Guess who’s back! Boned Studio 10 star Joe Hildebrand joins Channel Seven’s The Morning Show
Former Studio 10 host Joe Hildebrand has made his first appearance on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show after being axed by Network Ten due to budget cuts.
On Monday, the 44-year-old looked in good spirits as he sat on the couch alongside Kylie Gillies and guest host Matt Doran as a contributor during a hot topics segment.
Joe, who is also a columnist for News Corp, gave his usual lively take on the current lockdowns and domestic border closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Talking head: Former Studio Ten star Joe Hildebrand, 44, (pictured) has made first appearance on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show after being axed from the network in September
Viewers were no doubt pleased to see the respected journalist back on screen after a few weeks off.
The centre-right commentator sported a new haircut as well as his trademark spectacles while weighing in on the day’s news.
Joe tweeted of his appearance: ‘Back on today with the magnificent Caroline Overington, Kylie Gillies and Matt Doran. Tune in now!’
Farewell: Joe broke down in tears live on air as he revealed he had come to the difficult decision to leave after seven years in September
Several fans expressed their delight at seeing Joe back on the box.
‘So glad to see your voice of reason,’ one viewer tweeted.
‘You morning show rebel,’ another added, while a third wrote: ‘Awesome! Great to see you again.’
There he is! A number of fans were thrilled to see him on the show, with them expressing their delight on Twitter. ‘You morning show rebel,’ one wrote affectionately
Joe resigned from Studio 10 in September instead of taking on a reduced role with less pay.
Several of his colleagues, including Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling, were made redundant as the network tried to cut costs amid the coronavirus recession.
Joe broke down in tears live on air as he revealed he had come to the difficult decision to leave after seven years.
Bye: Joe was axed from the network alongside long-time veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Natarsha Belling and Tim Bailey
‘I am leaving Studio 10. I have given it a huge amount of thought. It’s been really hard, but also really lovely to be able to look back on all the things we have done,’ he said.
‘We all know the show is getting a bit of a shake-up. Channel 10 and my lovely bosses asked me if I’d stay on in a new role. We talked about it openly and warmly about what that might look like.’
Speaking of his bosses’ reaction when he told them he was quitting, Joe said: ‘They’re really lovely about it, so don’t lash out at them!’
Truth: Joe said the reality of his departure was drama-free. ‘The boring truth is the network just needed to cut costs and I quit rather than take on a lesser role,’ he explained
‘I just thought, it’s probably just better to draw a line under this amazing little story that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of,’ he added.
‘[I want to] give the show a chance to breathe and have a fresh start without me hanging around.’
He was replaced a male anchor by Dancing with the Stars judge Tristan McManus.
New-look Studio 10: Dancing with the Stars judge Tristan MacManus (right) took over Joe’s role on the new-look series alongside Sarah Harris (left)
Joe spoke about his departure from the show in September during an interview with News Corp, admitting he left the program because he didn’t want to go part time.
‘The boring truth is the network just needed to cut costs and I quit rather than take on a lesser role,’ he explained.
‘But nobody would want to watch that, so tell the world I went out in a blaze of glory.’
Next move: Joe, who was beloved on Studio Ten, didn’t reveal his next move on the show