Editing Midday (Australian TV program) (section)

==Program history / hosts==

=== Ray Martin (1985–1993) ===
Leading Mike Walsh's resignation from ''[[The Mike Walsh Show]]'', [[Ray Martin (television presenter)|Ray Martin]] was appointed as his successor in 1985, despite being known primarily as a journalist from ''[[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|60 Minutes]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Sue|date=11 February 1985|title=From 60 Minutes to 90 minutes live is 'no sweat' for Ray|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122483319|work=[[The Canberra Times]]|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> The program was re-titled to ''The Midday Show with Ray Martin'', which was later shortened to ''Midday with Ray Martin'', and finally ''Ray Martin at Midday'' in 1993. Although Martin was seen as a shock choice at the time of his appointment, he soon became increasingly popular with viewers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grujoska|first=Gordana|date=1 September 1986|title='It's fun and stimulation' |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131836162|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

During his time on the show, a highly publicised on-air scuffle took place in 1991 between former pop idol [[Normie Rowe]] and radio personality [[Ron Casey (Sydney broadcaster)|Ron Casey]].<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Brawl erupts on TV debate|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122371090|work=The Canberra Times|date=17 July 1991|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

While Martin was at the helm, members of the ''Midday'' on-camera team included musical director [[Geoff Harvey]]; comedians Graham Pugh, [[Ross Daniels (actor)|Ross Daniels]], Ewan Campbell; trumpeter Bob Bouffler; and pre ''[[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother]]'' presenter [[Gretel Killeen]]. Ray Martin remained as host until late 1993, when he was moved to replace [[Mike Willesee]] as host of ''[[A Current Affair (Australian TV program)|A Current Affair]]'', which had seen a ratings decline over the previous year.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Goodbye to 'Midday', hello to new affair for Martin|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127526683|work=The Canberra Times|date=25 November 1993|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

Martin ended up being a popular host on the show. He won the [[Gold Logie]] for his role 3 times – in 1987, 1993 and 1994. He was nominated for the award in 1986, 1990, 1991 and 1992. [[Jean Stafford (musician)|Jean Stafford]] was a regular on ''Midday with Ray Martin'' from 1986 to 1993 with over 47 performances.

=== Derryn Hinch (1994) ===
Following Martin's departure to ''[[A Current Affair (Australian TV program)|A Current Affair]]'', [[Derryn Hinch]] was appointed as host shortly after being sacked from his self-titled current affairs program on the [[Network Ten|Ten Network]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=It's high noon with Hinch - the new Midday man |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127251522|work=The Canberra Times|date=2 December 1993|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> The show effectively reverted partially to its old title by becoming ''Midday With Derryn Hinch''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leedham|first=Nicole|date=7 February 1994|title=Hinch for lunch|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134300204|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> Hinch's appointment was seen by many as a shock decision, as he had previously been known as a hard-hitting, outspoken personality.<ref>{{cite news|last=Childs|first=Kevin|date=4 December 1993|title=No talk yet about what new host will bring to Midday|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127252177|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> Many were therefore surprised to see him showing a softer side in his role as ''Midday'' host. Gradually-declining ratings over previous years saw the show axed at the end of 1994 (Derryn had offered to resign for the good of the show, but stated in interviews that Nine Network executives made it clear that it was the ''show'' that was being axed rather than the ''host'').<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Nine dumps Midday: Hinch to stay on for 'specials'|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130538377|work=The Canberra Times|date=18 November 1994|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

=== Tracy Grimshaw and David Reyne (1995) ===
Following the announcement of the program's axing at the end of 1994, it had been stated that the show would be replaced by a new talk program. After a six-month absence, a lower-budget hour-long program using the ''Midday'' title began.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Midday show back|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128285536|work=The Canberra Times|date=5 July 1995|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenberg|first=Jen|date=17 July 1995|title=From the ashes to the set|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128288070|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=TV clock to Midday|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128288138|work=The Canberra Times|date=18 July 1995|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> In its new form, the show had a more generic feel to it, with no live band and none of the loose "variety show" feeling of the program in its previous incarnation. After the network had considered a number of personalities for the hosting job including [[Larry Emdur]], [[Richard Wilkins (TV presenter)|Richard Wilkins]] and [[Monte Dwyer]], it was announced that [[Tracy Grimshaw]] and [[David Reyne]] were to be the co-hosts of this version.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Reyne pips rivals for 'Midday' chair|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127528123|work=The Canberra Times|date=2 June 1995|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> However, only six months later the program was again reformatted, effectively making it more reminiscent of the Mike Walsh/Ray Martin eras.

