2010 Australia's Next Top Model Final

Now that the dust is beginning to settle on the whole Australia’s Next Top Model live finale fiasco, Foxtel and the producers of ANTM have said that they don’t blame host Sarah Murdoch for what happened. In a media release, Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said:

“In live television, mistakes can happen and we accept that fact. Sarah was simply not given the correct information at that stage of the proceedings. Foxtel is not blaming any individual, and certainly not Sarah Murdoch, as some reports have suggested. That is not true. Sarah dealt with a very difficult situation with grace, dignity and professionalism.”

Walsh went on to acknowledge how much interest and buzz surrounded the event, but that he hoped “the focus will shift to the new careers of Amanda Ware, Kelsey Martinovich and all the girls who have made this series of Australia’s Next Top Model our most successful ever.”

It definitely seems like everyone has emerged as winners out of this. Amanda won the competition; Kelsey scored kudos for graciously accepting she actually hadn’t won (plus her runners-up prize isn’t too shabby—a trip to New York, $25,000 cash and her own Harper’s BAZAAR cover!); Sarah further endeared herself as Australia’s sweetheart after her ACA interview; and the finale made international headlines—more publicity than they could have ever expected. See, success all ’round!

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She held her silence for most of yesterday, but last night Sarah Murdoch—along with finalists Amanda Ware and Kelsey Martinovich—gave an exclusive interview to A Current Affair to give her side of what happened at the Australia’s Next Top Model live finale, when she mistakenly announced Kelsey as the winner before correcting herself and saying it was actually Amanda. The incident has made headlines worldwide, and while she was on live TV Sarah said the information had been “fed to me wrong.” Then Foxtel’s publicity director Jamie Campbell said it was miscommunication, a sentiment Sarah echoed on ACA.

When Karl Stefanovic asked Sarah what she heard through her earpiece, she admitted that at the time of the announcement she heard nothing, but that moments before the last thing she had heard was, “Kelsey, one, Amanda, two.” She made a judgement call and announced Kelsey as the winner, only later realising what had happened. Sarah told Karl, “We had to clear this up in that moment. We had to make it right.” So in the end it all came down to a technical glitch—something that could’ve been avoided if they gave Sarah a card with the winner’s name, though they deliberately avoided it. What does Sarah think of live TV now? She laughed, saying, “Don’t know if I love live TV so much anymore. Might go for pre-recorded.” You can watch the full interview here.

It’s the question on everyone’s lips: was last night’s accidental crowning of Kelsey Martinovich as the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 instead of rightful winner Amanda Ware a publicity stunt? This morning on the Kyle and Jackie O show, Kyle said he believed it may have been, since his experience with live shows had taught him that producers only prepare one set of fireworks, whereas last night’s live finale had two. Then they interviewed the two girls and judge Alex Perry, who was adamant it was not a set-up, saying:

“I would stake my life on it . . . Everybody wants to tag something sinister on it and say it was done for ratings (but) I know Sarah and I know the executive producer, it’s just not their style, they have too much integrity.”

Alex went on to say that they had always planned two sets of fireworks: one for the actual announcement, and a second, smaller set for when the winner walked to meet her family. Amanda and Kelsey said they were both happy with the outcome as it means they get to go to New York together, as Kelsey’s compensation prize is a trip to the Big Apple plus $25,000 in cash. And, as Fab has reported, they’ll both appear on separate covers of Harper’s BAZAAR’s November issue. Not a bad second-place prize!

To see what judges Charlotte Dawson and Jez Smith are saying, just read on.

Keep reading . . .

In case you don’t have Foxtel or missed last night’s live finale of Australia’s Next Top Model, a quick recap: Kelsey Martinovich was initially announced as the winner, but as she and fellow finalist Amanda Ware were giving their thank you speeches, host Sarah Murdoch told the audience that she had been fed the wrong information and that the real winner was actually Amanda (view footage on Fab). Awk-ward! Poor Sarah genuinely looked as sick as she said she felt, kept apologising to Kelsey (who was a gracious runner-up), and even said, “This is what happens when you have live TV, folks, I’m so sorry.” Which made us wonder—what would Jodhi Meares be thinking right now? The former ANTM host famously did a no-show at 2008’s live grand finale, when judge Charlotte Dawson had to step in to announce Demelza Reveley as the winner. This followed Jodhi’s nervous performance at the previous year’s live finale, after which she said, “I will never do live TV again—there, I said it.” Girl’s gotta be feeling for Sarah—or having the last laugh. What do you think? Should ANTM say buh-bye to the live finales? Or is it their fault for only closing the voting lines so close to the announcement?

Image supplied by FOXTEL