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No sun rise on Australian Story

Speculation that David Koch and Melissa Doyle won't appear on an Australian Story episode profiling Adam Boland.

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2014-02-13_0044Seven has denied it has blocked David Koch and Melissa Doyle from appearing in ABC’s Australian Story profile on former Sunrise and Wake Up producer Adam Boland.

The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported the ABC series would profile his battle with depression in an upcoming episode.

Boland departed TEN, and television more broadly, in January due to ill health.

The Daily Telegraph reports David Koch and Mel Doyle have “refused to be part of the ABC show. This, it was claimed, was at the urging of their Seven Network bosses.” It also suggests some at TEN are reluctant to appear.

But the Seven spokesperson denied they had been blocked from appearing.

In the 16 years that Australian Story has been on air, by now personalities from all networks have appeared at one stage or another, either as subjects, interviews or introducing the episode.

16 Responses

  1. PS – re your statement about what the average person experiences, it would be great if there was a story about what the ‘man on the street’ does go through in order to access treatment, the cost of it and the how poor some of that treatment actually is.

  2. @COC – I have chronic mental health issues, actually just had my 8th hospitalisation, & I do find it helpful when people with high profiles disclose their illness as I hope that it destigmatises these issues.

    With regards to the extra support that these personalities receive, in my experience I have found the real problem is the financial issue. To get the best care in mental health you have to be able to afford it & a good deal patients don’t have the resources. It is very expensive to see psychiatrists, psychologists, buy medication, etc & often those who most need these things simply can’t afford them and/or are so unwell, they can’t organise themselves enough to access them. It’s a very scary situation to be in.

  3. At least with no ‘two bob each way’ Mr Koch appearing, I will now watch it, as much will depend on the tone and on just who contributes, instead waiting for comments on TVT..But in fairness to Kochie perhaps he is not contributing because he would as per normal have little of value to contribute, unless it suits him or one of his mates and/or some associated venture..I’ll watch with great interest the thrust and justification for another, mental illness story affecting another high profile personality.

    How many times does a higher profile, equate to much higher support and sadly the glossing over of some reactions/details, or how many high profile personalities are just given the contact details of Life Line and/or others,where many average suffers exhibiting the same reactions, face the full force of the law

  4. Australian Story don’t profile anybody against their wishes. Adam would be on board. Perhaps Kochie and Mel don’t feel comfortable discussing Adams illness, even with his blessing.

  5. I wouldn’t watch it if I knew that Koch was going to be expressing a view on something.

    @deedeedragons – “The Daily Telegraph reports…” = “It is not true…”

  9. @dwuuu – you did not mention Wake Up???
    The viewing public do not seem to share your enthusiasm for Studio 10 which is running a distant 4th in a three horse race. Daylight is third.

  13. Surely this is being done with Adam Boland’s consent and approval? If not, then Mel and Kochie’s views would be totally correct and Australian Story shouldn’t be doing this.
    My understanding was that these profiles were always done with the subject’s consent or that of their family.

  14. Peter Ford has said on 3AW that Seven has not blocked on-air personalities from appearing. Apparently Mel and Kochie do not feel it is appropriate for Adam’s problems to be aired in detail at the moment whilst he is in a fragile state and therefore chose not to appear….Perfectly reasonable opinions.

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