Sarah Murdoch has taken some lessons with that other billionaire Donald Trump and said “You’re fired” to Granada productions.

Clearly Sarah Murdoch and Foxtel are still smarting from the debacle of the Australia’s Next Top Model final where the wrong name of the winner was called out as now the production company Granada has been dumped.

The SMH reports Granada who has produced the show for the last seven seasons will be replaced by Shine productions a company owned by Elisabeth Murdoch.

After the final many press releases were sent out saying it was not Sarah’s fault. In fact I never thought it was. And the positive side of things was it gave the local production, international publicity which could only assist with increasing the two finalists profile.

The article states:

Yesterday The Diary heard that Foxtel, which is partially owned by the Murdoch family, had, at her insistence, dumped Granada Media Australia, the production company behind the past six series of Australia’s Next Top Model - which Murdoch presents and executive-produces – to elope with a new production company for the show’s seventh series. Which new production company will get the gig wasn’t known, but the favourite, we were told, was Shine, which is owned by sister-in-law Elisabeth Murdoch. We called Granada, where a spokesperson couldn’t confirm that it had lost the show. We put in two calls to Foxtel, explaining what we were calling about, but no one called back. Then we got hold of Murdoch, who confirmed the change in production company and gave us this statement: ”Granada produced Australia’s Top Model for six years. I worked with them for two years. They are a very talented and hard working crew. But after what happened this year I thought very hard about it and decided it was probably time for a change.”

At least Sarah Murdoch will be still hosting the show, and she was a huge improvement on the previous incumbent, Jodhi Meares.

Above are the cover’s the Harper’s Bazaar magazine of both the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model and the runner up, Amanda Ware and Kelsey Martinovich. Which one do you like best?

This year’s Australia’s Next Top Model winner Amanda Ware caught up with Jennifer Hawkins at a Myer launch and she gave her some tips about New York. Amanda and Kelsey will go there as part of their prize from the show to talk to modelling agencies. (Source: Daily Telegraph)

Cassi Van Den Dungen’s modelling career is continuing to bloom according to leading fashion blogger Frockwriter. She has some great photos of Cassi’s latest photoshoot for Ellery.

Also Frockwriter has an interview with Alice Burdeau at New Zealand Fashion Week, where she talks about studying psychology at RMIT. Alice moved to Melbourne to be with her fashion photographer boyfriend, but now he has moved to Sydney for work.

This is hilarious, and I bet it is what Sarah Murdoch really wanted to say.

Clearly I was deluded in thinking the Australian Next Top Model Final story was dead and buried, as Foxtel have sent out yet  another release saying they have identified the culprit AND it is not Sarah Murdoch.  I never thought it was her fault. I think the amount of releases being circulated on this issue is starting to become the yarn. It was live TV, mistakes happen –  move on.

In fact it should turn out to be a positive for the girls involved.

Anyway here is what the release said:

FOXTEL and production company Granada have concluded a thorough internal investigation following the broadcast of the final episode this week of Australia’s Next Top Model. Both have accepted full responsibility for the fault which resulted in the wrong name of the winner being announced live to air. It has been confirmed that it was human error, and not a technical glitch, which caused the incident.

Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Television, said “It was important that FOXTEL, as broadcaster, and Granada, as the series producer, conducted our own review of Tuesday night’s events. In doing so, we have confirmed that the fault was a human communications error to the host Sarah Murdoch and that an assumption had been made by the producer which has now shown to be incorrect.

“Live television can be unpredictable and people can be forgiven for making a mistake. What isn’t acceptable, though, is any suggestion that the host, Sarah Murdoch, was at fault or that this was a publicity stunt. Nothing could be further from the truth and we apologise to Sarah for any embarrassment it, and the subsequent publicity, has caused her,” he said. “We have also expressed our apologies to the two contestants, Amanda Ware and Kelsey Martinovich.”

Leonie Lowe, Managing Director of Granada Productions, said “We have identified where and how the error occurred and spoken at length with those responsible. They have conceded the mistake and have personally expressed their apology to Sarah.

“Both Granada and FOXTEL would like to express their thanks to Sarah for a marvellous job this season. She has gone beyond the call of duty, having gone back to work on the show just three weeks after having given birth to her daughter, Aerin. The show’s finale was a flawless piece of television up until that last moment when one producer simply got it wrong. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and it’s disappointing that this communications error should overshadow what has been a wonderful series,” she said.

In other ANTM news Priscilla’s has signed on nine of the girls who were on this season.

The Daily Telegraph says:

Leading Australian model manager Priscilla Leighton-Clark, who is only officially obliged to represent the winner of the reality series, has scooped the pool of talent, stating the “calibre of girls this year was incredibly high”.

Martinovich along with Sophie Van Den Akker, Joanna Broomfield, Jessica Moloney, Kathryn Lyons, Chantal Croccolo, Brittney Dudley and Ashton Flutey are all on the books. It is believed the most Leighton-Clark had signed in the six-year history of the show was three in one year. Judge Charlotte Dawson agreed: “We’ve had an amazing cast.”

Ok we finally have the answer thanks to TV Tonight, who watched A Current Affair who interviewed Sarah Murdoch, and she said no name had been fed through to her earpiece.

TV Tonight writes:

Sarah Murdoch says she was given no name in her earpiece to announce the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model.

When it came to the Live TV moment for her to be told the winner from a Producer, no name was supplied. She consequently ran with the last advice she had been given.

