- AFL commentator inadvertently announces colleague’s secret career move
- Race now to fill the coveted spot on one of Seven’s flagship programs
Ultimately, it took just a few seconds and one miss to confirm the worst-kept secret in television: acclaimed Melbourne sports presenter Tim Watson is calling it quits at the end of the year.
Seven News friend and network colleague Luke Darcy accidentally announced Watson’s departure on his Triple M radio show on Friday, only to realise that Seven was still keeping the move top secret.
“I’m going to drop another little bombshell here and that is… Tim “Whispy” Watson is almost done at the Seven Network,” the AFL star turned radio presenter told listeners.
Darcy then cheerfully announced that the soon-to-depart presenter was a ‘favourite’ of Seven’s billionaire owner Kerry Stokes.
“So here’s a little bombshell for you. This is Kerry Stokes’ favorite media person ever, Tim Watson,” he said.
He later angrily backtracked on his position when his co-hosts asked him if Watson knew his impending departure would be made public on their show.
“That may have been an off-air conversation,” Darcy admitted.
“Let’s forget that part… let’s forget that part… let’s move on with our lives.”
Luke Darcy was forced to quickly backtrack after his unexpected announcement
Rebecca Maddern is reportedly in talks to replace Tim Watson as sports anchor
Watson has been the star of Seven’s sports news, which airs in Melbourne at 6pm, for 13 years. He has often worked with Darcy, who also covers the AFL for the channel.
His long-awaited departure has been the subject of ongoing debate this year, as Seven Network has kept official confirmation under wraps while the network works hard to reorganise its news reporting ranks to make up for his impending loss.
Watson got his first role as a commentator at Seven after first retiring from Essendon in 1992.
Rebecca Maddern is believed to be in talks to take over from the veteran newsreader from early next year.
Her spot as weekend news presenter would then be taken over by Karina Carvalho, who recently left the ABC to join Seven in Melbourne.
Newly minted Seven star Karina Carvalho (right, with her former husband, IT director Terry Sweeney) is likely to replace Maddern at weekends
Watson has been Seven’s weekly sports reader in Melbourne for the past 13 years
Darcy did, however, have some ideas about how the network could spice things up a bit and suggested that co-host and former ABL student Nathan Brown might be interested in submitting a sizzle reel.
“Now that that spot is available, would you mind sending in your showreel?” he mused.
“I don’t have a showreel and no, I wouldn’t have one,” Brown replied.
And with that, Darcy indicated it was time to move on, after quickly apologizing to Watson for his unexpected announcement.
“I’m being pushed everywhere here,” he said.
‘Sorry Whispy, one of the most loved people at Channel Seven.’
