Who the frontrunners are to replace Andrew Lofthouse
As beloved newsreader Andrew Lofthouse announced his retirement from 9News Queensland, attention has turned to who will fill his shoes. THIS IS THE SCOOP
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As beloved newsreader Andrew Lofthouse announced his retirement from 9News Queensland last week after 17 years at the helm, attention has turned to who will take on the monumental task of filling his shoes.
Lofthouse, a respected figure in Queensland media, cited health reasons for his decision, leaving a “Lofty”-sized hole at the network’s flagship bulletin.
While Lofthouse’s retirement announcement was accompanied by a statement from 9News Queensland confirming Melissa Downes will continue as the sole presenter until a co-anchor is appointed, industry chatter suggests the search for his successor is already under way.
Among the frontrunners is current 9 Gold Coast News presenter Paul Taylor.
Known for his professionalism and longstanding commitment to the network, Taylor has been a key figure at the Gold Coast bulletin since 2016.
But with the Gold Coast newsroom undergoing significant cuts, including a move to a single newsreader format, Taylor’s redeployment to the Brisbane newsroom could provide much-needed stability while leaving Eva Milic to anchor the Gold Coast bulletin solo.
Another contender reportedly in the mix is Josh Bavas, who impressed viewers and industry professionals alike with his presenting during the summer break.
Sources have described Bavas as a “true professional” with the gravitas to step into Lofthouse’s shoes.
Adding to the mix is weekend presenter Mia Glover, with speculation mounting that she could move to weekdays to join Downes on the desk, forming an all-female presenting duo.
Glover, who stepped into the weekend bulletin anchor role in early 2023, is on maternity leave, having welcomed her second child, baby Winifred in October 2024.
Insiders suggest Downes may present solo until Glover’s return, allowing the network time to weigh its options.
Broncos party with country superstar Luke Combs
Country music loving Brisbane Broncos have made the most of Luke Combs’ sellout tour, joining the superstar backstage at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Combs’ played two shows at The Cauldron, with adoring Broncos players including Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt, Kotoni Staggs and Patrick Carrigan lapping up every moment on Saturday night.
Unfortunately for fans, there was no encore of the All Blacks’ viral Auckland stunt, where the rugby stars joined Combs on stage for a shoey.
Friday’s crowd included NRLW players Ali Brigginshaw, Tamika Upton and Romy Teitzel.
Combs also ignited a surprising clash off the field, with Brisbane’s biggest teams vying for a spot on his head — or chest — during his weekend takeover.
For his show on Friday night, Combs walked out wearing a maroon retro Brisbane Broncos cap, emblazoned with the team’s classic logo.
Retailing for $50 on the Broncos website, the “New Era Retro A-Frame” cap became an instant talking point, perfectly positioned to soak up the sweat during Combs’ electric performance on the opening night of his Australian tour.
But the Broncos weren’t the only ones throwing their hat in the ring — literally.
Both the Dolphins and Queensland Maroons sent extravagant gift packs to Combs ahead of the shows, hoping to see their merch make it onto the Suncorp stage.
A Broncos spokesperson confirmed the country star’s headgear choice was part of a curated gift box that included personalised jerseys for Combs’ wife and two young sons, all bearing the family name, alongside a selection of caps.
The Broncos also extended their generosity to Combs’ entire team, gifting them merchandise to commemorate the shows at the Cauldron.
The connection between Combs and the Broncos dates back to his 2023 Brisbane show, where players posed with the star in a now-viral photo, cementing his unofficial status as a Broncos supporter.
Extraordinary spray launched over Palmer’s ad campaign
They might have gone to school together, but there is no love lost between two of the Gold Coast’s most controversial figures, with conman Peter Foster launching an extraordinary spray at Clive Palmer’s new ad campaign.
Foster and Palmer were not in the same grade, but they were students at Guardian Angels and then Aquinas College back in the 1960s and 1970s.
Foster, who has rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous around the world during a “colourful” life which has included several stints behind bars, is no fan of Palmer, despite last year making an audacious bid to tell the mining tycoon’s life story in a Netflix biopic.
That endeavour ended with Palmer’s camp sending Foster a cease and desist legal threat.
Foster had also previously boasted of being able to run a campaign which would have Palmer elected as Premier of Queensland.
