For someone trying to rebuild his image, this doesn’t look like it’s going to end well for Craig McLachlan
If the promos for Seven’s exclusive interview with actor Craig McLachlan are anything to go by, this is going to be car crash television.
Rather than just a sit-down interview, McLachlan appears to have recorded his journey throughout the trial where he was accused of assault and indecent assault charges dating back to 2014.
And it is bizarre.
I saw the promos for the first time live on air as we were streaming The Anj, Rob & Robbo Show. You can see the reactions of myself, Anjali Rao and David Robinson in real-time in the player below. It would be fair to say we had a lot to say about them!
See our reactions in the player below:
The promos start with McLachlan topless, addressing the camera:
“How you going, been a while. Been a while since we last videoed anything together.
But things only get stranger when McLachlan is with his partner Vanessa Scammell in another promo where she is wiping away tears. A visibly angry McLachlan addresses the camera:
“You see this is not just about a headline for the day, but this is ruining lives,
“Not just me, you want to crucify me, fine. Look what it’s done to my beautiful partner, look what it continues to do to my family every day.”
This morning entertainment journalist Peter Ford premiered two new promos on The Morning Show. The new promo is more traditional with McLachlan speaking in an interview situation.
I think you’ll find “my friend” will be one of the most interesting aspects of the show. https://t.co/VHlLaTgKDc
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) May 4, 2021
Sources tell TV Blackbox they expect the interview to air Sunday week, but this has not been confirmed by Seven.
I believe in innocent until proven guilty, which is why I had concerns when he was dumped from his popular TV show The Doctor Blake Mysteries. Channel 7 made the decision when allegations were first raised about his behaviour during the 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show.
It’s a tough situation for any network to deal with and there are no winners.
Soon after McLachlan was charged and last week he was found not guilty.
While McLachlan had a very loyal and vocal fan base supporting him, his mission is now to rebuild his brand with the audience.
I’m not sure he is going to achieve that if these promos are an indication of what we can expect. The four promos that have been released show a man who is very angry – and maybe that’s fair enough. I can only imagine how his life has been turned upside down by the events of the past few years.
Having said that, as a viewer I felt the video with his partner was emotional manipulation and trying to make me feel guilty for something that was nothing to do with me. It will be interesting to see if the audience agrees.
There is a balance that needs to be shown in the finl edit and it will be fascinating to see how he comes across – it will we see the lovable larrikin we’ve known for decades, or is that man now lost to the events that have changed his life.
Hi Robert, as I recall “Dr Blake” was on the ABC, so surely it was them that dropped him from the show, not 7?
Hi Steven – The Dr Blake Mysteries did run five seasons on the ABC, and then Seven picked it up with the view to do more, and then the charges against McLachlan were filed and Seven dropped him, intending to do a series of “Blake Mysteries” telemovies. They only did one.
I would have thought better from Robert McKnight…sneering at a person who has suffered so much from PROVEN false allegations and the questionable MeToo movement is nothing less than reprehensible! Mr McKnight should hope that he will not become a victim of proven lying and vengeful women like these who levels these false allegations at Craig McLachlan!
Hi Graham, my commentary was nothing to do with Craig’s innocence or guilt but what he is trying to achieve with this story.
If you look at all of my previous commentaries I have said it was dangerous for a network to sack someone based on allegations before being proved in a court of law.
But what we have seen here does not show a good side of someone I have always liked as a performer. Yes, he is allowed to show his anger, but he also has to be very careful in attacking people. It’s a delicate balance which did not come through in the first batch of promos. More promos have been released since then and they show another side.
I will be watching the interview.
What? When he’s been through hell and you’re saying “he also has to be very careful in attacking people” after being attacked himself?!? What b.s.
Maybe ABC should do a documentary on how this assault has permanently ruined the victims life.
Mmmm, Craig has enemies when he has been proved innocent. He is not ill-advised.
He is appealing to people with open minds.
What we have here is 100 CLOSED MINDS of idiocy commenting. I am not one of those. Bye.
He was not proven Innocent. He was found Not Guilty. The judge also commented that the accusers were not colluding and they were credible witnesses and the actions probably took place as described. Under the legislation in place at the time he was Not guilty because at the time the law allowed a perpetrator to assume consent unless it was explicitly denied. Which is a bit hard to do when a woman is in on stage in full view of an audience and the perp starts touching her in ways that are not part of the production.
He’s a great actor and should just shut up and get back to work.
His career is cooked – this will speed it along.
In my opinion, a finding of not guilty doesn’t necessarily reflect whether or not the allegations took place, on the contrary the Magistrate stated she believed much of the allegations as far as them taking place, the concern was whether Craig Mclachlan believed it was reciprocated, the Magistrate also stated had the case been subject to current “consent” legislation it may have been a different result.
I don’t know any involved personally my opinion is based on the magistrates comments, I do believe Craig Mclachlan has an energetic personality with a unique sense of humour and was possibly caught up in the moment, I would have preferred to see him apologise and take responsibility then move on without defaming these ladies.
We’re all entitled to an opinion, I respect yours so please respect mine.
One has to ask why it takes so long for these women to complain and do these women have any work ie regular work or any work at all. These women are happy to go into the theatre ,lay partially clothed and have to perform next to men as in the script . God, ladies put your big girl parties on and toughen up. There are so many women out there who get on the band wagon, want to be noticed and as I am of the older generation , have come to realise that lots of women are men haters. Grow up ladies and get a life of your own.
Hi Tess – it is attitudes like yours as to why more women don’t come forward. Who wants to be vilified because people would rather believe “that nice man would never do that”. No matter the job or the circumstances every person should be allowed to do their job safely and professionally. It doesn’t matter if they are in an iron lung or underwear – that is not an invitation to anyone else to touch them, grope them, or say things that make them feel belittled. The women who have stepped up and said they were attacked have, as you so indelicately said it, put their “big girl panties on”. They are saying it’s not appropriate and that the people who do these things should not be allowed to do them without consent. None of these women who made allegations in this case, or subsequently (see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-15/craig-mclachlan-defamation-defence-reveals-new-allegations/100140238) are bandwagon jumpers. They’re saying they don’t want to have to face abuse or attack in their workplace. The only way that changes is by people speaking out and they do so rightly.
Perhaps Tess you might learn something from listening to this growing list of women. They are strong, intelligent, and very grown up ladies who I (and the court) believe.
Third world countries would love to have you to cheer up some struggles life so keep well and become a great writer instead
Some energy healing or travel to India May help see another life and your family is there so let them travel with your new journey
Decide now without any further excuses
Stop feeling guilty and use this to explore your new talent without delay
Forgive even you may or may not have done to set your spirit free