Sacked Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley steps out in kitty mask just hours after bidding farewell

Sacked Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley remained upbeat and positive as she stepped out in a pink kitty mask on Wednesday just hours after fighting back the tears while bidding viewers farewell live on air.

On Tuesday, the 66-year-old was delivered a shocking blow when she found out she was axed from Channel 10 along with 25 other staff members due to the decline in advertising revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Kerri-Anne held her head high as she emerged from the studio while sporting the playful face covering – which appeared to hint that she was doing just fine in light of her recent professional woes.

Kerri cut a sartorially savvy figure in a structured triple-breasted white coat with chunky gold buttons and tasselled shoulder detailing. 

The TV personality teamed the statement look with a pair of brown suede trousers and burgundy high heeled boots. 

Sporting a glamorous blowdry and carrying a coffee in hand, Kerri-Anne appeared to be in good spirits as she completed her look with the fun kitty mask to help limit the spread of COVID-19. 

Just a few hours earlier, Kerri-Anne appeared to shake with emotion while addressing the mass sacking.

‘I just know I’m back on the “lazy Susan” of television. Yeah, it’s very, very tough for a lot of people,’ she began.

‘But I’ve always worked on a personal level, the Charles Darwin theory that says to survive you don’t need to be the most intelligent, you don’t have to be the strongest, but you have to be, to survive, the most adaptable,’ she said. 

Kennerley, who joined Studio 10 as a part-time panellist in September 2018, went on to say just how much she treasures the friendships she’s made along the way.  

‘I’ve had a ball! And the reason why I’ve got this outfit today is because, if you’re being run out of town, get in front of the parade or get in front of the crowd and make it look like a parade!’ she added with a salute. 

The media veteran graciously said that she accepts losing her job if it means she is saving the livelihoods of her colleagues.

‘Let’s face it. We’ve got to get down to logic here. It is what it is. It’s not the first time, unfortunately. Companies do these sort of cuts to make the business better, which in the long run saves a lot more jobs,’ she said. 

Kennerley finished her speech with a tribute to her co-workers at Channel 10.

‘I do not say it lightly: I am very, very sad because I will miss you guys, and I will miss the audience, miss the feedback,’ she said.

‘But that said, it is what it is. You just have to suck it up and move on.’ 

Fellow panellists Sarah Harris, Joe Hildebrand and Angela Bishop looked quite emotional during Kerri-Anne’s heartfelt speech. 

Struggling to maintain her composure, an upset Harris said: ‘It’s been gut-wrenching to hear the news. It is a shocking, shocking economic reality that we are facing.’ 

Earlier in the program, Kennerley had made light of the situation by pretending she wasn’t aware she’d lost her job. 

‘Good morning!’ she said in a chirpy voice as the show began.  

‘It’s been a couple of days. Did I miss anything?’ she added with a wry smile, sending her co-hosts into a chorus of nervous laughter. 

On Tuesday, Channel 10 sacked at least 25 stars, including Kerri-Anne, journalist Natarsha Belling and legendary weatherman Tim Bailey, in a brutal afternoon of budget cuts.

Staff members were informed on Tuesday that the television news department was being ‘restructured’ in response to the sharp decline in advertising revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Current affairs program The Project, hosted by Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar, is not affected by the cuts. 

The changes are expected to be effective from Monday, September 14. 

Despite losing Kennerley and Belling, morning show Studio 10 will continue to air weekdays from 8am to midday for the time being.

Host Sarah Harris and entertainment reporter Angela Bishop are staying, and Denise Drysdale and Denise Scott will continue as contributors.

Narelda Jacobs will remain as newsreader and Jono Coleman will present the advertorial segments as normal. 

However, the network has advised that more changes will be announced regarding Studio 10 in the coming weeks.

Kennerley’s manager told Daily Mail Australia in a statement: ‘Kerri-Anne’s role on Studio 10 was only part-time two or three days a week. Nevertheless she is disappointed to be finishing up in September but understands the financial pressures on the network. She wishes everyone at Network 10 the best.’ 

He added that while Kennerley is departing Studio 10 next month, she remains under contract until December 31, leaving open the possibility of her taking on another role at the network. 

Meanwhile, fellow panellist Joe Hildebrand hasn’t lost his job yet, but is in talks with the network about his future.

‘They want to keep him on in some capacity but they haven’t fleshed out what that would be,’ an insider told Daily Mail Australia. ‘To be honest, I don’t think they even know.

‘Whether or not he would even want to continue is another question entirely.’

The source said that Hildebrand ‘holds no ill will’ against Channel 10 and could even take the opportunity to make a ‘clean break’ and explore other opportunities in the media.

He is already employed as a columnist by News Corp, where he is planning to take on greater responsibilities.

‘Ten wants to sort of have their cake and eat it too,’ the source said. ‘They want to cut the amount of money he costs them but still get to have him on the show somehow or other.’

The insider said the news came as a shock to everyone at Studio 10, including the presenters, adding: ‘The people who have had to convey the news are mortified.

‘I think all this s**t’s come from the parent company [ViacomCBS]. They’ve just run a rule over the thing and said, “Right, you’ve got to get down to this number.” And that’s the way they’ve gone.’ 

As part of the company restructure, the 10 News First weekday operation will be centralised in Sydney and Melbourne, and the network will move to a national weekday weather model fronted by Tim Bailey’s to-be-announced replacement.

Sydney, Brisbane and Perth will all host their news bulletins out of Sydney, while Melbourne and Adelaide will be based out of Melbourne. 

Sandra Sully and Matt Burke will host the Sydney and Brisbane bulletins, and Jennifer Keyte and Stephen Quartermain will host the Melbourne and Adelaide edition.

A new team will be announced to host the Perth news. 

Channel 10’s network director of news content, Ross Dagan, said in a statement about the job cuts: ‘The decision to make these changes was a very difficult one and I want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to our friends and colleagues who will leave the network. 

‘It is in no way a reflection of their talent, contribution or passion. They are exceptionally gifted people. We are incredibly proud of them and their work. There is no doubt they will be missed.

‘These painful changes reflect the state of the media industry in recent years and the need for all media companies to achieve new efficiencies.

‘While our viewers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will see some on-air changes, we will continue to produce local news and employ local reporters, camera operators and production staff in those cities.’

Beverley McGarvey, Channel 10’s chief content officer, added: ‘These decisions are not being made lightly; however, they are essential to future-proofing our business.’

The decision to axe 25 staff members comes three months after the broadcaster announced the closure of its news website 10 Daily. 

Some of the job cuts will come as a surprise to viewers.

Weather presenter Tim Bailey, for example, is considered a legend at the network, and has been a familiar face for more than 30 years. 

He is being replaced by another meteorologist as Channel 10 moves to a national weekday weather model.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley is a more recent hire, having only joined the Studio 10 panel in September 2018.

Since then, her controversial views have helped Studio 10 punch above its weight in terms of setting the news agenda.

However, her opinions on Aboriginal issues have sparked significant backlash, and a segment from January 2019 was the subject of a complaint to the TV watchdog.

In October that year, she made controversial comments about climate change protesters and said she supported tougher sentences.

The following month, Kennerley made headlines again when she claimed that her co-host Joe Hildebrand had ‘done more drugs than anyone’.