‘Secret Millionaire’ episode held over debt complaints

Nine was forced to drop one of its episodes of The Secret Millionaire after one of its benefactors, Leanne Wesche, accrued debts said to be in the ‘hundreds of thousands.’

Wesche went undercover visiting charities in Sydney’s Liverpool region for the show, giving away $110,000 from her own finances.

But Nine executives reportedly hit the pause button after angry creditors complained she was giving away money while debts remained.

A Nine spokeswoman said: “The episode of The Secret Millionaire featuring Leanne Wesche is great TV and a fantastic episode, but it can’t be broadcast until some outstanding issues are resolved.”

Wesche, the 2008 Australian Business Woman of the Year, has admitted she was no longer a millionaire, had sold her house, handed over her savings and would sell more assets to pay her debts from food-packaging company, The Pacco Group.

She inists debts will be paid and says the company was sold at a lesser profit in order to save jobs.

Nine recently interrupted its weekly reun of Secret Millionaire episodes, firstly with a Don Lane special and later a poorly-rating special featuring Sarah Ferguson.

“I find it disappointing that the creditors, a couple of creditors, would be upset about me doing the right thing and giving to people less fortunate than ourselves,” said Wesch.

Source: news.com.au