Shock shake-up at A Current Affair as Nine brings in Sky News boss to work alongside Allison Langdon
A shock appointment after ACA’s former executive producer quit in wake of ‘drunk’ text scandal will see Sky News Australia’s James Birtles reunite with the show’s presenter, Allison Langdon.
Nine has poached Sky News Australia’s deputy head of programs, James Birtles, to lead its top-rating nightly A Current Affairs program after the show’s former executive producer stood down amid a “drunk” text scandal.
The appointment will see Birtles return to the media giant after more than three years at Sky News, having previously worked as executive producer of the network’s breakfast television program, Today, and before that Weekend Today and chief of staff of Nine News Sydney.
Nine’s national news boss, Fiona Dear, announced Birtles’ move in a note to staff on Wednesday morning, with a nod to the “extensive leadership experience (he) gained externally” during his time at Sky, noting he had been “responsible for the daily management of 14 programs” on the channel.
“James’s proven leadership skills and deep editorial experience, both at Nine and in his subsequent roles, place him in excellent stead to lead ACA,” Nine’s national news boss, Fiona Dear, told staff in her email.
The move will see Birtles reunite with A Current Affairs’ presenter, Allison Langdon, after they worked together for more than two years during her time presenting Today alongside co-host Karl Stefanovic.
Network sources said the interview process was lead by Dear who considered Birtles a “stand out” for the position and that, while Langdon was not involved with the selection process, she was thrilled with the appointment.
A Current Affair’s previous executive producer, Amy McCarthy, resigned in August after The Australian’s Media Diary revealed staff were concerned by a series of “drunk” and sexual social media posts she made while attending the TV Week Logie Awards.
The news veteran, who was appointed to the powerful role in June 2024, apologised for the ill-advised posts in an email to colleagues for bringing the program into disrepute while announcing her resignation, telling them she made “a stupid mistake” and was “very sorry”.
McCarthy’s posts – about getting intoxicated at the industry awards night and thoughts on whether she would still have sex with Cold Chisel’s 69-year-old frontman, Jimmy Barnes – had been widely circulated throughout the network in the wake of the annual gala.
In one message, she informed her followers on Facebook that she had arrived at the awards night and was preparing to get “drunk”.
“I can get drunk now. You thought you’d been spammed before!! Standby!!” McCarthy posted.
The news veteran later updated her post, saying “Luckily my phone died before any evidence could be recorded.”
She decided it was also appropriate to post a picture of Barnes singing at the event alongside a note declaring the 69-year-old rocker “deserves a spot on the grid! #wouldstilldohim”.
McCarthy took extended leave from her position the day after the posts were made public and met Fiona Dear several times before deciding to resign from the position, while senior reporter Steve Marshall filled in as executive producer.
“I want to thank so many of you for the love and support you’ve shown me over what has been a really tough week,” McCarthy told her A Current Affair colleagues in her farewell email.
“I made a stupid mistake – one that was not meant to be hurtful or harmful in any way.
“But it has brought unwanted and negative attention to a show I love and a team I adore. For that, I’m very sorry.
McCarthy’s resignation follows a hardline “zero tolerance” policy towards any inappropriate conduct within Nine implemented under chief executive Matt Stanton and Dear’s regime, as the company focuses on ongoing cultural change within the media giant.
The Australian’s Media Diary last month revealed Nine’s news bosses were looking to external options to lead the prime-time program even though Marshall had become the favoured staff pick to take on the role full-time.
Birtles’ return to Nine comes just weeks after the company’s tabloid newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald, ran a column that criticised Birtles for his supposed inaction after a controversial segment aired on presenter Freya Leach’s now defunct eponymous show, Freya Fires Up, last month.
Leach’s program was discontinued following swift discussion between Sky News chief executive Paul Whittaker and head of programs Mark Calvert after political commentator Ryan Williams appeared on the show via videolink with rashers of bacon strapped to his shoulders to supposedly ward off “terrorists”.
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