Bert Moves to Channel 9

[Puppy]

Newton signs with Nine

Newton signs with Nine
November 7, 2005 - 8:37PM

Veteran television presenter Bert Newton will stay on the small screen after signing with the Nine Network.

Nine confirmed that Newton was returning to the network, his on-screen home for almost three decades, after a 14-year stint at Network Ten.

The star announced he had quit Ten late last month after it axed his show Good Morning Australia (GMA).

"I'm thrilled to be rejoining the Nine Network," he said on Monday.

"It feels like I'm coming home, because for almost 30 years the Nine Network was the most important thing in my life.

"I had 14 great years at Ten but when it was announced that Good Morning Australia would not continue, it was a good time to move on. I didn't know at the time that I would be moving back to such an important address."

GMA will end in early December after 3200 episodes.

Nine has not yet revealed its plan for Newton, but says details of his role will be announced shortly.

Newton joined Nine in the late 1950s to work with Graham Kennedy on In Melbourne Tonight, which made him a household name, and in 1976 he moved to The Don Lane Show.

Married to fellow entertainer Patti Newton, "Moon Face" is one of the most recognisable people on Australian television.

Newton has also had a prominent stage career, starring in a number of musical productions.

Most recently, he played the role of Franz Leibkind in the Mel Brooks musical The Producers, but was forced to take time off in June after being hospitalised with a virus.

Described by the late Bob Hope as the best big-occasion host in the world, Newton has hosted 18 telecasts of the TV Week Logie Awards and two Royal Command Performances.

When he announced that Newton would leave Network Ten, CEO Grant Blackley said the network had fought hard to retain him, but it had been the star's decision to make the break.

"We have been in genuine negotiations with Bert for more than three months with a view to signing him to a new contract (and) have put forward a range of ideas and program opportunities to him, recognising his enduring position as one of Australia's - and Ten's - highest calibre stars," Mr Blackley said in a statement.

Blackley said Ten was developing a new daytime program to replace GMA, starting in 2006.

[Mythor]

OMG! I just realised this means Bert might get to host the Logies once more?
Here's hoping.

Be interesting to see where he ends up on Ch.9