The Source: Neil Mitchell to cop Bill Shorten grilling after losing bet

Bill Shorten will be breathing a sigh of relief after besting Neil Mitchell in a bet. If the former Labor leader had lost he would’ve faced every politicians worst nightmare — speaking the truth.

Bill Shorten will grill Neil Mitchell on air this week. Picture: Martin Ollman

3AW’s Neil Mitchell and the ALP’s Bill Shorten had a bet not long ago over a Melbourne-Collingwood game.

If Melbourne won, Shorten would have to speak the truth for 10 minutes. If Collingwood won, Shorten would interview Mitchell on air.

Mitchell lost. Which is why the promised interrogation, by Shorten of Mitchell, will feature on Wednesday in Mitchell’s final week in breakfast radio.

Despite promising a less-is-more farewell for his 3AW breakfast show, Mitchell has packed plenty into his final shifts.

Neil Mitchell is deep in preparations for his final show. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

John Howard is having a chat, along with Bracksie, Kennett, and the bloke who currently runs the country, Anthony Albanese, on Friday.

Mitchell, who had former judge Lex Lasry interview him on Tuesday, hopes that the interview by Shorten – as well as one by ex-AFL boss Gil McLachlan on Friday – will be funny, though he seems more confident about the McLachlan chat.

And no, for anyone wondering, ex-Premier Dan Andrews will not be chatting with Mitchell this week.

Andrews would not speak on Mitchell’s show after an aggressive interview in 2017.

Mitchell has long harboured – and now fulfilled – a not very secret desire to outlast Andrews in public life.

He invited state treasurer Tim Pallas to come on the show, but Pallas is yet to reply.

Yet Andrews did not get to say no to appearing one last time because Mitchell did not reach out to him.

“It would just turn into a shitfight,” he tells the Source.

“Why pollute it? I’m trying to make the last week a bit more positive.”