Sam Newman describes new Footy Show co-host Rebecca Maddern as ‘plumpish’

SAM Newman has made some unusual comments about new Footy Show co-host Rebecca Maddern ahead of her debut tonight.

SAM Newman has jokingly referred to new Footy Show co-host Rebecca Maddern as “not good looking” and “plumpish” ahead of her debut appearance tonight.

The 70-year-old star of the long-running show has been his usual lighthearted, slightly-controversial self while promoting the addition of a female host and was no different during an appearance on breakfast radio in Adelaide on Thursday morning.

“Apparently she’s on tonight. The selection process was very, very testing,” Newman told Roo & Ditts For Breakfast. “We had to get someone who wasn’t that good looking so we didn’t put everyone’s nose out of joint. A bit plumpish.”

“She’ll be happy to hear that,” host Mark Ricciuto responded.

“Yeah, not good looking. A bit plumpish. Not a great IQ. Just so she fits in with the rest of the dynamic of our show.

“So people will be a bit surprised when they see her. They’ll think she’s coming on (because) she’s a glamour, but no, she’s pretty ordinary really.”

Newman has a reputation for taking a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach to each episode and that includes how he’ll approach his new cast member tonight.

“I’m not sure if she’s Mrs Maddern, I’m not sure what to call her,” he said. “She’s been married a couple of times someone said. I might discuss how she found matrimonial life because I can speak voluminously about that.”

Newman expects Maddern — and the rest of the show’s talent — to be criticised, regardless of what happens.

“She’s on an absolute kicking to nothing. It won’t matter what she did, she’ll be criticised and so will we for being patronising, or too tough on her, or her having too many things to say, or not enough. Mate, we love it. The critics will round us up like they have for 22 years and we’ll take no notice of them and push on,” he said.

“You’re not in business to please the critics, you’re in business to please the rank and file who listen.”

Sam Newman, Rebecca Maddern and James Brayshaw.

Maddern replaces former host Garry Lyon, who is battling depression and stepped down from all media commitments in the wake of revelations he had a relationship with the ex-wife of once great mate and fellow Footy Show star Billy Brownless.

Newman revealed earlier this week he has spent time with Lyon recently and described his situation as an ongoing struggle.

“What we have forgotten is that unfortunately the position for Rebecca Maddern to come on The Footy Show has been made vacant by Garry Lyon suffering a mental illness of depression,” Newman told Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam & Browny on Monday morning.

“I have seen Garry a couple of times and he is not in a good space, he genuinely has depression.”

Newman, the show’s linchpin, said Lyon’s condition had “nothing to do with Bill Brownless and that private matter that went on”.