News

Natasha Exelby dumped from Wake Up

wake up deskThe Ten Network has this morning announced the departure of Natasha Exelby from its new breakfast program Wake Up.

The surprise departure comes just 16 days after the launch of Wake Up to lacklustre TV ratings. 

Wake Up debuted to 52,000 viewers on November 4, only fractionally more than its ill-fated predecessor Breakfast, and sunk as low as 28,000 in the second week.

Adam Boland, Ten’s director of morning television, said a lack of chemistry was the reason for Exelby’s departure, something he had said was vital to breakfast television when he announced the show’s line up in July.

The announcement: 

Network Ten today announced Natasha Exelby has departed its breakfast television program Wake Up.

Wake Up will continue to be hosted by Natarsha Belling and James Mathison, with Nuala Hafner presenting local news for every state. Ms Exelby will remain with Network Ten’s News division.

There will be no changes at Network Ten’s new morning show, Studio 10.

Network Ten Director of Morning Television, Adam Boland, said: “It’s important we get Wake Up right.

“I have said repeatedly that chemistry is everything at breakfast and, right now, I don’t think the balance is correct. It’s up to producers to fix those things.

“I rate Natasha, Natarsha and James extremely highly individually, otherwise they wouldn’t have been there in the first place. I also saw genuine spark during show rehearsals, but sometimes, that doesn’t translate on air. That is nobody’s fault, except mine,” he said.

“Natasha is a dear friend. She is also genuinely talented and will remain a key part of Ten into the future.”

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford has tweeted, Channel Ten bosses had sought advice and feedback from TV producers and production companies about their problems with mornings and panicked when they declined to become involved.

Peter Ford tweet

 

It was Ford who first broke the axing of Ten’s previous breakfast program Ten Breakfast last year.

A spokesman for Channel Ten said: “Peter Ford is completely wrong”.

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