Channel Ten announced its morning program Studio 10 had officially been axed on Tuesday after more than a decade on n screens.
But the cracks first began appearing on the show back in 2018, when panelists Ita Buttrose and Jessica Rowe both departed the program.
At the time, a TV insider told Woman’s Day magazine that the show was ‘starting to look a lot like rats leaving a sinking ship.’
Ita departed following rumoured on-set tensions with her co-host Denise Drysdale, which eventually culminated in the now-infamous ‘Brussels sprout incident’.
Tensions flared in November 2017 when Denise ‘hurled’ a Brussels sprout at Ita while filming a Christmas segment.
The tell tale signs Studio 10 was in trouble – as Network 10 axes its breakfast show after a decade on n TV
Denise apologised for the incident, telling the Herald Sun: ‘I rang Ita for Christmas; we talk, we all get along. I did the wrong thing, it was totally my fault, I am sorry it happened.’
However in a statement to Daily Mail , Network Ten strongly denied claims there was tension between Ita and Denise, labelling the allegations ‘offensive’.
Jessica meanwhile announced her departure from Studio 10 in March 2018, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.
Woman’s Day magazine subsequently claimed that Jessica had left the show because she realised the program was ‘in decline.’
Cracks first began showing back in 2018, when panelists Ita Buttrose (left) and Jessica Rowe (right) both departed the show
Former Studio 10 panelists Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Natarsha Belling and Joe Hildebrand were also axed from the show in 2020 amid Channel 10’s mass layoffs.
Kennerley has been a vocal critic of Studio 10 following her departure, saying it was ‘sad’ to see Studio 10 become an insufferable woke-fest after she was sacked.
Her departure from the show coincided with Studio 10’s content becoming more politically progressive, as well as a steep decline in ratings.
The show has become one of the lowest rating-daytime shows in n TV history, falling far behind rival programs on Seven, Nine and the ABC.
The embattled program has been haemorrhaging viewers by the tens of thousands in the past year, leading industry spies to repeatedly question how long it would last on the air.
Ita departed following rumoured on-set tensions with her co-host Denise Drysdale, which eventually culminated in the now-infamous ‘Brussels sprout incident’. (Pictured L-R: Studio 10 panelists Denise Drysdale and Jessica Rowe)
In April, the show’s ratings plummeted to the lowest in its decade-long history, reaching a shocking average of just 10,000 viewers in the five-city metro.
However, a Network 10 spokesperson recently told Daily Mail that Studio 10 wasn’t going anywhere.
‘Studio 10 is a staple in our daytime program schedule boasting fun, entertaining and engaging content led by a fantastic panel,’ the spokesperson said.
But in December 2022, it was announced Studio 10 would be cut from three-and-a-half hours to two hours, shifting its start time to 10am instead of 8.30am.
According to The n, the ratings were so low that ‘few media pundits were overly surprised’ when Studio 10’s run time was cut down.
A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday the last episode of Studio 10 will air on Friday, December 22, after more than a decade on n screens. (L-R: Studio 10 panelists Sarah Harris, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Joe Hildebrand, Angela Bishop)
A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday the last episode of Studio 10 will air on Friday, December 22, after more than a decade on n screens.
Hosts Angela Bishop, Narelda Jacobs and Tristan MacManus, as well as special roving reporter Daniel Doody, will remain with the network and will be deployed in different roles.
Bishop and McManus admitted in an emotional Instagram video it had been a ‘tough day’ after being informed about the news at lunchtime on Tuesday.
‘It’s a tough day for the whole Studio 10 family because we have loved bringing you the show for the last 10 years,’ Bishop said.
‘We’re all really proud to be part of it. To finish up, I’m going to pinch a quote “Don’t cry cos it’s over, smile because it happened”.’
Sitting next to Bishop as she put on a brave face, MacManus added: ‘We absolutely love it. We’ve loved spending every single morning with you.
‘It really has been great. At times tough, but always rewarding. And we’ve always been smiling. We’ve always enjoyed spending our mornings with you.’
Bishop and McManus admitted in an emotional Instagram video it had been a ‘tough day’ after being informed about the news at lunchtime on Tuesday