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Launch of Nine’s Weakest Link, hosted by Magda Szubanski, to be delayed

Controversial media personality Magda Szubanski’s return to TV has been delayed amid a backlash over her comments on Jenny Morrison.

Actress Magda Szubanksi. Picture: AAP
Actress Magda Szubanksi. Picture: AAP

Controversial media personality Magda Szubanski’s return to the TV screen has been delayed and comes after she recently lashed out at the Prime Minister’s wife.

The Melbourne-based comedian is hosting Channel 9’s Weakest Link program, which was locked in to launch on May 4 but this has now been pushed back by weeks.

A Nine spokesman confirmed the reboot of the television game show has been delayed.

“Due to the tight production schedule Weakest Link will now launch at the end of May on Channel 9,” he said.

The program is being filmed out of Melbourne and call-outs for contestants to apply to be on the show has been extended multiple times.

Jenny Morrison a victim of 'the same thing' Szubanski claims she is a victim of

Szubanski came under fire earlier this month after commenting on social media platform Twitter about a photo posted online of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s wife Jenny, standing near her husband while he signed a condolence book for Prince Philip following the royal’s death.

She referred to the photo and wrote: “I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid Tale’s meme. But no. It’s 21st century Aussie life.”

Szubanski appeared on Nine’s A Current Affair program in an interview with host Tracy Grimshaw and said her comments had “blown up into something I wouldn’t have anticipated.”

But Szubanski said she had become “a bit Twitter tough” after causing a stir online.

“Look, I don’t want to hurt her (Mrs Morrison), of course I don’t,” she said during the interview.

“I do think that if she’s going to be in public life, we need to know more about her.”

Szubanski also retweeted far-left activist group Mad F***** Witches post about the photo: “Good morning to everyone else to whom this feels creepy, chilling, terrifying, ominous, enraging, despairing and utterly, completely f****** depressing.”

The 8.50pm timeslot for the return of Weakest Link will be replaced on Tuesday by the movie Jumanji – Welcome to the Jungle.

An official launch date for the Weakest Link is yet to be confirmed.

Sophie Elsworth
Sophie ElsworthMedia Writer

Sophie is media writer for The Australian. She graduated from a double degree in Arts/Law and pursued journalism while completing her studies. She has worked at numerous News Corporation publications throughout her career including the Herald Sun in Melbourne, The Advertiser in Adelaide and The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. She began covering the media industry in 2021. Sophie regularly appears on TV and is a Sky News Australia contributor. Sophie grew up on a sheep farm in central Victoria.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/launch-of-nines-weakest-link-hosted-by-magda-szubanski-to-be-delayed/news-story/d44734a3b736e28c8096c1ab8c0b4fac