It’s a big week in football – the most anticipated Footy Show in its 24-year history is back this Thursday, at 8.30pm, when the original host, Eddie McGuire, returns alongside Rebecca Maddern and John “Sam” Newman.
It’s been 12 years since Eddie was the host of The Footy Show. Eddie joined Nine in 1994 as a sports commentator and a month later he was hosting The Footy Show.
His vision to create an entertaining and informative AFL program has made it an eight-time Logie-winning, which in its day was a ratings phenomenon and must-watch Thursday night viewing.
Nine has not revealed any details about the new show including who the guests will be on opening night.
Rumours have been circulating that the show will have a new set featuring one big desk with McGuire expected to be seated in the traditional hosting position on the left of screen.
Next to him will be his controversial mate Sam Newman, no doubt McGuire wants to keep him close so he has an element of control over the presenter who is apparently now “off the leash”
More rumours have indicated the shows other host Rebecca Maddern, has been unsettled by the changes. During rehearsal Maddern was tested sitting on the right end of the big desk, before being moved to a ‘middle position’.
Billy Brownless, Shane Crawford and Dave Hughes, will all be returning to the program, while the pressure will be on the “best newsbreaker in the business”, Damian Barrett, to continue breaking stories week after week.
As part of the changes the show will now become a co-production between Nine and McGuire’s production company McGuire Media. Personalities from Fox Footy are expected to make regular guest appearances on the new Footy Show, in a move designed to cross-promote both products.
The AFL Footy Show returns at 8.30pm Thursday night on Channel Nine.
