As reported by this in website August, secret auditions were held for the new co-hosting role of Studio 10.
The Age has now confirmed Tristan MacManus, who was the person being trialed at those auditions, has officially been named co-host, alongside Sarah Harris.
MacManus is a judge on Channel 10’s Dancing With The Stars and has been a dancer on the program in both the US and UK. He is married to Australian actress and model, Tahyna Tozzi, the older sister of model Cheyenne Tozzi.
TV Blackbox was reliably informed host Sarah Harris was brought in over the weekend for the secret audition and crew were made to sign confidentiality agreements.
The actual audition was kept away from prying eyes and filmed in the back studio at 10’s Pyrmont headquarters, not the newsroom where filming usually takes place.
On Friday the show will be farewelling Kerri-Anne Kennerley and very likely Joe Hildebrand (he has been in negotiations with 10 about a reduced role). Newsreader and fill-in host Natarsha Belling has not shown up for work since news of her departure broke.
A wrap party (of sorts) is being held by Kerrie-Anne Kennerly at her house at her own expense to say farewell to multiple members on-air and behind the scenes who are leaving, including Entertainment producer Kelly Shepperd who has taken a voluntary redundancy.
The revised format will be similar to commercial rivals The Morning Show and Today Extra, with a male and female host driving interviews and topics.
Angela Bishop will no longer be a co-host, he new role will be that of daily entertainment reporter while Denise Drysdale will feature once a week in a segment from the Gold Coast.
What do you think about the changes, Rob? I think the show has gone a bit down hill since you left. I enjoyed it more when you were Executive Producer.