ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
The Nine Network has been forced to apologise this morning to viewers after producers accidentally broadcast vision of Today Extra entertainment presenter Richard Wilkins without his face on.
Earlier this year, Mr Wilkins was replaced by an animatronic robot that wears a latex skin and moved to the post-9am edition of the nation’s third most popular breakfast television show.
It’s understood by The Advocate that the real Richard Wilkins is now enjoying his retirement.
Rather than just replace him with another human being, the network opted to simply peel the skin off Mr Wilkins’ Madame Tussaud’s wax figure and gently stuck it to a robot face and torso.
Never the less, the pictures of a faceless Richard Wilkins on today’s show triggered shock and panic around Australia this morning and traumatised a number of children.
“There was a technical issue this morning on Today Extra involving one of our robots,” said one Nine executive.
“We apologise for any harm caused by broadcasting pictures of Richard Wilkins without his skin on. We will endeavour to make it up to our audiences.”
The Advocate reached out to Richard Wilkins himself but was told by his house staff he doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s in his hammock.
More to come.