=== Kerri-Anne Kennerley (1996–1998) ===
In 1996, [[Kerri-Anne Kennerley]] was appointed to the new incarnation of the show, with the title becoming ''Midday with Kerri-Anne''.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=New host for Midday|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133920684|work=The Canberra Times|date=18 December 1995}}</ref> Geoff Harvey re-joined the show from a period of semi-retirement, albeit with a streamlined, six-piece band and not the full orchestra the show had had in previous days.<ref name=kak>{{cite book|last=Kennerley|first=Kerri-Anne|author-link=Kerri-Anne Kennerley|date=2017|title=A Bold Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QIxDwAAQBAJ&q=A+Bold+Life+Kerri-Anne+Kennerley|publisher=[[Pan Macmillan Australia]]|isbn=9781760550424}}</ref> Initially, Kerri-Anne caused a resurgence in ratings, with her enthusiasm and her tendency to physically interact with guests (i.e. doing dance steps with dancers, attempting to play the respective sports of sporting personalities) rather than confining herself to sit-down interviews.<ref name=kak/> She gained three consecutive [[Gold Logie]] nominations for her work on the show, and was widely praised for "bringing the magic back to ''Midday''".<ref name=kak/> However, the show was eventually not able to compete with better rating, imported programs on other networks, and the general decline of locally produced daytime talk shows and budget concerns that prompted the 1994 axing caused the show to again be axed at the end of 1998.<ref name=kak/>

The final ''Midday'' program aired on 27 November 1998, running for a length of 150 minutes and featuring an array of guests including [[Maggie Tabberer]], [[Brian Bury]], [[Doug Mulray]], Derryn Hinch, [[Don Lane]], Ron Casey, [[Barry Crocker]] and [[Dame Edna]].<ref name=half/>

===Guest hosts===
The program would occasionally use guest presenters, usually personalities from other Nine Network programs, who would fill in for the regular hosts of the show.

A notable guest host in 1985 was [[John Howard]] who filled in for Ray Martin on 30 August 1985.<ref name=tcn>{{Cite episode|title=Midday with Ray Martin|episode-link= |series=1 |series-link= |first=Howard|last=John|network=[[Nine Network|Nine]]|station=[[TCN-9]]|date=30 August 1985|season=1|series-no= |number= |minutes=|time=|transcript= |transcript-url= }}</ref> Howard, who was deputy opposition leader at the time, was the network's second choice after initially approaching opposition leader and Liberal Party leader [[Andrew Peacock]] who declined the invitation to host the show.<ref>{{cite news|last=Atkins|first=Dennis|date=9 April 2011|title=Party games: Rival within |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/party-games-rival-within/news-story/9f256a9dd1bdbabcd1b6ed93ecacc87c|work=The Courier-Mail|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> Howard is believed to have chosen his own guests which included political journalists [[Richard Carleton]] and [[Laurie Oakes]], cricketer [[Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)|Bill O'Reilly]] and actress [[Carmen Duncan]].<ref name=tcn/>

Within a week of Howard hosting ''Midday'', Peacock unsuccessfully attempted to replace Howard as deputy opposition leader with [[John Moore (Australian politician)|John Moore]] which led to the [[1985 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill]] which ultimately saw Howard replace Peacock as Liberal Party leader.<ref>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Paul|date=6 September 1985|title=Howard leads the Liberals; Peacock stands down after miscalculating support|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/13760507|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref>