Top TV footy shows, including Talking Footy, The Footy Show and Footy Classified face upheaval

SOME of television’s major football shows are in a state of flux at the start of 2018 with big decisions to be made about The Footy Show, Talking Footy, Footy Classified and On the Couch.

Talking Footy, The Footy Show, Footy Classified and On the Couch are in a state of upheaval amid the biggest shake-up in TV footy shows in the past decade.

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Talking Footy panellists Luke Darcy, Tim Watson, Wayne Carey and Sam McClure are said to be worried that Channel 7’s Monday night footy panel show won’t be back in 2018.

The concerns come after Eddie McGuire’s JAM TV, the makers of Talking Footy, took over production of The Footy Show on Channel 9.

Channel 9’s Footy Classified is set for a shake-up after Garry Lyon defected to Fox Footy: Picture: Channel 9

Seven’s management is said to be unhappy with the arrangement believing there is a conflict of interest — and want a change.

Insiders at Seven insist that Talking Footy will be back but say that a number of rival production companies are in the mix to take it over. It could also be made in-house.

“A final decision won’t be made until after the Australian Open and the Winter Olympics,” a Seven insider says.

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The Footy Show talent Rebecca Maddern, Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman. Picture: Alex Coppel

The team behind The Footy Show is reportedly back on deck next Monday and has some major decisions to make about the show’s direction in 2018.

The Footy Show went through a rushed revamp when McGuire replaced Craig Hutchison as host last August.

Now, all parts of the show are under the microscope.

Shane Crawford has been in talks with Nine to address concerns about what he sees as his diminished role on the show.

Word is that comedian Trevor Marmalade could return to The Footy Show.

Billy Brownless is another star who appears to have fallen through the cracks — relegated to a short Back Up the Truck prize segment after years serving on the panel.

There is talk of comedian Trevor Marmalade returning after Dave Hughes quit for his own show on Ten.

“Trevor returning would only be a short-term fix,” media analyst Steve Allen says. “There would be some curiosity but ultimately The Footy Show needs to reinvent itself to succeed long-term.”

Wayne Carey is currently with Talking Footy — but will he go Footy Classified? Picture: Supplied

The new member of Footy Classified was expected to be announced before Christmas but has been delayed.

Rumours are swirling that Chris Judd will replace Garry Lyon alongside Matthew Lloyd, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison. Judd and wife Rebecca have been holidaying in Canada.

Others have suggested that Wayne Carey could be lured from Talking Footy. Journalist Damian Barrett is also on the short-list.

Lyon’s move to Fox Footy has sparked debate about whether he will join On the Couch. The Monday night show, hosted by Gerard Healy with Jonathan Brown, Jason Dunstall and David King, had reportedly already been earmarked for an overhaul.

Rebecca Maddern — pictured with Sam Newman and Eddie McGuire — is expecting her first child in May. Picture: Channel 9

Rebecca Maddern’s stint as co-host of The Footy Show will be interrupted this year because she is expecting her first child in May.

One segment that looks a certainty for The Footy Show in 2018 is Footybox, a Gogglebox-style send-up featuring footballers which has been popular with viewers.

The Front Bar is riding high. It was the success of Seven’s footy show with Andy Maher, Mick Molloy and Sam Pang, which set off the chain of events that saw Eddie McGuire return to The Footy Show.