Details emerge about what Alex Cullen is REALLY doing at Channel Seven – as he’s given a bigger job than anyone EVER imagined in dramatic comeback after Block scandal
Details have emerged about Alex Cullen’s new role at Channel Seven following his shock axing from Nine.
In January, Alex, 44, was axed from the network after he accepted a $50,000 gift from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli for calling him ‘McLaren Man’ live on air.
After teasing last week that he would be hosting a 3pm afternoon news show on Seven, the reality appears somewhat different.
It’s been revealed that Alex will be delivering the news at the top of every hour on weekdays as part of a new programming initiative dubbed Winning Arvo.
The concept will combine the network’s line-up of game shows with extended news updates from Alex, plus opportunities for viewers to win prizes at home.
An insider told Daily Mail that the role will position Alex as the ‘face’ of Seven News, in what has been described as a ‘total shakeup’ of Seven’s afternoon content.
Details have emerged about Alex Cullen’s new role at Channel Seven following his shock axing from Nine
‘He’s now going to be on all afternoon as the face of Seven, it’s news with a splash of cash,’ the insider said.
‘It’s a total shake-up where he’ll be delivering news updates on the hour, every hour from the Melbourne studio and also hosting new afternoon giveaways on-air.’
They added: ‘It’s more news, new game show programming, plus more chance for people to win prizes at home – a total new look in the afternoons.’
The Winning Arvo concept is set to kick off from 1pm on Monday, September 22, with a daytime news bulletin.
Along with the news, there will also be a giveaway every hour, sandwiched between Seven’s game show content.
Viewers can expect a raft of British game show fare, including Blankety Blank, Bridge of Lies (hosted by Ross Kemp), and The Chase UK.
Following the 4pm Afternoon News bulletin, the Larry Emdur-hosted edition of The Chase Australia will round out the afternoon.
Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Seven for comment.
It’s been revealed that Alex will be delivering the news at the top of every hour on weekdays as part of a new programming initiative dubbed Winning Arvo
The revelation comes after Alex teased his new role at Seven last week.
He revealed on his Gold 104.3’s The Christian O’Connell Show that he is set to host a new afternoon news program on Channel Seven.
‘It was a significant day yesterday with me, signing a contract with Seven, which was really exciting,’ Alex began.
‘I’m going to be the Afternoon Host on Channel Seven. So we’re going to be taking you through the afternoon. We’re going to have a show at three o’clock.’
He also shared details about the show’s target audience and launch date.
‘We’re going to get all the nannas, the pensioners, the stay-at-home mums! We’re going to do something a little bit later in the month. Commercial TV moves at a glacial pace and we want to get this right,’ he said.
Host Christian O’Connell then joked that Alex’s program would be facing some stiff competition, in the form of Channel Nine’s flagship game show Tipping Point, hosted by Todd Woodbridge.
However, Alex said he was confident that his new show would thrive in the 3pm timeslot: ‘They are doing well… but not for long!’
‘He’s now going to be on all afternoon as the face of Seven, it’s news with a splash of cash,’ the insider said
‘It’s a total shake-up where he’ll be delivering news updates on the hour, every hour from the Melbourne studio and also hosting new afternoon giveaways on-air.’
In January, Alex was axed from the network after he accepted a $50,000 gift from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli for calling him ‘McLaren Man’ live on air. Alex is pictured with former Nine colleague Karl Stefanovic
It is somewhat of a homecoming for the veteran journalist, who was a presenter on Seven’s current affairs program Sunday Night from 2010 to 2019.
Alex will be working dual roles, as he will be continuing his position as sports presenter on the top-rated Melbourne breakfast radio show.
Earlier this year, he was axed from the Nine Network after he accepted $50,000 from Portelli.
Today host Karl Stefanovic announced that Alex had left the network live on-air.
‘As most of you are well aware, our colleague Alex Cullen has not been on air with us this past week,’ a solemn Stefanovic told viewers.
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail: ‘Nine has agreed with Today presenter and journalist Alex Cullen that he will finish with the network following a review into a recent incident.’
The scandal kicked off when Portelli had grown tired of his long-used nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ and offered the cash reward to the first person to use his new moniker on air, with Alex obliging on the Today show.
The Block entrepreneur then posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the presenter on Instagram.
Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence, and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain, are both breaches of the journalism code of ethics as defined by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union.
