed in emails and texts tendered in the Federal Court.

The new trove of court documents also reveals the TV host had a $100,000 annual wardrobe allowance, which was then slashed to $40,000 after November 18, 2022 when she was “removed” as a regular host on The Project. In a briefing note prepared for Ten’s legal team Ms McGarvey details a “challenging” call she had with the network star on June 7, 2023.

She had called to ask how Ms Wilkinson was going in the wake of Channel 7’s Spotlight program and the leaking of audio provided to police and lawyers but never tendered in court. “Lisa was very upset and emotional and it was a very challenging call,” MsMcGarvey wrote.

“She was almost immediately upset and started talking about legal fees and how she would have to sell her house. “I would say her tone was almost hysterical.” But the Ten CEO then made a series of observations about the value of her Cremorne family home.

“She is being paid by us on full salary, and lives in a lavish multimillion dollar home with a pool and a tennis court and harbour views so I hope this is not a real risk,” she said.

Originally published as Lisa Wilkinson’s demands after being dropped from The Project