Channel Seven terminated the employment of Ryan Phelan effective immediately on Monday after he was charged over an alleged domestic violence incident.
And now the network has welcomed back original co-host Tom Williams to front the program for its final three episodes.
TV Blackbox reported on Tuesday that Williams would rejoin host Sally Obermeder in light of the serious allegations made against Phelan.
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Tom Williams (left) will reprise his hosting role on The Daily Edition after Channel Seven announced the immediate axing of its former host Ryan Phelan (right) on Tuesday’s show when allegations of domestic violence came to light this week. Pictured with host Sally Obermeder
Williams, who hosted The Daily Edition from 2013 to 2018, departed Seven after 17 years with the network in December 2018.
The TV carpenter joined property marketing firm Boutique Estates International as a partner alongside Juliet Anderson and his sister-in-law Vanessa Gilbert.
Seven confirmed the axing of The Daily Edition last week, with its final episode to air this Friday.
Obermeder confirmed that Phelan would not return for the remainder of The Daily Edition’s run on Tuesday’s show.
Sally Obermeder (right) confirmed that Phelan would not return for the remainder of The Daily Edition’s run on Tuesday’s show – as it will be axed completely on Friday
Helping Sally sign off: Williams(pictured), who hosted The Daily Edition from 2013 to 2018, departed Seven after 17 years with the network in December 2018. He will co-host the remaining three episodes of the program with Obermeder this week
Phelan, 45, was charged on Monday night over an alleged domestic violence incident with his girlfriend, 44-year-old ballet instructor Chelsea Franklin at their home in Frenchs Forest in Sydney’s northern beaches.
Hours before he was charged with the alleged assault, the veteran television presenter arrived for his final week at work as though nothing was amiss.
Phelan presented alongside Obermeder for The Daily Edition, before filling in for Mel McLaughlin on the 6pm sport bulletin.
Phelan, 45, allegedly assaulted Ms Franklin on Saturday night inside their $2.16 million home in Frenchs Forest, in Sydney’s north. The dance teacher made a report on Saturday, but her TV star boyfriend was not arrested and charged by NSW Police until Monday evening
The first time bosses at Channel Seven learned of the alleged altercation was when a reporter called asking for further information about Phelan’s arrest, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
That claim was supported by Omermeder on air as she tried to explain why her co-host wasn’t sitting beside her.
‘Before we go on, I want to address Ryan Phelan’s absense from the program,’ she said.
‘The network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night… Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him.’
She said the entire team was ‘understandably shocked’, but would not comment further given it was now before the courts.
‘The network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night… Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him’: Host Sally Obermeder addressed Phelan’s absence with viewers on Tuesday
Phelan’s girlfriend Ms Franklin told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday the pressures associated with his job and getting sacked led to the argument that saw her report him to police.
She broke down in tears as she told how Phelan’s alleged assault of her on Saturday night was a ‘horrible mistake’, but admitted she ‘still loves him’.
‘I’m gutted, I’m devastated, I’m shattered. I’ve lost my lover, I’ve lost my boyfriend – I love him,’ Ms Franklin said.
‘It was just a horrible mistake really, we’ve had a wonderful two-and-a-half years together, nothing like that has ever happened before.
‘Obviously with what’s going on with him being made redundant and there’s a couple of other personal issues I had and he had, and I think it just took its toll.’
She said: ‘Its been a tough, tough week, but he’s been an amazing person to me and I love him. It’s just a horrible mistake.’
‘I’m gutted, I’m devastated, I’m shattered. I’ve lost my lover, I’ve lost my boyfriend – I love him,’ Ms Franklin said of Phelan to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday