The blanket protection of the interior ructions on the Seven Community in current weeks and the reemergence of 1 Mark Llewellyn (and his bald head cited in court docket) put us in thoughts of the explosive 2006 affidavit by the TV exec (now Highlight government producer, then the lately departed present affairs boss at 9) that landed in our inbox again within the day — cementing the immortal phrases “boned” and “shit sandwich” into the broader lexicon.
The affidavit was a part of a 2006 motion taken by 9 after Llewellyn responded to a wage lower by defecting to Seven. The affidavit included many severe allegations, together with that senior figures at 9 had tried to affect Llewellyn’s protection in direction of business rivals. However it was the declare that Eddie McGuire had requested Llewellyn whether or not the 9 Community ought to “bone” — or hearth — then In the present day presenter Jessica Rowe that lingered the longest. The affidavit discovered its method into Crikey’s inbox, resulting in considered one of our greatest early scoops and a surge in subscribers.
The story made headlines throughout Australia, and the controversy lingered for years. 9 refuted the allegations contained throughout the affidavit, as did McGuire, who at all times denied he used the phrase “bone”, saying Llewellyn might have misheard him. Llewellyn has been equally adamant through the years that his listening to was simply wonderful, telling us in 2016:
He didn’t say ‘burn’. Nor did Eddie use every other phrase that I could have misheard, like ‘let’s telephone Jessica’ or ‘let’s get Jessica an ice cream cone’ or ‘I’m considering of getting a two-tone jacket for Jessica to put on on air’. Eddie mentioned what he mentioned.
In the meantime, how did Rowe really feel about all this? She advised the Kyle and Jackie O Present as lately as 2021 that she wished McGuire “properly within the sense that we now have all moved on, however nonetheless … we nonetheless mute [McGuire] when he comes on [on Millionaire Hot Seat] earlier than Pete’s information.” (Rowe is married to tv journalist and information presenter Peter Overton.)
Right here’s the unique 2006 piece in full for a gratuitous journey down reminiscence lane.
The affidavit 9 didn’t need you to see
June 26, 2006
It was October 2005. Mark Llewellyn was supplied the job of working 9’s information and present affairs by Sam Chisholm…
Then got here the subsequent stage — a gathering with Kerry Packer:
However earlier than the assembly there was the little matter of wage…
…after which he meets KP…
… who tells him how a lot he loves Channel 9:
On January 11 this 12 months Llewellyn has his first assembly with John Alexander — the person who runs PBL for the Packer household:
Llewellyn is left feeling involved concerning the potential for editorial interference in his new job:
His subsequent problem, every week later, issues his choice to take away John Lyons, the manager producer of the Sunday program:
Llewellyn decides to inform Sam Chisholm about what occurred:
The Lyons affair bolstered Llewellyn’s issues about administration interference at 9:
On Might 31 Llewellyn is summoned to Eddie McGuire’s workplace… after which comes an disagreeable dialog…
…and it simply will get worse for Llewellyn…
…and there are just a few phrases about loyalty:
Llewellyn will get the sensation he doesn’t have an enormous future left at 9:
On Friday June 2 it’s again to Eddie’s workplace:
On Tuesday June 6 Llewellyn finds himself in Eddie’s workplace once more:
By June 9 Llewellyn has misplaced his workplace…
…and somewhat over every week later Llewellyn begins speaking to the Seven Community…
The subsequent day phrase is out that Llewellyn is speaking to Seven…
…and inside three days the deal is finished with Seven:
