Sharp Shooting: Sports reporter tipped to replace dumped Alex Cullen, Nine’s attempt to keep Hayes
The veteran reporter was raising eyebrows with an appearance at a private party hosted by a senior executive.
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
OPINION
Days before Nine stalwart Liz Hayes announced she was taking her leave of the TV network that made her a household name, the veteran reporter was raising eyebrows with an appearance at a private party hosted by a senior executive from Channel 7’s Spotlight program.
Hayes was among high profile guests including a roster of Seven stars such as Sonia Kruger, Angela Cox and Michael Usher who gathered in Sydney’s Surry Hills to celebrate senior producer Phil Goyen’s 50th birthday.
Goyen is 2IC of Seven’s Spotlight, the only current affairs program on Australian commercial TV whose primary objective is to cut 60 Minutes’ lunch.
As one of 60s biggest stars, Hayes’ appearance at Goyen’s party immediately sparked talk of a future collaboration on the back of this column’s recent revelations Hayes’ relationship with 60 Minutes’ EP Kirsty Thomson was history.
So when Nine announced Hayes’ departure from the network after 44-years on Wednesday, few missed the tone of 68-year-old Hayes’ feisty response: “I’m not going anywhere. I’m still passionate about tell stories and I plan to tell many more.”
Insiders say this statement was an oblique nod to Seven’s Spotlight.
This column is told in a bid to keep Hayes on their books Nine offered the star the opportunity to remain indefinitely on retainer and do next to nothing in return for making the occasional ambassadorial appearance.
Hayes declined.
Meanwhile Goyen’s party guest list sparked some fevered interest during the week, aided by a photo being uploaded by newsreader Angela Cox before being strangely deleted days later.
We gather there may have been concerns Cox’s post might prompt some to take offence at being left off the guest list.
Not invited, or so we’re told, was Goyen’s baby-faced new boss Gemma Williams and the man who installed Williams over the more experienced Goyen last year, Seven’s news director and master of monikers, Anthony De Ceglie.
Here’s cheers Phil!
New Front runner for Cullen replacement
A woman currently leads the field of candidates in contention for the job of sacked Today sports presenter Alex Cullen.
Roz Kelly, Nine’s weekend prime time sports presenter, is favoured for the role vacated by Cullen two weeks ago after Nine sacked him for receiving $50,000 from Melbourne entrepreneur Adian Portelli.
The well-regarded Kelly is the darling of Nine’s news and sports bosses and seen as a natural successor to Cullen should the mother of two want the job.
Kelly is yet to put a foot wrong career wise and was marked for greater things after successfully seeing off the only woman who once stood in her way, presenter Erin Molan, who left the network in 2021.
This followed the cancellation of The Footy Show in 2018 on which Molan was a panellist before becoming the program’s final host following the departure of Paul “Fatty” Vautin.
Nine bosses have been looking for new opportunities for Kelly, who is married to South African cricketer Morne Morkel, ever since.
Second most favoured for Cullen’s gig is said to be Melbourne sports presenter Clint Stanaway.
Former Today executive producer and sports nut Neil Breen’s name is also once again in circulation and so too, albeit to a lesser degree in Today’s Sydney hometown, is Melbourne’s own George Costanza, Tony Jones, the interviewer who recently upset Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
Love him or loathe him, Jones has generated plenty of online traffic in recent weeks and Today bosses have long favoured longwinded blokes who generate clickbait.
Case in point, Today anchor Karl Stefanovic who is unbeaten in the field.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Nine’s deposed former Queensland’s News Director Amanda Paterson and her workplace lawyer John Laxon fronted the Fair Work Commission via a Microsoft Teams meeting.
Patterson, sacked in November for failing to complete her workplace training modules among other seemingly trivial things, was let go following the release of Nine’s culture review – the timing of which left a “smear” on Patterson’s reputation, as her lawyer informed media at the time.
Chynna Marston lodges human rights complaint
Making good on her threat to take on racing industry supremos who threw the book at her for animal abuses in 2023, jockey-turned-racing commentator Chynna Marston has lodged a complaint against her former employer Sky Racing and a fellow commentator with the Australian Human Rights Commission.
In a 500-page complaint, Marston, who now goes by her married name Kean, filed the complaint last month alleging she was the victim of sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and age discrimination while working as an employee of Tabcorp’s racing broadcaster between 2016 and 2023.
The action comes after Marston and her husband Alex Kean launched separate appeals against lengthy bans handed down by Racing NSW in 2023.
This followed a Racing NSW inquiry which found the couple had committed animal welfare breaches against 18 thoroughbred horses entrusted into their care.
