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Media
Controversial prank call radio show replaced on Sydney’s 2Day FM
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 28 January 2013
The Australian radio station caught up in the prank call scandal late last year has replaced the show on which the spoof call was made, but says that its presenters, Michael ‘MC’ Christian and Mel Grieg, are still on the payroll.
Christian and Grieg have been on leave ever since one of the nurses that appeared in their pre-recorded call, made to the London hospital that was at the time caring for Kate Middleton, died by suicide just days after the controversial prank became a global news event.
While the exact circumstances around nurse Jacintha Saldana’s death remain unknown, the incident threw the spotlight on radio pranksters who pick their victims at random, while the DJs and 2day FM were heavily criticised for not clearing the pre-recorded item with the London hospital before airing it.
Since Saldana’s death in mid-December, 2day FM has aired a basic music-heavy fill-in programme in Christian and Grieg’s old slot. But now a new programme is being launched in that spot in the schedule, though station owners Southern Cross Austereo have said that both Christian and Grieg will return to the airwaves at some point in the future.
The media firm’s CEO Rhys Holleran told reporters: “We look forward to Mel and MC returning to work when the time is right, in roles that make full use of their talents. We will discuss future roles with them when they are ready”.
