Ita Buttrose and Denise Drysdale could end up in court after a ‘brussels sprout incident’, entertainment reporter Peter Ford has claimed.
The incident is rumoured to be the cause of ‘tension’ between the women, with Studio 10’s executive producer Rob McKnight axed from the program soon afterwards.
While it is not suggested the two events are related, Peter told the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday that because Rob is now challenging his sacking in court Denise and Ita could be called as witnesses.
Court battle? Entertainment reporter Peter Ford has revealed to the Kyle And Jackie O show that Ita Buttrose and Denise Drysdale may appear as witnesses in court after the show’s executive producer Rob McKnight was axed from the program
Multiple media reports surfaced last year claiming Denise had hurled a brussels sprout at Ita while filming a Christmas-themed segment for Studio 10 in early November.
Executive producer Rob was fired from Studio 10 on November 20 and commenced legal action against the network in December for ‘breach of contract’, TV Tonight reported.
Network Ten confirmed to The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday Rob was axed from the program after the incident.
Not on good terms: However entertainment reporter Peter Ford has revealed to the breakfast duo that the matter may actually end up in court after the show’s executive producer Rob McKnight was axed from the program (Denise Drysdale pictured)
Meanwhile also on Wednesday Ita confirmed to the Kyle and Jackie O Show that the incident had taken place, but declined to comment further.
Speaking to Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson afterwards, Peter claimed that Ita and Denise could be made to appear in court over the incident.
‘It’s all going to play out in court in this case if the former executive producer isn’t heard. Ita and Denise could both be called as witnesses,’ he said.
Peter said the former Cleo editor was reportedly ‘in tears’ and complained to management about what had happened.
Earlier, Ita denied there was any feud during an interview on the Kyle and Jackie O show on Wednesday.
‘As Donald Trump would say, it’s fake news’: Studio 10’s Ita Buttrose DENIES feud with Denise Drysdale
Kyle and Jackie decided to call the Studio 10 panellist on-air after an insider claimed tension between Ita and Denise is so bad the pair are ‘no longer talking’.
‘We all get on well. I mean we’ve been getting on well ever since we all started,’ Ita told the hosts.
‘I don’t know where all this nonsense is coming from, it’s just someone beefing up something that happened last year.’
‘I don’t know where all this nonsense is coming from, it’s just someone beefing up something that happened last year’: Ita refused to elaborate on the incident to Kyle and Jackie O
Ita refused to elaborate on the incident, instead telling the shock jocks it was ‘shenanigans on the set’ but she didn’t ‘want to talk about it any longer’.
Ita’s denial comes after a Studio 10 insider claimed on Tuesday tension between Ita and Denise is so bad the pair ‘are no longer talking off camera’.
The bombshell allegations, which have been denied by Network 10 and Ita, claim Denise and Ita have struggled to work since tensions boiled over last November.
During Tuesday’s episode of Studio 10 Denise reportedly demanded Ita be seated away from her, news.com.au claimed.
Is this the feud that will END studio 10? Insider claims tension between Ita Buttrose and Denise Drysdale is so bad the pair ‘are no longer talking off camera’
During the broadcast Ita sat in the seat usually occupied by Natarsha Belling second from left, rather than her usual spot next to Denise.
The two women only sat next to each other during one Studio 10 segment that day, with a source claiming it was due to Denise making ‘it clear to producers she wasn’t happy with the usual seating arrangement’.
Denise reportedly believes Ita gets ‘preferential treatment’ over her, with the insider also alleging the tensions stem from the use of a dressing room and a brussels sprouts incident last year.
Allegations: When Ita is appearing on the daytime panel the former Cleo editor gets the private quarters while Denise shares a changeroom
With the women normally appearing on Studio 10 on different days, Denise usually uses Ita’s dressing room.
However when Ita is appearing on the daytime panel the former Cleo editor gets the private quarters, with Denise forced to share a dressing room with Jessica Rowe.
Tensions flared last November when Denise ‘hurled’ a brussels sprout at Ita while filming a Christmas segment, The Daily Telegraph claimed at the time.
The last straw? Tensions flared last November when Denise ‘hurled’ a brussels sprout at Ita while filming a Christmas segment
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Network Ten strongly denied claims there was tension between Ita and Denise, labelling the allegations ‘offensive’.
Ita also denied claims of tension in an interview with Kyle and Jackie O.
‘Ita and Denise are consummate professionals and these unsubstantiated allegations are offensive,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Ita and Denise have the highest respect for one another and thoroughly enjoy working as part of the Studio 10 family together. To suggest otherwise is nonsense and deliberately mischievous.’
Ita currently appears on Studio 10 three days a week after joining the panel show in 2013.
Meanwhile Denise is contracted to appear one week a month, joining Studio 10 in 2015.
Part time gig: Ita currently appears on Studio 10 three days a week, while Denise is contracted to appear one week a month