Channel Ten’s brutal cost-cutting measures in September saw 25 employees sacked, including Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling.
Gracing Stellar magazine for The Sunday Telegraph this week, Studio 10 host Sarah Harris, 39, revealed how she offered to take a pay cut in order for her ‘brother’ and co-host Joe Hildebrand to stay on the show.
Sarah, who now presents the morning program alongside Tristan MacManus, said TV bosses declined her generous offer as they wanted to go in a new direction.
Close bond: Studio 10 host Sarah Harris (left), 39, revealed how she offered to take a PAY CUT in order for her ‘brother’ Joe Hildebrand (right), 44, to stay on the show… however TV bosses declined as they wanted to take the program in a new direction
When asked by Stellar whether a rumour about her offering to take a pay cut was true, Sarah took a few days to respond after consulting Joe, 44, first.
‘I’m fiercely protective of Joe,’ she told the publication. ‘He’s my brother. That’s what families do.’
Sarah went on to reveal how TV bosses declined her offer of a pay cut, explaining how they wanted to take the morning show in a different direction.
Loyal: Sarah told Stellar magazine for The Sunday Telegraph this week, ‘I’m fiercely protective of Joe. He’s my brother. That’s what families do’
Dancing With The Stars judge Tristan MacManus, 38, joined Sarah as her new co-host on September 14.
Also on the panel is news reporter Narelda Jacobs, entertainment reporter Angela Bishop, and contributors Denise Drysdale, Jono Coleman and Craig Bennett.
Elsewhere in her interview with Stellar, Sarah commended Kerri-Anne Kennerley, 67, for her dignified response in getting sacked.
Panel change: Channel Ten’s brutal cost-cutting measures in September saw 25 employees sacked, including Kerri-Anne Kennerley (far right) and Natarsha Belling. Pictured on the far left is entertainment reporter Angela Bishop who still stars on the morning program
New co-host: Dancing With The Stars judge Tristan MacManus (pictured), 38, joined Sarah as her new co-host on September 14
‘She’s just a really good bird. She understands that she’s in a privileged position and she’s classy in the way she looked at the whole thing: not just with wisdom and insight, but also with grace.
‘I came from a home where we were living week to week, and KAK also came from not much. It makes you grateful for every opportunity and experience you do get.’
Kerri-Anne told Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon on the Today show this month that she felt ‘terrific’ months on from her Channel 10 redundancy.
Class act: Elsewhere in her interview with Stellar, Sarah commended Kerri-Anne Kennerley, 67, for her dignified response to getting sacked
Nothing but praise: ‘She’s just a really good bird,’ Sarah said. ‘She understands that she’s in a privileged position and she’s classy in the way she looked at the whole thing: not just with wisdom and insight, but also with grace’
The TV veteran, who is preparing for her debut in musical Pippin, said: ‘I have to say I’m one of the fortunate ones. I, sort of, glided a little bit through it.
‘I had a bit of work to do. So, I could put on the high heels and the make-up, go and do work, go home and declutter like everybody else.’
Speaking about her new venture, she explained: ‘I get to sing upside down on a trapeze. You know me, I’m in for a challenge!’
Read more: In this week’s Stellar magazine