Why IS the wife of Australia’s premier royal hater going to the Queen’s funeral? TV insiders ‘stunned by irony’ of Lisa Wilkinson being flown to UK to front The Project’s coverage – despite being married to republican firebrand Peter FitzSimons
Channel 10’s decision to dispatch its star presenter Lisa Wilkinson to the UK to cover the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II has raised eyebrows among television insiders.
Wilkinson is, of course, the wife of journalist and commentator Peter FitzSimons, Australia’s most vocal republican and the chair of the Australian Republic Movement.
The ‘irony’ of her arrival in London to front Channel 10 and The Project’s coverage of Her Majesty’s funeral on Monday was apparently not lost on many industry figures, reports The Australian’s Media Diary.
Channel 10’s decision to dispatch its star presenter Lisa Wilkinson to the UK to cover the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II has raised eyebrows among television insiders
While the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) has temporarily suspended its push for a republic until after the Queen’s burial, its leader FitzSimons has long campaigned for the British Royal Family to be eradicated from Australian political life.
He has also previously made public statements criticising King Charles III, formerly the Prince of Wales, telling Daily Mail Australia in June he expected republican sentiment to ‘get a surge once Australia leans in close and looks at’ the new king.
However, sources at Channel 10 said there were no misgivings about sending Wilkinson, who has impeccable knowledge of royal matters from her decades as a magazine editor.
Wilkinson is, of course, the wife of journalist and commentator Peter FitzSimons (right), Australia’s most vocal republican and the chair of the Australian Republic Movement
The ‘irony’ of her arrival in London to front Channel 10 and The Project’s coverage of Her Majesty’s funeral on Monday was apparently not lost on many industry figures
The Queen’s funeral is also a ‘logical’ assignment for the veteran broadcaster, a network insider told Media Diary, as she covered the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for The Project in 2018.
Before that, she spearheaded Nine’s coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011 when she co-hosted the Today show with Karl Stefanovic.
Christopher Bendall, The Project’s executive producer, claimed to not know whether Wilkinson was a monarchist or a republican, like her husband.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 for comment.
It comes days after Wilkinson’s former Today co-anchor Stefanovic and his on-air partner Allison Langdon criticised ‘rude’ republicans calling for a debate on the monarchy before the Queen has even been buried.
Stefanovic said on Saturday it was inappropriate to even be having the conversation during a period of mourning, before taking aim at FitzSimons and former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, a founding member of the ARM.
He remarked that having ‘pasty white guys’ as the figureheads for the movement would guarantee its failure.
‘There’s still people out there doing it [pushing for an Australian republic]. I just think it’s so rude,’ Stefanovic said on air.
While the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) has temporarily suspended its push for a republic until after the Queen’s burial, its leader FitzSimons has long campaigned for the British Royal Family to be eradicated from Australian political life
Sources at Channel 10 said there were no misgivings about sending Wilkinson (left, with The Project’s UK correspondent Lucy McDonald) to England to lead the network’s coverage. She has impeccable knowledge of royal matters from her decades as a magazine editor and also covered the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for The Project in 2018
‘Let me tell you, it is not going to happen while you’ve got pasty white guys like Peter FitzSimons and Malcolm Turnbull fronting up in Australia,’ he added.
Langdon agreed, adding: ‘I did tell Peter if he was at the front of the movement, I would always vote for a monarchy.’
Australia last held a referendum on becoming a republic in 1999, with the country deciding to remain a constitutional monarchy.
It comes after Today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon (pictured) criticised ‘rude’ republicans calling for a debate on the monarchy before the Queen has even been buried
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