She quipped that she was “back on the lazy Susan of television” after her shock axing from Studio 10 was announced last week.
But according to Woman’s Day sources, Kerri-Anne Kennerley has been doing anything but resting on her laurels.
Aware of the mounting pressure by senior executives to make cuts, Kerri-Anne has had a secret plan up her sleeve for when D-day finally arrived.
According to an insider close to the star, Kerri-Anne, 66, has been concocting a plan that will see her jump networks and reclaim the title of Australia’s Queen of TV once again.
Aware of the mounting pressure by senior executives to make cuts, Kerri-Anne has had a secret plan up her sleeve for when D-day finally arrived.
(Credit: Getty)“She’s known that cuts could be coming to Studio 10 for a while now and wanted to get ahead of it,” the source tells Woman’s Day.
“Ideally she’d love to return to her original home at Nine and revamp her beloved Midday. That way, she’ll be the star again. She always struggled to share the limelight on Studio 10.”
On top of angling to host her own show, whispers she’s heading back to the famed boardroom of The Celebrity Apprentice have also been rife.
Kerri-Anne is said to be replacing adviser Deb Thomas and playing co-host alongside the mystery billionaire – rumoured to be Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest – for the reality show reboot, which is set to start filming later this year.
On top of angling to host her own show, whispers she’s heading back to the famed boardroom of The Celebrity Apprentice have also been rife.
(Credit: Nine)Despite her behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings, our source says Kerri-Anne is understandably sad about leaving Studio 10, with the TV veteran confessing as much on air.
“I’m so grateful that, a little while ago, you invited me on the program. Because I have had such a good time with all my new friends. And I don’t say that lightly, because you’ve all been so delightful, so charming and so generous. That’s the whole production staff, everybody on the floor,” she said in an emotional statement.
With Kerri-Anne ejected from the Studio 10 sofa, it leaves more room for fan favourite Denise Drysdale, who is said to be a shoo-in to replace her.
In March, Woman’s Day reported that Denise, 71, was the show’s saving grace when it experienced a ratings spike after she returned to the panel from a lengthy sabbatical.
Our sources revealed that Ding Dong was set to ask for “even more than her $5000-a-week salary for two or three episodes” and that Ten would do everything they could to find that money.
“It would have to come from somewhere and that means someone else’s salary,” the source reveals, adding that Denise recently negotiated a new contract, just before Ten announced their drastic cuts last week.
Sarah Harris fears for her future!
It seems even Sarah Harris, 39, might not survive Ten’s swinging axe with a source telling Woman’s Day that her contract is up in November and she’s understandably concerned about her future.
(Credit: Getty)She’s been the self-confessed “panellist wrangler” on Studio 10′s famed couch for nearly a decade.
But it seems even Sarah Harris, 39, might not survive Ten’s swinging axe, with a source telling Woman’s Day that her contract is up in November and she’s understandably concerned about her future.
“Sarah’s one of the most popular stars on the show, but even she’s not immune to the pressures the pandemic has added to the TV industry,” says the insider.
“Channel 10 execs are looking at who is on the biggest salaries and whether they can justify keeping them.”
The source says Sarah will face the same negotiations that panellist Joe Hildebrand, 44, underwent, which could see her role changing in the future.
Outrage as Tim Bailey is axed!
Angry fans have taken to social media to vent their disbelief that veteran weatherman Tim Bailey was axed during Ten’s brutal budget cuts last week.
(Credit: Channel 10)Angry fans have taken to social media to vent their disbelief that veteran weatherman Tim Bailey was axed during Ten‘s brutal budget cuts last week.
“That is so un-Australian to fire Tim. Channel 10 have gone too far,” one viewer wrote on Twitter.
“Channel 10 have shot themselves in the foot with that decision,” another declared.
The 57-year-old has worked with Ten for 30 years and is considered to be “Australia’s most trusted weatherman”.
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