‘I’m drawing a line under this amazing story’: Studio 10’s Joe Hildebrand breaks down in tears as he announces his decision to QUIT the show live on air
Studio 10 panellist Joe Hildebrand has announced he is quitting the show live on air.
On Thursday, the 44-year-old broke down in tears as he revealed he had come to the difficult decision to depart the show after seven years of service following a ‘huge amount of thought’.
The presenter’s position on the morning talk show had been in discussion ever since Channel 10 announced their shocking budget cuts last month.
Joe’s Studio 10 co-hosts Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling fell victim to the cuts.
Addressing the uncertainty surrounding his own position on the show, Joe explained that he ‘wanted to rip the band-aid off and not make it harder than it otherwise would be.’
‘My time here has been wonderful’: After seven years of service, Studio 10 panellist Joe Hildebrand has announced he is quitting the show live on air
Joe was joined by Kennerley as well as entertainment reporter Angela Bishop and journalist Sarah Harris when he announced his departure.
A devastated Joe began: ‘I do have some news. I want to say it here first before you saw it or heard it anywhere else.
‘I am leaving Studio 10. I have given it a huge amount of thought. It’s been really hard, but also really lovely to be able to look back on all the things we have done.
‘We all know the show is getting a bit of a shake-up. Channel 10 and my lovely bosses asked me if I’d stay on in a new role. We talked about it openly and warmly about what that might look like.’
Speaking of his bosses’ reaction to take matters into his own hands and leave Studio 10, Joe added: ‘They’re really lovely about it, so don’t lash out at them!
‘I just thought, it’s probably just better to draw a line under this amazing little story that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of.
‘Time for the show to have a fresh start’: On Thursday, the 44-year-old broke down in tears as he revealed he had come to the difficult decision to depart the show after seven years of service following a ‘huge amount of thought’
Longtime pals: Joe’s ‘work wife’ Sarah Harris was overcome with emotion as she listened to Joe resign live on air
Taking matters into his own hands: Addressing the uncertainty surrounding his own position on the show, Joe explained that he ‘wanted to rip the band-aid off quickly and not make it harder than it otherwise would be’
‘[I want to] give the show a chance to breathe and have a fresh start without me hanging around.
‘With all painful things you want to rip the band-aid off quickly and not make it any harder than it otherwise would be.
‘It’s just been an amazing… I promise I wouldn’t use the word ‘journey’… but [it’s been] such an amazing time!’
Hanging in the balance: The presenter’s position on the morning talk show had been in discussion ever since Channel 10 announced their shocking budget cuts last month
Welling up with emotion: Joe began tearing up as he gushed about his ‘wonderful seven years’ on the show, as well as his relationship with his ‘work wife’ Sarah Harris
Emotional: Harris also broke down into tears upon hearing Joe’s kinds words about her
Joe began tearing up as he gushed about his ‘wonderful seven years’ on the show, as well as his relationship with his ‘work wife’ Sarah Harris.
Harris also broke down into tears upon hearing Joe’s kinds words about her.
Despite the emotional news, Joe’s reassured viewers that he was ‘talking to other people about some exciting work opportunities’.
He noted that while there was a ‘light at the end of the tunnel for him’, there were other people across the country who had been left ‘absolutely smashed’ by losing their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