However, after watching Palmer’s bizarre new television ads, Foster could not hold back, taking to social media to rip in.
“His new TV ad … where he preached and feigned concern for homelessness and the hungry, was nothing short of revolting,” Foster wrote on Facebook.
“Clive has the financial power to end hunger and homelessness on the Gold Coast overnight, yet he does nothing but preach from the comfort of his mansion. He could solve these problems without even noticing the financial impact, but he chooses not to.
“Instead, he spends millions on ads that do nothing but insult the intelligence of every Australian watching by his preaching about us needing to take time out to think of the less fortunate.
“So, congratulations, Clive. You’ve achieved something truly remarkable: you’ve made yourself in the eyes of many the most ridiculous figure to ever come out of the Gold Coast, even erasing me as Embarrassment No.1.”
When contacted by Sunday Scoop, Palmer’s camp declined to get into a war of words with Foster and chose not to comment.
BROOKI REVEALS NEW LOCATION
Brisbane’s queen of cookies, Brooke Bellamy, has revealed her wildly popular Brooki Bakehouse is set to open a brand-new store in Chermside in February.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Bellamy shared the news with her 1 million followers, writing, “NEW YEAR NEW STORES! Chermside, we’re coming!” she captioned the announcement, confirming the new location after weeks of teasing a “northside store” on her social media accounts.
The announcement comes as Bellamy gears up for an international trip to the UAE, where she’ll host a masterclass, pop-up, and book signing at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival in early February.
ITSINES VENTURES INTO KIDS’ BOOKS
Gold Coast-based food blogger Leah Itsines, sister of fitness powerhouse Kayla Itsines, is branching into children’s literature.
As a mum to nearly three-year-old Gigi and a devoted aunt to Kayla’s two kids, Leah is drawing on her first-hand parenting experiences to craft a story she believes will resonate with both parents and little ones.
She gave fans a sneak peek of the project on Instagram stories on Friday, sharing a screenshot of an email from a publisher describing the book as “soooooooo cuuuuuuuuuuteeeeeeeee.”
“When I send my kids’ book to the publisher hehehe,” she captioned the post, adding, “It gets ya heart strings.”
Speaking with Scoop, Itsines revealed the project is a “a special little book” that stems from late nights with a reflux-prone baby.
She’s currently working on finalising the story and hopes to properly pitch it to publishers soon.
While details of the book remain under wraps, Itsines recently announced a collaboration with San Remo, sparking speculation the story could feature a pasta-inspired theme. Time will tell if sweet little “penne pals” are on the menu.
FOODIE INFLUENCERS LOSING FREE FEEDS
The days of the foodie influencer as we know it may be over, with some marketing companies looking to pull the pin on those dining out for free.
Insiders have told Sunday Scoop that too many of the so-called “influencers” are “unreliable” and not worth the money they charge or the free feed, failing to post content on time or, worse, failing to help “influence” anyone into buying tickets to culinary events or booking restaurants.
“They’re trying to charge money like a business, but they’re not treating it like a business,” one insider said, revealing multiple influencers just pulled a number out of the air when it came to deciding how much to charge.
It’s believed Australian eateries will follow what’s happening in the US, employing content creators instead, who are paid a set fee to make a post, but then receive more money based on how well that post performs.
Insiders say venues will only be looking to work with creators who can prove their return on investment, with too many now trying to charge between $150-$2000 for a single post.
PALASZCZUK CELEBRATES VIETNAMESE FESTIVAL
There was a familiar face among the crowds at Inala’s Vietnamese Tet celebrations over the weekend — former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The ex-premier, who once held the seat of Inala, returned to her old stomping ground on Friday to usher in the Year of the Snake alongside her father, Henry Palaszczuk, who looked remarkably spry for 78.
Also joining the festivities was Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Milton Dick, who embraced the occasion in traditional Vietnamese attire.
Palaszczuk herself opted for a more understated look — a brown-and-orange midi dress paired with strappy sandals.
Taking to Instagram afterwards, Palaszczuk shared a series of snaps from the celebration, captioning them: “Lovely to join friends at the Vietnamese Tet festival in Inala. Happy new year. The year of the snake. Special thanks to Dr Bui, a true champion of the local community.”
Originally published as Who the frontrunners are to replace Andrew Lofthouse
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