The pilot for Channel Nine’s late-night panel show, The Verdict, has reportedly been given the thumbs up from Nine chief executive David Gyngell.

According to The Australian, the filming of the pilot on Wednesday was a success, during the filming former Labor leader Mark Latham was ‘offensive’ and host Karl Stefanovic was ‘in his element’. Nine execs Gyngell, Andrew Backwell and Michael Healy loved the response from The Verdict‘s first audience and panelists were told yesterday the show would be going ahead. Nine has offered Latham a permanent panel spot.

The Verdict is pitched as a cross between Q&A and The Project, discussing a range of hot topics and includes questions from the audience. During the filming of the pilot, Latham claimed too many people lie about suffering from anxiety and depression and Australia has an ‘epidemic’ of overprescription of depression medication.

As reported in B&T, media commentators including political marketer Dee Madigan are looking forward to watching The Verdict when it premiers on Sunday, October 11th. The panel show will air eight weekly episodes before Christmas at 9.30pm on Sunday, directly after 60 Minutes.