Mark Latham, the man who very nearly became Australia’s prime minister, has been announced as a guest panelist in a Channel nine political panel show. B&t has hunted down media commentators for their view on Latham’s face being broadcast on TV.
“I’m not a fan of Mark Latham but I can see why they’ve done it, and I actually hope the show itself is a success,” Dee Madigan told B&T. “Apart from The Project I can’t think of any show on commercial stations that really goes into political depth at all. I think it’s great.
“I think initially the audience will be curious political people, I think people will tune in hopefully because people are genuinely more interested in politics now days. I will definitely be tuning in.”
Fusion Strategy managing director Steve Allen told B&T the risks that advertisers run attaching brands to the program:”It’s a risky environment, just because of Latham, but there would not be many that would not be attracted to the headlines that are bound to emanate from this.”
Allen said he’ll absolutely be watching the program.
Nicole Reaney, director of InsideOut PR told B&T: “It’s a car crash that, love him or hate him, people will be ready to watch and Nine are counting on the subsequent exposure his appearance will generate. Teaming up a person who the average female has a distaste for with Karl, notably more of a favourite with females is an interesting juxtaposition. Nine are definitely playing it safe by piloting the panel so it can determine any changes to its benefit.
“Let’s just say I don’t expect Mamamia to be advertising in that slot.”
Some of Latham’s greatest hits:
In 2006, The Daily Telegraph photographer Ross Schultz alleged that Latham destroyed his camera after the Schultz took a photo of Latham with his sons at a Hungry Jacks store. The following day, Latham allegedly veered his car towards Channel 7 television cameraman outside Latham’s homes.
In 2015, Buzzfeed found Latham was trolling high-profile Australian women under the Twitter account @RealMarkLatham. He tweeted abusive comments to women such as Mia Freedman, Annabel Crab, Leigh Sales, Tara Moss, Anne Summers and Lisa Pryor. Latham eventually resigned from his regular column at the Australian Financial Review.
During his time at the Financial Review Latham attacked Australian of the Year Rosie Batty for using her son’s death as “entertainment” for business functions. Latham wrote: “How did Batty immerse herself in such company, wheeled out at business functions to retell the story of her son’s murder in February 2014? This is one of my pet gripes about modern society: the way in which serious issues and events are converted into bizarre forms of celebrity.”
Latham’s initial response to the Buzzfeed article:
~charming~ pic.twitter.com/GpfbOq3hsO
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) August 16, 2015
As reported in B&T , Channel Nine will start filming the panel show next week with Nine’s Today Show’s Karl Stefanovic hosting.
