Former Today presenter Alex Cullen signs on at Seven
Alex Cullen will return to the Seven Network, where he will report and present across various 7News programs.
Cullen left Nine’s Today show in a blaze of controversy earlier this year, after accepting $50,000 from billionaire Adrian Portelli in exchange for helping to rebrand him on air. He was initially stood down from the network, before departing Nine entirely.
He addressed the scandal for the first time on Sunday, in a Herald Sun interview, calling it “the toughest, hardest week of my career by a country mile,” recalling being “in the eye of the storm” when the story broke in the media.
“It was a silly mistake, one I should have thought through,” he told the masthead. “I can’t go back and change any of it. But I have a chance now to rewrite the next chapter.”
Cullen on Stellar’s Something To Talk About podcast
Cullen previously worked at Seven for 13 years, beginning at 7News Perth in his early days, before moving to Seven’s Sydney newsroom, joining the Sunrise team, and reporting on Sunday Night.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be coming back to Seven,” he said in a media release issued by the network.
“In many ways, it feels like coming home. There are familiar faces here I’ve known and worked with for more than 20 years, and that kind of support from people who really know you means everything.
“I’m looking forward to reconnecting with audiences and getting back to what I love: telling real stories that matter.”
Seven’s director of news and current affairs, Ray Kuka, said Cullen was “one of the nicest guys in television – a country boy who grew up with a strong work ethic and still knows a hard day’s work. He cares about the viewers, his colleagues and his family.”
Last month, Cullen joined ARN’s top-rating Melbourne breakfast program, The Christian O’Connell Show, on Gold104.3, where he acts as the “resident sports guru”, as O’Connell put it.
“Channel 9 might go ‘listen, we can’t have that’, O’Connell said, about Cullen’s scandal, “but commercial breakfast radio, we are very much up for payola. Don’t worry Alex, you’ve found a home here, my friend.”
Christian O’Connell and Alex Cullen
Cullen relocated to Melbourne for the radio show, and will be working out of Seven’s new Melbourne offices. The Australian reports he will be presenting a “soon-to-be-announced national afternoon news program”, but Kuka doesn’t go into specifics in the release.
“He’s joining us for a number of projects, but we also know his versatility is one of his greatest strengths,” Kuka said.
“Alex isn’t just a sports presenter; he’s a sharp journalist and a compelling host. We look forward to sharing more details about his new role as we finalise content.
“This is about getting it right for the network and for Alex’s bright future with Seven.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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