Significant seven: Juiciest Rumours
In this final roundup from the Mumbrella Annual, we offer the seven juiciest rumours we heard over the last 12 months.
1. Rupert Murdoch to guest edit the Sunday Tele
A dodgy tip-off that had Mumbrella House buzzing. Fresh from his very public dusting down at a parliamentary committee hearing, during which he was attacked by a man armed with a foam pie, Uncle Rupert had returned home to Australia to lick his wounds – and guest edit the Sunday Telegraph, apparently.
- Likelihood rating: 1/10
2. WPP to buy BMF and BWM
After the financial woes at Photon in 2011, the future of its agencies was cast in serious doubt. So it was no great surprise when mutterings began circulating about a move for two of its prized assets BMF and BWM by WPP, which already owns Ogilvy, JWT and Grey.
- Likelihood rating: 7/10
3. FHM and Men’s Style to merge, Esquire to launch
With their circulations tumbling, whispers that the ailing FHM and Men’s Style would be merged by ACP seemed very plausible. Out of the ashes of the two titles would emerge Esquire. Still looks likely.
- Likelihood rating: 9/10
4. Global Y&R boss Hamish McLennan to head up Ten
Following his move back home, advertising bigwig Hamish McLennan, the former boss of GPY&R, was put in the frame to replace Grant Blackley as CEO of Ten. James Warburton put an end to that one.
- Likelihood rating: 0/10
5. Melissa Doyle to move to Today Tonight
The Sunday Telegraph likes its breakfast TV rumours. The best this year was the move of Sunrise presenter Melissa Doyle to an evening slot on Today Tonight, triggering a wider presenter shuffle.
- Likelihood rating: 8/10
6. Rebekah Brooks News Limited role
Another link to the voicemail hacking scandal in the UK that put the rumour mill into overdrive. Would the now defunct paper’s former boss, the fearsome Rebekah Brooks, take an executive role in Australia?
Likelihood rating: 3/10
7. Dentsu to buy Oddfellows
After the world’s largest ad agency brand Dentsu touched down in Australia, it looked likely that it would buy Oddfellows because of the Toyota connection – and because Dentsu moved into Oddfellows’ offices. So far, denial on all fronts.
- Likelihood rating: 8/10
This list first appeared in the Mumbrella Annual, which is currently on sale priced at $10 for access to the digital edition or $20 for both print and digital access.- Both can be ordered through Realview, via this link
