Sunrise: Natalie Barr, David Koch worried about ‘rats’ leaking secrets

Channel Seven’s most high-profile presenters are reportedly feeling anxious after footage of two Melbourne news anchors trash-talking Novak Djokovic off the air was leaked by a staffer at an external closed-captions company.

Despite the source of the leak coming from outside the network, Seven insiders say the scandal has spread ‘far and wide’ beyond just the Melbourne newsroom.

Even Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and David ‘Kochie’ Koch, who are based in Sydney’s Martin Place, are said to be worried about a ‘rat’ among their ranks leaking secrets.

A source told New Idea ‘everyone at Seven is feeling for’ 7News Melbourne hosts Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor, adding: ‘There’s a lot of backstabbing… in TV.’

They continued: ‘Nat and Kochie would be wondering how many times they’ve had a private chat about something or someone, and will now be forced to watch every single word they say from here on in.

‘Everyone on TV knows there’s banter off air, and when the cameras are on it’s a whole other picture.’ 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.

Anxiety: Despite the source of the leak coming from outside Seven, the scandal has spread ‘far and wide’ beyond just the Melbourne newsroom, reports New Idea. Even Sunrise hosts Barr and Koch (pictured on December 18) are said to be worried about a ‘rat’ among their ranks

‘Hot mic’ footage of Maddern and Amor badmouthing Djokovic as they prepared to host their 6pm news program last Tuesday was leaked online and went viral. 

‘Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky a**ehole,’ Maddern said of the Serbian tennis ace, who at the time was at the centre of controversy over his visa status and opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine.

Amor added: ‘That’s it, I mean he’s an a**ehole. He got a bulls**t f**king excuse and then fell over his own f**king lies. It’s just what happens… that’s what happened.’

Gaffe: ‘Hot mic’ footage of Rebecca Maddern (right) and Mike Amor (left) badmouthing Djokovic as they prepared to host their 6pm news program last Tuesday was leaked online

The source of the leak didn’t come from within Channel Seven.

The culprit was later identified as a staffer from Ai-Media, a company that provides closed captions for many Australian TV networks, including Seven and Nine.

Djokovic had landed in Australia with a medical exemption from vaccination on the basis he had tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16, but was detained for five days when border force officials denied the exemption.

Hot mic: ‘Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky a**ehole,’ Maddern said of the Serbian tennis ace, who at the time was at the centre of controversy over his visa status and opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine. Amor added: ‘That’s it, I mean he’s an a**ehole’

He was then released from detention after a judge overturned the decision, but it soon emerged the sportsman had made errors on his visa application.

Days later, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his ministerial powers to cancel Djokovic’s visa again, saying his presence would incite anti-vaccine sentiment.

This decision was upheld by the Federal Court on Sunday, and the 20-time Grand Slam champion and noted vaccine sceptic was deported from Australia that night. He may be banned from re-entering the country for three years.

The Australian Open began on January 17 without the world No. 1.

Deported: The 20-time Grand Slam champion and noted vaccine sceptic was deported from Australia on Sunday night. He may be banned from re-entering the country for three years 

Sorry, buddy: Djokovic (pictured after winning the Australian Open in 2021) had been hoping to win a record 21st Grand Slam title