Ex Sunrise producer Michael Pell has joined a major American TV show in a huge career shake-up after disappearing from the spotlight for months.
The executive producer, 42, stepped back from the public eye after leaving Seven in November after almost 19 years, and was last seen in a tagged photograph posted online in May.
Pell, who now lives in the US, then resurfaced this week when he was seen partying with Jackie ‘O’ Henderson in LA during her travels stateside with KIIS FM.
Now, Pell’s surprise career move has been revealed as he has reportedly been employed by Dr. Phil as he tries to break into the United States.
Sources told the Daily Telegraph that Pell has been hired by Merit Street, a cable TV and streaming network launched by Dr. Phil earlier this year.
He was reportedly signed up several months ago as the executive producer of the new network’s morning TV show, called Morning On Merit Street.
Daily Mail has contacted Pell and Dr. Phil for comment.
For 11 years, Pell drove Sunrise’s success and domination in the world of TV breakfast news, before deciding to move to the US with his partner Daniel Burgess-Wise.
Ex Sunrise producer Michael Pell has joined a major American TV show run by Dr. Phil in a huge career shake-up after disappearing from the spotlight for months
Sources told the Daily Telegraph that Pell has been hired by Merit Street, a cable TV and streaming network launched by Dr. Phil (pictured) earlier this year
And last weekend, Pell reunited with Aussie radio hosts Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kylie Sandilands at a Las Vegas wedding as he was seen for the first time in months.
Jackie, 49, took to Instagram to share a gallery of images from newsreader Brooklyn Ross and his partner Damien Dirienzo’s nuptials.
Among the photographs was a snap of Jackie looking as glamorous as ever as she smiled alongside Pell, who looked smart in a dapper suit.
Pell last posted to his own Instagram page back in April 2022, when he announced he was leaving his post as executive producer at Sunrise.
Pell listed his job description on Instagram at the time as Senior Vice President, Entertainment Content North America, Seven Network .
Confirming his departure, Seven denied they had axed Pell, who was one of their top executives and led Sunrise to the top of the breakfast TV ratings.
In June 2022, Pell spoke about his exit from Seven and told how he had taken a break from being on social media, The Daily Telegraph reported in June.
The news comes just days after Pell resurfaced this week when he was spotted partying with Jackie ‘O’ Henderson in Los Angeles during her travels stateside with KIIS FM
Jackie, 49, took to Instagram to share a gallery of images from newsreader Brooklyn Ross and his partner Damien Dirienzo’s nuptials, some of which featured Pell
‘Definitely not working at Seven. Just have not been on Insta for months,’ he said when asked why his Instagram bio still suggested he worked for Seven at the time.
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n Financial Review had earlier claimed two sources at Seven confirmed Pell was ‘fired’ from the network as management attempted to cut $60million in costs, which Seven have since denied.
Pell had been promoted by Seven to a ‘talent scout’ role based in Los Angeles when he left Brekkie Central in 2022 after 11 years, but he has since left that role.
He oversaw an extraordinarily successful period for Sunrise – ‘s No. 1 breakfast show – after replacing Adam Boland as executive producer in 2010.
He is credited with helping the program, which was anchored by Natalie Barr and David Koch at the time, extend its lead against arch-rival Nine’s Today show.
For his last day at Sunrise, hosts Natalie Barr and David ‘Kochie’ Koch bid an emotional farewell to the much-admired executive.