Wed Sep 29, 7:28 am ET
SYDNEY (Reuters) Producers of Australia's Next Top Model have been left red
faced after supermodel host Sarah Murdoch announced the wrong winner in what
newspapers said was the country's most awkward TV moment.
Murdoch, the daughter-in-law of media baron Rupert Murdoch, was close to tears
after realising she had mistakenly announced Sydney 19-year old Kelsey
Martinovich as the winner of the Foxtel TV series during the live finale.
Martinovich had completed her acceptance speech before Murdoch backtracked on
stage to reveal the real winner from a public vote was 18-year-old Gold Coast
rival Amanda Ware.
"I don't know what to say right now. I'm feeling a bit sick about this,"
Murdoch told a 2,000-strong live audience.
"I'm so sorry. Oh my God, I don't know what to say. This is what happens when
you have live TV folks, this is insane, insane, insane."
Foxtel is owned by Australian phone company Telstra, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp
and Consolidated Media Holdings.
Foxtel publicity director Jamie Campbell on Wednesday blamed a miscommunication
between series directors in a broadcasting truck control room and Murdoch on
stage.
Series judge and fashion designer Alex Perry told Sydney radio that Murdoch had
made a genuine mistake, denying accusations in media reports that the bizarre
mix-up was a publicity stunt.
"Everybody wants to tag something sinister on it and say it was done for
ratings. I know Sarah and I know the executive producer. It's just not their
style," Perry said.
Martinovich may have had a short-lived reign as Australia's Next Top Model, but
it wasn't all bad news as Foxtel said she would receive a A$20,000 (12,300
pounds) cash prize and trip to New York as consolation, almost matching Ware's
series spoils.
Ware won an appearance in Harpers Bazaar magazine, a modelling contract,
A$20,000, a trip to New York and a car.
(Reporting by Amy Pyett, Edited by Rob Taylor)