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AFL Footy Show host Garry Lyon steps down from TV to deal with ‘mental health conditions’

Time out: Garry Lyon

Time out: Garry Lyon

AFL Footy Show host Garry Lyon has stepped down from his roles with Nine to seek help for “ongoing mental health conditions”, it has been revealed.

Reports emerged yesterday Lyon, who has presented the show since 2006, had fallen out with close friend and co-host Bill Brownless and had yet to commit to presenting the new season of the popular Nine Network show.

According to a statement from Nine: “For several months The Footy Show and Footy Classified co-host has been suffering from a serious mental health condition and he will take time out from all media roles to recover. There is no set timeframe as to when he will return to television.”

“We are all supporting Garry and hope he will be back to good health very soon. Our priority is his wellbeing,” said Ian Paterson, managing director of Nine Melbourne.

“Garry has our full support. From here on, it’s a private and personal matter and we ask that be respected.”

The statement confirmed James Brayshaw will host the show on his own when it returns from next month, while Damian Barrett will fill in for Lyon on Footy Classified during his absence.

Lyon also appears regularly on Southern Cross Austereo’s TripleM radio, whose head of content Mike Fitzpatrick told Mumbrella: “We are in discussion with Garry and currently not in a position to make any announcement.”

For help and support call BeyondBlue on 1300 22 46 36 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au

The statement from Nine:

Garry Lyon will stand down from his various media duties while he seeks treatment for an ongoing mental health condition.

For several months The Footy Show and Footy Classified co-host has been suffering from a serious mental health condition and he will take time out from all media roles to recover. There is no set timeframe as to when he will return to television.

“We are all supporting Garry and hope he will be back to good health very soon. Our priority is his wellbeing,” said Ian Paterson, Managing Director Nine Melbourne.

“Garry has our full support. From here on, it’s a private and personal matter and we ask that be respected.”

The Footy Show will return next month. James Brayshaw will host the show solo until Garry is fit to return.

Damian Barrett will fill in for Garry on Footy Classified during his absence.

 

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