“The last thing that was communicated to me in my earpiece was Kelsey 1, Amanda 2,” she told A Current Affair.

“We had this great idea that we wouldn’t use a card, that it would all be communicated to me through an earpiece, so that I too in that moment would find out who the winner was.

“I went into the read, ‘The Winner of Australia’s Next Top Model is…. ‘ nothing….,” she said, indicating her earpiece.

“All I knew was the last thing: Kelsey 1, Amanda 2.

“The point is it was going to be communicated through my ear, and it didn’t come at that moment. So I went with what I had been told.”

To read the rest of the article go to TV Tonight.

And that is the end of the Australia’s Next Top Model yarn, moving onto a new story tomorrow.

But she began to hear the name ‘Amanda’ through the crowd cheers and fireworks and realised that a mistake had been made.

Well the media is going crazy for the Australia’s Next Top Model debacle this morning.

The Today show did well and got an interview with Harpers Bazaar editor Edwina McCann, who said Foxtel had wanted Amanda to win, and had extended the voting time. Also they said there were three votes in it.

Basically Edwina was not happy as it stuffed up getting their magazine to the publisher. So it will be interesting to see if Harpers sponsor the show next year.

Also she said she preferred Kelsey’s cover shot and thought it was more sellable. Anyway with all this coverage they can expect some great sales for the upcoming issue which will be out in about ten days.

Also Alex Perry was on Today FM saying that the mistake was not a publicity stunt.

Also I have been doing a few radio interviews here is one on the New FM 105.3, but also ABC radio was getting in on the reality TV action, and I was interviewed on 702. Finally my parents are proud of me. LOL.

UPDATE: Mumbrella have written that Foxtel are saying Sarah Murdoch read out the card wrong. Personally even by those quotes I feel it is still unclear. As who put the card there with the wrong name?

A reader, Fontana,  had taken this snap shot of the Harpers Bazaar website and sent it to me, and it shows that Amanda Ware’s front cover was put up on the site yesterday at 4.51pm.

Now wasn’t voting continuing well into the live show last night which started at 7.30pm? If this is true the voting was not as close as they were saying.

Also Fontana said

Didn’t anyone notice during the original announcement of the winner (see early part of video footage) that on the large screen behind the stage, there was a large Harpers Bazaar magazine front cover featuring AMANDA.

If you missed the finale and want to see what happened go to this previous blog post here.

UPDATE: Considering I am the only one running this – I suspect the picture is bollocks.

UPDATE: As @theblock_fans pointed out to me this picture was found of the Vogue Forums…. who used to sponsor the show.

For those who did not see the debacle that was the Australia’s Next Top Model final – here it is.

In a nutshell Kelsey was announced the winner, the fireworks went off, a thank you speech given and then some “Oh no’s” from host Sarah Murdoch, and then Amanda was announced the winner.

Sarah looked flustered but then recovered, and props to Kelsey for being so gracious about it.

UPDATE: This just in from the press release -

“Tonight we saw the perils of live TV. At the time of the result announcement there was a miscommunication between the broadcast truck and the stage,” said Jamie Campbell, FOXTEL Director of Publicity.

“Sarah handled what was a difficult situation with utmost professionalism and grace.  Amanda and Kelsey were neck and neck in the voting all night.

“We apologise to Kelsey for the error, and FOXTEL will be sending her to New York as well as awarding her $25,000 as a prize,” he said.

Also I forgot to mention that Jessica won fan favourite , which was $5000.

Now we know why Jodhi Meares always carried a clip board, and never wanted to host the live Australia’s Next Top Model finale.

Tonight was what is technically know as a cock-up. Kelsey was told she had won Australia’s Next Top Model, the fireworks went off, the thank you speech was given, and then suddenly Sarah Murdoch had to actually announce it was Amanda who had won.

My recording cut off so will update post when I finally see the last bit, but some back stage person must be getting their arse kicked now.

This rates as one of the biggest stuff ups in reality TV history. If anyone can think of any others please tell me. I did feel sorry for all involved but could not stop laughing.

Also just an aside what the hell has happened to Elle Macpheson’s accent, it was like she was an alien.

Clearly the Australian Next Top Model producers were not concerned about the result of the Federal election as they have decided to put the decision in who will win this year’s title into the hands of the voting public.

Yes that is right the judges will have no say in picking the winner it will be all up to the public to decide between Kelsey, Amanda, and Sophie.

One person who apparently underwhelmed by this decision is the editor of Harper’s Bazaar who according to Sydney Confidential is “furious” that they are unable to choose their own cover girl.

The article said:

Edwina McCann agreed Harper’s would run the winner of the Foxtel series on the cover on the provision McCann was part of the judging panel – except it was announced on Tuesday that viewers would decide the winner. Behind the scenes sources say Mc Cann is “far from happy” because, having already shot the top three contestants to mock up three covers, she has a clear favourite.

“When the winner is announced they will literally press print on the issue,” our source said.

“She is unhappy there are three girls in the final. Edwina wanted Amanda and Kelsey in the final.”

McCann did not return Confidential’s calls yesterday.

In 2008, when Vogue was attached to ANTM, editor Kirstie Clements, pulled then-winner Demelza Reveley from the front page – famously declaring the pictures did not warrant a cover.

If this story is true it will be interesting to see if they sponsor the show next year.