Mark Llewellyn quits Nine Network, for the second time

The man who famously revealed Eddie McGuire wanted to ‘bone’ former Today host Jessica Rowe has sensationally quit.

Nine news and current affairs creative director Mark Llewellyn. Picture: Adam Taylor

The television executive who famously revealed Eddie McGuire wanted to “bone” former Today show host Jessica Rowe has sensationally left the Nine Network – for a second time.

Nine news and current affairs creative director Mark Llewellyn announced on Monday he was parting ways with the company, just two years after being lured back to the network from arch rivals Seven.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, I have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role,” Llewellyn posted, in a tongue-in-cheek reference to Prince Harry and Meghan’s surprise decision to quit as senior members of the British royal family.

“I’ve had the best of times at 9 (& some interesting ones as well). Met some brilliant creatives, many of whom are now lifelong friends. And done great work, including my most recent series Murder, Lies & Alibis.

“As we know the media landscape is changing rapidly, and I’m keen to see where that leads. In short, there’s an exciting world out there for content providers.”

One of the nation’s most experienced and respected producers, Llewellyn’s departure will come as a stunning blow to Nine, which has been trailing Seven in its news division.

His decision to leave will also surprise many, given it is understood he was on an open-ended six-figure contract with the network.

It is the second time Llewellyn has walked away from Nine during a high-flying career that saw him become the first television journalist to track down fugitive Australian businessman Christopher Skase in Majorca.

In 2006, Nine took legal action to prevent him moving to Seven, resulting in Llewellyn’s damning affidavit being leaked to the media.

The affidavit revealed that the then Nine chief executive Eddie McGuire wanted to “bone” (sack) Rowe, who is married to Nine newsreader Peter Overton.

After joining Seven, Llewellyn founded the network’s now-defunct Sunday Night program, and went on to lead it to victory over Nine’s flagship 60 Minutes show.

Announcing Llewellyn’s appointment at Nine in April 2018, Nine news boss Darren Wick told staff: “Mark will be tasked with developing original longer-form content for the network on our traditional broadcast platform and for the rapidly growing world of Digital. He is a brilliant out of the box thinker and I encourage everyone to tap his brain.”

While Llewellyn was not immediately available to comment on Monday, it is understood his role had become increasingly stymied by aggressive cost cutting across Nine with less new content being commissioned.

Llewellyn, who joined Nine as a young Sydney-based reporter, has held a raft of senior positions at the network, including director of news and current Affairs, managing director of 60 Minutes and executive producer of A Current Affair as well as a stint as Nine’s London correspondent.