Business of Media
Debra Byrne reveals more Young Talent Time abuse allegations
Australian singing legend Debra Byrne is determined to expose the truth after making fresh allegations of abuse while appearing on Young Talent Time, reports News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
Byrne claims host Johnny Young and music great Ronnie Burns made inappropriate remarks and advances to her as a teenager when she starred on the show.
In April she repeated claims with a series of emotional Facebook posts that she was a victim of sexual abuse.
On Monday she took to social media to say Young and Burns spoke to her about the size of her breasts and Burns inappropriately kissed her and did the same to others.
Publishing
Magazine cops heat for ‘misleading’ post about Ray Meagher, implying he died
Facebook users have piled on Who Magazine after the publication posted a “tribute” to Home And Away star Ray Meagher on his birthday, leaving fans shocked after momentarily thinking he’d died, reports News Corp’s Bella Fowler.
The magazine wrote: “The whole cast and crew love you very much”: Tributes are flowing for Home And Away’s most iconic star, Ray Meagher, along with a selfie of the actor with co-star Georgie Parker, who plays his character Alf’s on-screen daughter.
It was Meagher’s 77th birthday on Sunday.
Radio
All eyes on 2GB’s Ben Fordham for Sydney radio ratings
All eyes will be on Ben Fordham’s ratings when the latest radio survey results lob on Tuesday, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
The popular 2GB breakfast host will be keen to see how he fared since last survey, in which his ratings worryingly dipped but maintained a market leading share of 13.5 per cent, still above nearest rival ABC Sydney at 13.1 per cent.
It will be the fourth of eight survey results for the year, marking a middle point and comes as Fordham remains on air during what is normally a shutdown holiday period for our top radio presenters.
Entertainment
Famed Hollywood director Richard Donner dead aged 91
Famed Hollywood director Richard Donner has died aged 91, reports News Corp’s Lexie Cartwright.
Donner’s wife, Lauren Shuler Donner, confirmed the news today. His cause of death has not been revealed.
Donner directed some of the 1970s and ‘80s most iconic films, including the 1978 Christopher Reeve-starring Superman – the first modern superhero film – as well as The Goonies and Lethal Weapon, with Mel Gibson.
Television
SBS to reboot Letters & Numbers
SBS game show Letters & Numbers is on the comeback trail, reports TV Tonight.
TV Tonight understands SBS is planning a reboot of game show which ran from 2010 – 2012 with ITV Studios Australia.
Comedian Michael Hing, best known as host of Where Are You Really From? will host the new version, tipped for Saturday nights.
The big Q+A: where the hell is Hamish Macdonald?
These days, there seems to be more chance of seeing Hamish Macdonald on Ten’s The Project than the show he in fact hosts, the ABC’s Q+A, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
Macdonald has fronted the ABC’s flagship panel show just once since May 27, a period during which Insiders host David Speers and Stan Grant have hosted the show twice apiece. Just to add a little more spice, we’re told it will be Speers, and not Macdonald, who will once more be hosting Q+A this Thursday night.
By comparison, Macdonald has made two appearances as a panellist since then on his happy hunting ground of The Project, on May 28 and June 27.
Narelda Jacobs: “My proudest moment”
Full marks to 10 for an inclusive and informative approach to their weather presentation during this NAIDOC Week, reports TV Tonight.
On Studio 10 the weather map showed Australian cities before moving to their traditional names.
“Madeline our reporter in Naarm, Melbourne, in our Melbourne newsroom helped spearhead this campaign. She got in touch with the traditional owners in all these centres just to confirm, clarify and get pronunciations right. A huge effort by the team in our graphics department as well,” said Narelda Jacobs.
“It is one of the things I am most proud of in my entire career here at Channel 10,” Jacobs added.
Tammy departs Farmer Wants A Wife in a shock exit which she blames on her age
The second episode of Farmer Wants A Wife is done and dusted, with one shock departure making it clear that the time for fun and games is officially over, reports News Corp’s Bianca Mastroianni.
During the episode, the farmers return to their farms with one lucky lady they’ve chosen to spend the first 24-hour date with.
Farmer Will, a 39-year-old sheep and cattle farmer in Longwood, Victoria, makes the tough decision to send one of his ladies home.
After a big day on the farm, Will asks Tammy, a 40-year-old beauty and massage therapist from Queensland, to have a one-on-one chat with him.
Starstruck’s Rose Matafeo on whether men & women can be friends without sex
It’s the question that was famously posed by When Harry Met Sally: can men & women be friends without them turning to sex?
Starstruck‘s Rose Matafeo is a declared fan of romantic comedies, and penned a script in which millennial Jessie navigates the pitfalls of romance, sex and attraction, with film star Tom (Nikesh Patel).
“I love that film so much,” she tells TV Tonight.
“I don’t know where I necessarily come to on that question anyway, because I’m naturally inclined to say ‘Of course, we can be friends’ But then there are interesting elements to that argument.”