- AFL commentator inadvertently announces colleague’s secret career move
- Now is the time to compete for the coveted spot on one of Seven’s key shows.
In the end, it only took a matter of seconds and one slip to confirm the worst-kept secret in television: revered Melbourne sports presenter Tim Watson will call time on his long career at the end of the year.
Seven News stalwart Luke Darcy’s friend and network colleague accidentally announced Watson’s widely speculated exit on his Triple M radio show on Friday, before realising Seven was still keeping the move strictly under wraps.
“I’m going to drop another little bombshell here and that is… Tim “Whispy” Watson is about to finish his job at the Seven Network,” the AFL star turned radio presenter told his listeners.
Darcy then gleefully proclaimed that the soon-to-depart presenter had been a “favourite” of Seven’s billionaire owner Kerry Stokes.
“So here’s a little bombshell for you. This is Kerry Stokes’ favourite journalist, Tim Watson,” he said.
Moments later, she began to furiously backtrack after her co-hosts asked if Watson knew her impending exit would be made public on her show.
“That could have been an off-air conversation,” Darcy confessed.
‘Let’s forget that part… let’s forget that… let’s move on with that part.’
Luke Darcy was forced to quickly backtrack after his unexpected announcement
Rebecca Maddern is believed to be in talks to replace Tim Watson as sportsreader.
Watson has been in the sporting spotlight of Seven’s flagship news bulletin, which airs at 6pm in Melbourne, for 13 years, and has often worked alongside Darcy, who also calls the AFL for the network.
Her long-awaited departure has been continually debated this year as the Seven Network continues to keep any official confirmation confidential as it scrambles to reshuffle its news reporting ranks to compensate for her impending loss.
Watson landed his first commentating role with Seven after retiring from Essendon for the first time in 1992.
Rebecca Maddern is believed to be in talks to replace the veteran news presenter early next year.
Her spot as weekend news anchor would then fall to Karina Carvalho, who recently defected from the ABC to join Seven’s Melbourne operation.
Newly appointed Seven star Karina Carvalho is likely to replace Maddern at weekends.
Watson has been Seven’s nightly sportsreader for the past 13 years in Melbourne.
However, Darcy had some ideas on how the network could spice things up a bit and suggested co-host and AFL alumnus Nathan Brown might be interested in submitting a sizzle reel.
“Now that that spot is available, could you please send us your promotional video?” he mused.
“I don’t have a showreel and no, I wouldn’t do it,” Brown responded.
And with that, Darcy understood it was time to move on, after offering a quick apology to Watson for his unexpected announcement.
“I’m getting good vibes from all sides here,” he said.
“I’m sorry Whispy, one of the most loved people on Channel Seven.”