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Disaster for Australia’s Next Top Model as wrong winner is announced

Fox 8’s Australia’s Next Top Model has suffered one of the most disastrous moments in the history of Australian television with host Sarah Murdoch announcing the wrong winner of the live final.

Murdoch announced Kelsey Martinovich as the winner, but moments after the excited model gave her victory speech, Murdoch told her she had been given the wrong name, and Amanda Ware was in fact the victor.

After telling viewers that she felt sick, Murdoch said: “This is what happens when you have live TV folks.”

The debacle is not the first time a live final of Australia’s Next Top Model has been hit by a mishap. Previous host Jodhi Meares was panned for her performance hosting the 2007 final, before she pulled out of presenting the following year’s live final at the last moment.

The series is produced by Granada Media.

Jamie Campbell, Foxtel’s director of publcity said:

“Tonight we saw the perils of live TV. At the time of the result announcement there was a miscommunication between the broadcast truck and the stage.

“Sarah handled what was a difficult situation with utmost professionalism and grace. Amanda and Kelsey were neck and neck in the voting all night.

“We apologise to Kelsey for the error, and Foxtel will be sending her to New York as well as awarding her $25,000 as a prize.”

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