Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s bitter jab at Channel Nine
TV veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley couldn’t resist taking a jab at her former employer while discussing Nine axing The Footy Show.
After more than two decades on Australian TV, Channel Nine announced last week that The AFL Footy Show will not be returning to people’s screens after it suffered from the worst ratings in its history.
The announcement came only an hour after the show went to air.
Rumours were rife saying that the stars of the show were given no prior warning before their final episode on Thursday night.
During a discussion on Studio 10 over the surprise decision, Kennerley – who was formerly employed by Nine – made sure to make a sly dig at the network.
“But who would’ve thought a network would not tell the on-air talent that they were fired?” she asked.
“I’m shocked. I’m just shocked that Channel 9 wouldn’t tell the talent that they were fired,” she went on to say, as Sarah Harris tried to control her laughter.
In November 2011, Kennerley faced a similar fate after her show Mornings With Kerri-Anne was axed abruptly.
“I read it in yesterday’s paper,” Kennerley told the Kyle and Jackie O radio show back in 2011.
“Last Tuesday I was told (by Nine), ‘We are thinking about things, we’ll let you know’.”
And she wasn’t the only panellist to poke fun at the nature of TV cancellations, as Joe Hildebrand also joined in.
“I’m a bit disappointed that they actually gathered the staff after the show … the tradition usually is to find out in (Daily Telegraph gossip column) Sydney Confidential,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s normally what it is, and they should’ve just gone with that process,” Kennerley responded.