Choueifate claims allegations he has left Today Tonight are ‘bullshit’
Choueifate says story is wrong
Today Tonight’s executive producer John “Choof” Choueifate has denied reports he has left the Seven show.
The Australian reports Choueifate stepped down “amid growing tension at the Seven current affairs program”.
And media website TV Tonight said Choueifate left after, “on-going speculation about the shows ratings performance and tension with Seven’s head of public affairs Neil Mooney”.
But when asked by Mumbrella about the move, Choueifate said it was the first he had heard of it.
“I haven’t left Seven at all, not that I’ve been told about,” he said.
Asked about the report in The Australian bylined to Michael Bodey, Choueifate said: “If he’s got that wrong that I’ve left the show and that’s bullshit then why would I comment on his gutter report?
“That story is 100 per cent incorrect, I have not left… unless something has happened that I’m unaware of.”
Choueifate said he would call Seven’s spokesman Simon Francis seeking the origins of story. Francis decliend to comment to Mumbrella
The future of Today Tonight has been under scrutiny since the beginning of the year, with increasing speculation that it would be replaced with an hour long news bulletin. In January, a senior executive told Mumbrella the future of the show was uncertain as Seven bosses experimented with the format.
Yesterday, Nine’s A Current Affair comprehensively beat Today Tonight in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane while TT won in Perth and Adelaide.
1.30pm update: Choueifate told Mumbrella in a subsequent conversation that he is currently on sick leave. He said: “I’ve had a bit of a turn for the worst. I’m in the hands of the doctor.”
