Image: Getty & Sunrise

Weekend Sunrise host Matt Doran gave an unreserved apology to Adele and her loyal fans after the “terrible” oversight that led him to interviewing the global singing megastar without having listened to her new album first.

Doran addressed the controversy on Weekend Sunrise for the first time since reports emerged of the interview which he flew to London to conduct.

The Channel 7 personality admitted to being in the wrong, having endured a “torrent of abuse and mockery”, but also set the record straight regarding how the error came about.

“I want to address something that’s made headlines this week,” Doran said on Saturday.

“This is a story that has sparked a torrent of abuse and mockery around the world. If I’m being honest with you, the bulk of this abuse I deserve and totally own. I flew to London to interview Adele – an unspeakable privilege that was meant to be one of the highlights of my career.”

He went on to explain that he made the “terrible mistake of assuming” that Adele’s album 30 would not be supplied to him prior to the interview, as it was being conducted prior to the album's global release.

“The day after we landed in London, an email came through from Sony which didn’t mention Adele but contained a link to her album,” he said.

“The genuine, dead-set, hand-on-heart truth is that I missed it. By an absurdly long margin, the most important email I’ve ever missed in my life.”

“At least half the interview was focused squarely on the new music,” he said.

“I thought it was reductive to describe it as simply about divorce, that it was about empowerment, and would inspire people to summon the courage to steer their lives in a new direction.

“We spoke of the paradox that is being the world’s most famous artist - but hating fame.

“Throughout the 29 minutes, Adele was profound, she was funny, she was raw and then she was honest. Honest enough to describe her depression as ‘end-of-the-world stuff’.

The Weekend Sunrise presenter admitted to insulting Adele by missing the link to listen to the new album.

“But by missing the album link, however I might try to justify it, I’ve insulted Adele,” he said.

“To Adele I say: I’d never have knowingly disrespected you by deliberately not listening to your work.

“I’m so sorry.

“I also apologise to Adele’s Australian fans - who through my error have been denied this interview and the insight into her character.”

Doran pointed to the lyrics of the tenth track, Hold On: “Sometimes forgiveness is easiest in secret.”

“I’m not expecting that forgiveness,” he said.

“But I do owe you an apology.”