Newsreader’s confession leaves radio hosts unable to continue

RADIO hosts Lehmo and Jo Stanley were in hysterics this morning when veteran Channel Nine newsreader Peter Hitchener told them an embarrassing story.

YOU’D think that a radio interview with veteran Channel Nine newsreader Peter Hitchener would be fairly innocent.

Wrong.

When the respected journalist dropped into Melbourne’s Gold 104.3 studio to chat to Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann and Jo Stanley, he delivered two lines which left the hosts in hysterics.

Hitchener, who has been reading the weeknight news on Nine since 1998, appeared on the program just days before he celebrates a milestone birthday this weekend.

“You are still at the top of your game at 70,” said Stanley.

“Thank you,” said Hitchener, “I’m touching wood furiously under the table”.

The suggestive comment cracked up the Gold 104.3 hosts, in particular Lehmo, who could not contain his laughter.

“Can I share with you something even more embarrassing?” said Hitchener, before launching into a tale about a news broadcast disaster.

“The desk caught fire one day and I was beating it out when they crossed to me,” he said, much to the further delight of the radio hosts.

He continued, “people will think, ‘what is that man doing with his hands?”’

Through tears of laughter, Stanley asked, “How did the desk catch fire?”

“A light exploded,” said Hitchener, “and I just thought, ‘I’ll put this out’.”

The story was all a bit too much for Stanley and Lehmo who simply could not contain their giggles.

Unable to regain their composure, Lehmo told the show’s anchor to “play a song”.

The duo returned a few minutes later and presented the newsreader with a birthday cake.