EXCLUSIVE
Lisa Wilkinson’s agent sent Channel Ten a scathing email demanding the TV presenter be given a role interviewing “world leaders and A-list celebrities like Michelle Obama” in a new Network 10 series to “soften the blow” of his departure from The Project.
Wilkinson stepped down from her starring role on the show in November 2022 after her speech at the Logie Awards for her coverage of Brittany Higgins’ Parliament House rape allegations derailed Bruce Lehrmann’s trial.
The emails were part of documents released by the Federal Court this week amid Wilkinson’s civil case against Network Ten over a $700,000 bill he racked up after hiring his own defense lawyer for Lehrmann’s defamation case.
In court, it was revealed that Wilkinson was not solely responsible for the Logies speech and that it had been approved at the highest levels within the network.
Now emails between Wilkinson’s agent Nick Fordham and Bev McGarvey, chief executive of Ten’s parent company Paramount, reveal the heated behind-the-scenes discussions that took place in the days before the on-air journalist resigned .
The tense exchange began when Ms. McGarvey emailed Mr. Fordham stating that the decision to get rid of Wilkinson was made as The Project moved to position the show toward a younger audience with a “revamped talent pool.”
Pictured: Lisa Wilkinson with her agent Nick Fordham.
Pictured: Bev McGarvey, chief executive of Paramount, Ten’s parent company.
Garvey said the network was interested in discussing “alternative opportunities” that would be more consistent with Wilkinson’s “personal brand.”
He also suggested Wilkinson could conduct three “premium event interviews” per year to be rolled out as “a series of events” or to coincide with special events while he served out the remainder of his contract.
But Fordham was unimpressed with the offer and was scathing about the way the network had treated Wilkinson, describing its decision to make her resign as “disappointing”.
He said the fallout from his Logies speech had been “distressing” for Wilkinson and it was “extraordinary and deeply unfair” that the whole saga had started because of the “sheer excellence of his groundbreaking interview with Mrs Higgins”.
“Lisa has felt almost abandoned on multiple occasions when, as you know, she was simply carrying out her job duties at The Project and Network Ten, always to the highest professional standard,” Mr Fordham’s email said.
“As you have acknowledged, everything Lisa has done, at every stage, was approved and encouraged by The Project, Network Ten and Network Ten’s legal team.”
Fordham acknowledged that Network Ten and McGarvey had internally supported Wilkinson, but claimed they had “done little” to publicly rectify her reputation, leaving her instead to “use it all”.
Lisa Wilkinson is pictured outside court this week with her legal adviser, lead defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC.
Despite being told by Network Ten that the situation was being handled by a “crisis communications team”, Fordham said neither he nor Wilkinson were introduced to them nor were they provided with any evidence of any action they had taken.
Fordham added that he was not confident that Network Ten would be able to deliver on the interview series proposal, as a previous promise to hire an executive producer to lead the Sunday Project had never been fulfilled.
Given that experience, he said he and Wilkinson would only accept the series if it was clearly outlined from the beginning and firm commitments were made from the start.
She also insisted that any of the interviews Wilkinson conducted as part of the series should also be broadcast on The Project and that she should host the show at major world events.
“In terms of proposed talent for the interview series, the caliber of interviewees would have to be the likes of Michelle Obama, world leaders and A+ list celebrities,” he said.
‘Lisa’s contract is to work on The Project and to soften the very real blow this change will have on Lisa’s standing and reputation in the industry, we insist that Lisa’s future celebrity interviews, stories and international event coverage appear on The Project.
‘We would also require Lisa to be guaranteed posts on major world events for The Project covering things like next year’s Coronation of King Charles.
‘As you mentioned, Lisa shines on the road and no one does it better. Similarly, Lisa currently has a series of incredibly strong feel-good stories in the works, all of them exclusive, that she would love to see realized on The Project.
Fordham further noted that the company would have to consider any travel costs to get Wilkinson to her jobs, as she may not be based in Australia all the time after leaving The Project.
He also ordered that proposed changes to his role should be addressed in a joint statement with Wilkinson issued by Network Ten.
Emails reveal Wilkinson’s agent insisted she be given a presenting role at major global events for The Project as part of a contract variation when Network Ten reduced her role.
Pictured is Lisa Wilkinson delivering her Logies speech in June 2022.
In response, Ms McGarvey doubled down on claims that Wilkinson was sidelined as The Project went in a new direction, revealing that she was just one of “many changes” being made to the show.
He also said he requested an internal briefing on Fordham’s claims that he and Wilkinson were not adequately consulted about efforts to “limit media criticism,” but was informed that was not the case.
He said he was told they consulted Wilkinson, her husband Peter FitzSimons, Mr Fordham and Wilkinson’s lawyer and agreed on the approach “every step of the way”.
However, McGarvey admitted that more could have been done to help save Wilkinson’s reputation, citing “legal restrictions” as the reason the network did not inform the media that Wilkinson was not solely to blame for the error in speech.
“We accept that more could be said or done in an ordinary context without a serious criminal trial,” Ms McGarvey wrote.
‘[But] “Overall, I feel comfortable that we have done everything we can to support Lisa during this very difficult period.”
Ms McGarvey agreed that a joint statement would be issued, but argued that there was no need to “pre-agree” work opportunities for Wilkinson as he “may wish to take an extended break after a difficult year”.
However, he said he accepted that Wilkinson and the network would have to agree on the nature, branding and execution of each special, noting that they envisioned Wilkinson’s brand evolving “as [advertising guru] Todd Sampson’s.
Fordham followed up the next day by emailing a draft list of variations that would be made to Wilkinson’s employee contract, including details about the proposed interview series and Ten’s payment for the business class flights it needed for the show. .
Lisa Wilkinson is pictured with Brittany Higgins in 2021, after The Project interview
In court this week, Wilkinson said he later contacted McGarvey to follow up on plans to hold a meeting in late February 2023 about the series proposal, but never heard back.
On Wednesday, Wilkinson won her bid to have Ten cover her legal fees after successfully arguing that she hired her own legal counsel rather than using the Network’s because Ten did not have her best interests in mind and would not adequately defend her.
The full amount will be determined when the judge makes a decision on the defamation lawsuit, which will likely be in March.
Lehrmann sued Wilkinson and the network over her interview with Brittany Higgins on the Project in 2021, during which she publicly alleged for the first time that Lehrmann raped her in Parliament in 2019.
He was not named in the broadcast, but claimed that friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.
His criminal trial in October 2022 was thrown out because a juror brought prohibited investigative material to court. He later dropped the rape charge due to concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
He has continually maintained his innocence.
