Foxtel apologises to Sarah Murdoch and says Next Top Muddle was not her fault
Foxtel has issued an apology to Sarah Murdoch over the disastrous announcement of the wrong winner of Australia’s Next Top Model on Tuesday night.
The company says that after an investigation it had concluded that Murdoch was not to blame for the problem.
It said: “Foxtel and production company Granada have concluded a thorough internal investigation following the broadcast of the final episode this week of Australia’s Next Top Model. Both have accepted full responsibility for the fault which resulted in the wrong name of the winner being announced live to air. It has been confirmed that it was human error, and not a technical glitch, which caused the incident.
Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s executive director of television, said “It was important that Foxtel, as broadcaster, and Granada, as the series producer, conducted our own review of Tuesday night’s events. In doing so, we have confirmed that the fault was a human communications error to the host Sarah Murdoch and that an assumption had been made by the producer which has now shown to be incorrect.
“Live television can be unpredictable and people can be forgiven for making a mistake. What isn’t acceptable, though, is any suggestion that the host, Sarah Murdoch, was at fault or that this was a publicity stunt. Nothing could be further from the truth and we apologise to Sarah for any embarrassment it, and the subsequent publicity, has caused her.”
Foxtel’s director of publicity Jamie Campbell had initially suggested on Sky News that the error was Murdoch’s.
Leonie Lowe, MD of Granada Productions, said: “We have identified where and how the error occurred and spoken at length with those responsible. They have conceded the mistake and have personally expressed their apology to Sarah.
“The show’s finale was a flawless piece of television up until that last moment when one producer simply got it wrong. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and it’s disappointing that this communications error should overshadow what has been a wonderful series.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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whatever…NEXT
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+1
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PR stunt
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A directive from the top?
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Foxtel’s Head of Publicity should know better.
(Edited under Mumbrella’s content moderation policy)
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Obviously an accident, but just like iSnack2.0 will do the brand, FOx8 and Granda a huge favour. The EP that ‘got it wrong’ deserves a payrise.
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One of those important stories I missed this week…
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The producer isn’t (edited by Mumbrella as unverified) by any chance?
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@Anonymous what favour did this the do brand, Fox8 & Granada? They all look like incompetent fools. The only winners out of this are Harper’s Bazaar and possibly the girls as they have now received more global coverage than any other winner
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‘Hogan, I know nothing, nothing, I tell you..NOTHING.
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I appreciate your caution, but perhaps if you google the name the penny will drop.
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OK, I’ll spell it out: Was it Joe the cameraman?
Never funny when you have to explain it. Second prize goes to anyone who can remember “Joe’s” real name. Bonus points if anyone knows who he covered for and who was sledged.
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who do you think will sue first, the young girl falsely announced as the winner or sarah murdoch falsely accussed of being the problem?
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I’m sorry but Jamie Campbell doesn’t seem to have a clue how to do his own job.
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Free Hot Halloween Girls Promotion! http://bit.ly/9LY7VO
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