In 2023 Racing NSW banned Marston from the thoroughbred racing industry for seven years until 2030. Her then fiancee Kean was handed a six year ban.
In her latest salvo, Marston has turned her attention to the Human Rights Commission and historic complaints investigated by Sky Racing.
In Marston’s sights once again is retired Group 1 jockey and veteran tipster John Scorse.
In August 2021 Scorse, a NSW southern districts racing commentator, was dismissed from Sky Racing’s coverage following allegations from his young colleague and friend-of-five-years Marston claiming Scorse had on three occasions breached the conditions of his employment.
The most serious of Marston’s complaints, which to date has gone unreported, would be twice investigated by Sky Channel before Scorse was sacked.
This despite sources at the time telling this writer Sky had failed to unearth any material evidence to support Marston’s claims.
The other two incidents were said to have concerned the veteran tipster smoking a cigarette at a country racetrack and consuming a beer while driving home from a rural meeting.
Following his dismissal Scorse sued Sky for unfair dismissal winning a confidential payout.
Scorse declined to comment when contacted this week saying only: “I thought this was dealt with.”
Marston remained on Sky’s books until June 2023 when she was stood down following an investigation by this writer into alleged animal cruelty committed by Marston at her Bowning property in rural NSW.
A Racing NSW investigation launched in June 2023 found Marston, through her charity Recycled Racehorses, had seriously neglected thoroughbreds in her care. She resigned from Sky three months later.
Allegations against the couple included Kean shooting and burning a horse on a bonfire, failing to provide sufficient nutrition to 12 horses and proper veterinary care to six.
A Racing NSW veterinarian had examined the horses at Marston’s property before horses were confiscated and relocated.
Marston described the inquiry as “laughable”, refused to participate and threatened to see the racing body in court: “It is going to be a way bigger battle than they ever thought,” she said.
She next launched an OnlyFans account along with a claim for compensation for workplace injuries sustained in a career-ending and terrible fall from a racehorse at Tumut in 2014.
She was a 23-year-old apprentice jockey at the time and her injuries included trauma to her back and neck as well as a broken nose and damaged ligaments.
In her December application to have a Racing NSW appeals panel tasked with hearing the couple’s bans appeal recused, on the basis of apprehension of bias, the summary determined Marston hopes to receive a $1 million-plus payout from the racing body.
Marston could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
ABC hotline rages for sacked Sarah
Don’t imagine for a moment the public fury over the axing of ABC Sydney radio presenters Sarah McDonald and Simon Marnie has subsided.
According to radio types the text hotline at the studio is still raging over Adelaide executive Ben Latimer’s decision to replace or axe the duo.
McDonald’s replacement, Hamish Macdonald, can be in no doubt about where the affections of his new ABC702 radio audience lie.
It’s not with him claim insiders.
With so few women presenters scoring roles on talk radio, it’s a crying shame one of the truly excellent ones has been pushed aside to make room for yet more “blokespeak” in an almost saturated “blokespeak” market.
Marcla to serenade Maggie T
Family and friends of the late Maggie T will take to the stage at the Randwick Ritz Cinema on Monday to remember the incomparable fashionista turned TV star.
Retired host of A Current Affair Mike Munro will conduct MC duties ahead of tributes from Deborah Hutton, raconteur Leo Schofield and Tabberer’s daughters Brooke and Amanda.
Marcia Hines, who shared a manager, Harry M Miller, with Tabberer at one time, will perform.
Also on the bill is Australian-born Chilean singer and songwriter, Pato Lara.
The one-hour event is not ticketed and friends and fans are invited to attend.
Tabberer died on December 6 last year, aged 87.
Originally published as Sharp Shooting: Sports reporter tipped to replace dumped Alex Cullen, Nine’s attempt to keep Hayes
Millions watch ‘insane’ reality TV sex scene
An extraordinary sequence from a very racy dating show has caught fire on social media, with millions watching the chaos unfold.
Sad photos show superstar’s derelict mansion
A pop music legend’s $20m mansion in one of London’s most exclusive suburbs lies in ruins, as these sad photos reveal.
‘Found another one’: Kyle’s sad health update
Kyle Sandilands has shared a grim update on his health condition days after revealing doctors found an aneurysm in his brain.
Drew finally addresses ‘cringey’ TV moment
The talk show host and actress has spoken out on the viral interview moment she shared with a fellow celebrity.
What colour is the triangular section of the Czech Republic’s flag?
The Chase Australia’s official Shark, Brydon Coverdale, has created a new daily quiz challenge. Test yourself.
Staff reveal wild Meghan, Will ‘flirt’ claim
An explosive new book has shared fresh claims about what went on behind Palace walls while the ex-“Fab Four” were living there.