Channel Seven’s billionaire owner’s favorite TV stars are revealed as he invites a bevy of presenters to lunch at his mansion with a celebrity chef – so who hasn’t done it?
Channel Seven billionaire owner Kerry Stokes hosted a lavish lunch at his Darling Point home in Sydney for top stars on Friday amid ongoing infighting at the embattled TV network.
Several prominent reporters and executives from 7News arrived at the 84-year-old man’s multi-million dollar waterfront home to enjoy a long lunch of delicious dishes prepared by renowned celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi.
Among those in attendance were 7News weekend presenters Michael Usher and Angie Asimus.
Usher, 54, looked stylish in a navy two-piece suit paired with a white button-up shirt, while Asimus, 39, oozed sophistication in a royal blue short-sleeved maxi dress with a pleated skirt.
Talking to Asimus was Gemma Acton, who looked chic in a dark blue midi dress.
Spotlight star Liam Barlett, 63, and executive producer Gemma Williams, 25, were also in attendance, while Chris Reason, 59, and newly appointed Director of News and Current Affairs, Anthony De Ceglie, appeared to be in good spirits at the meeting.
Mark Ferguson, 58, arrived dressed in a collared shirt, khaki trousers and brown boots.
His weekday 7News co-host Angela Cox stepped out in a navy blue crew-neck dress and paired the dress with beige closed-toe sandals.
Channel Seven billionaire owner Kerry Stokes hosted a lavish lunch at his Darling Point home in Sydney for his top stars on Friday amid ongoing infighting at the embattled TV network
Several prominent reporters and 7News executives arrived at the 84-year-old’s multimillion-dollar waterfront home to enjoy a long lunch.
Several other Channel Seven stars were absent from the soiree, including Sunrise co-hosts Matt Shirvington And Natalie Barr.
Barr is currently flying back to Australia from Washington DC, where she was covering US election week.
Her co-host Shirvington reports from the Sydney studio with Monique Wright.
Wright, along with Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta and weatherman Sam Mac, who flew to South Africa this morning, also appeared to miss Stokes’ post.
Additionally, Larry Emdur, co-host of The Morning Show, which won the coveted Gold Logie this year, and Kylie Gillies did not appear to be present at the private lunch.
Michael Usher and Gemma Acton are pictured outside the Stokes grounds before lunch
Usher, 54, looked sharp in a navy two-piece suit paired with a white button-up shirt
Spotlight star Liam Barlett, 63, and newly appointed Director of News and Current Affairs, Anthony De Ceglie, appeared in good spirits at the meeting
Stokes’ meeting with the Seven team comes amid a major reshuffling of roles and titles amid a ratings carnage.
Last month, Usher and Asimus were named co-hosts of the 6pm bulletin from Friday to Sunday.
Longtime Seven journalist Asimus will continue to present the weather for Sydney’s weekly news with Ferguson and Cox at the desk.
It comes after Sharyn Ghidella’s replacement was announced earlier this month after the much-loved presenter made a controversial departure from Seven.
Angie Asimus (left) wore a royal blue dress with a pleated skirt, while Spotlight’s new executive producer Gemma Williams (back center) chatted with other guests
Delicious dishes were prepared by the famous celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi (photo)
He was seen unloading items and ingredients at the property in the Eastern Suburbs
Sarah Greenhalgh will act as co-anchor of 7News Brisbane’s 6pm bulletin, which was unveiled in October.
Several employees have recently been made redundant as part of Seven’s cost-cutting strategy.
Seven West Media have laid off 150 editorial staff in a series of redundancies that have claimed big names including Sharyn Ghidella and veteran Queensland weatherman Paul Burt.
Mark Ferguson, 58, arrived dressed in a collared shirt, khaki trousers and brown boots
Seven Network’s recently appointed news and current affairs boss De Ceglie has replaced section leaders across the country with younger managers.
He has also introduced a Friday night comedy spot and astrology to the news.
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide all have new news directors and new executive producers have taken charge of Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight.
The network has also suspended veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and veteran Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, known among friends as the ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ for his grim news reporting.
On the Sydney front, Ovadia – perhaps the most prominent of all the figures dropped up to Ghidella’s – has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
Stokes’ meeting with Seven’s elite comes amid a major reshuffling of roles and titles amid a ratings carnage
