EXCLUSIVE
There were very few who knew Studio 10 wouldn’t be returning in 2024 before it was announced on Tuesday.
But Daily Mail Australia can confirm the breakfast show’s co-hosts Tristan MacManus and Angela Bishop were told the show was going to be axed months ago.
A Channel Ten insider has revealed MacManus, 41, was quietly told earlier in the year the show was coming to an end in 2024 before it was even official.
After learning he would be losing his gig, MacManus’ team started working overtime to get him other opportunities on one of Network 10’s 2024 programs.
‘He was flown in to shoot a screen test with I’m A Celebrity host Julia Morris to take over Dr Chris Brown but the audition was a massive fail,’ the source said.
Scandal erupts at Channel Ten as it’s revealed Studio 10 host knew the show was being axed at the START of the year before everyone else
‘There was zero chemistry with Julia and he was clearly out of his depth trying to keep up with her signature zany antics.’
He also missed on a hosting role on Gladiators, and ‘had no cooking experience for Ready Steady Cook or on MasterChef Australia’.
‘It was a mad scramble and the network was hoping to find a new spot for him somewhere. As there was no doubt Network Ten still had him in good favour,’ the insider added.
‘Nothing had been locked in, leaving all fearful he will join a long list of ex Studio 10 presenters as well as many TV executives who feel they have been jinxed by the brand.’
Sarah Harris had ‘really helped MacManus shine’ but she eventually left Studio 10 as she knew the show would eventually be axed.
‘The show was in desperate need of a star but no one would touch the brand. After ten years the show will officially end and that’s a sad day for everyone who worked on the once popular breakfast show,’ the source said.
Meanwhile, Bishop also knew the show was coming to an end earlier in the year, and has already booked a new gig with the network.
A Channel Ten insider told Daily Mail Australia, Tristan MacManus was quietly told earlier in the year the show was coming to an end in 2024 before it was even official
A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday the last episode of Studio 10 will air on Friday, December 22, after more than a decade on Australian screens.
‘Network 10 has announced that the last episode of Studio 10 will air on Friday, December 22 after more than a decade on Australian screens,’ they said.
‘Studio 10 has been a great contributor to Network 10’s daytime program lineup. We would like to sincerely thank all those who have participated in and supported the program over the past decade and to the millions of viewers who tuned in over that time.
‘It has been a show that has provided copious amounts of feelgood fun, joy, passion, heart, entertainment, and unforgettable moments all against the backdrop of live television.
‘Although we are sad to be farewelling the program, the decision to cease production of Studio 10 comes after a change in viewing habits in daytime television. In 2024 there will be a new morning lineup with an increased focus on news and current affairs later in the day.
‘The hosts of Studio 10 – Angela Bishop, Narelda Jacobs and Tristan MacManus, with special roving reporter Daniel Doody – will remain with the network in different roles and many of the staff will be redeployed.’
After learning he would be losing his gig, MacManus’ team started working overtime to get him other opportunities on one of Network 10’s 2024 programs
Hosts Angela Bishop, Narelda Jacobs and MacManus, as well as special roving reporter Daniel Doody, will remain with the network and will be deployed in different roles.
Bishop and McManus admitted in an emotional Instagram video it had been a ‘tough day’ after being informed about the news at lunchtime on Tuesday.
‘It’s a tough day for the whole Studio 10 family because we have loved bringing you the show for the last 10 years,’ Bishop said.
‘We’re all really proud to be part of it. To finish up, I’m going to pinch a quote ‘Don’t cry cos it’s over, smile because it happened’.’
Sitting next to Bishop as she put on a brave face, MacManus added: ‘We absolutely love it. We’ve loved spending every single morning with you.
‘It really has been great. At times tough, but always rewarding. And we’ve always been smiling. We’ve always enjoyed spending our mornings with you.’
Studio 10 has become one of the lowest rating-daytime shows in Australian TV history, falling far behind rival programs on Seven, Nine and the ABC.
The embattled program has been haemorrhaging viewers by the tens of thousands in the past year, leading industry spies to repeatedly question how long it would last on the air.
In April, the show’s ratings plummeted to the lowest in its decade-long history, reaching a shocking average of just 10,000 viewers in the five-city metro.
A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday the last episode of Studio 10 will air on Friday, December 22, after more than a decade on Australian screens. (L-R: Studio 10 panelists Sarah Harris, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Joe Hildebrand, Angela Bishop)
