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Prank call DJs speak to media

Posted by: 2UE | 8 December, 2012 - 6:31 AM
Nurse at the end of a Sydney radio station prank call commits suicide

A London nurse at the centre of a royal phone prank by a Sydney radio station has taken her own life. Jacintha Saldanha was found unconscious in a unit near the hospital and unable to be revived.

 


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The backlash continues over the radio prank at the centre of the UK nurses suicide. Stuart Bocking speaks with Channel Nine UK correspondent Peter Stefanovic on the continuing anger in the British community following the tragic suicide.

 

The head of Southern Cross Austereo says it tried several times to contact those caught up in the Royal prank call before playing it.

The company's board remains in damage control this morning - after a nurse committed suicide, just days after the prank call to the hospital where Prince William's pregnant wife Kate was staying.

Australia's media regulator has been flooded with complaints over the tragedy.

But CEO Rhys Holleran tells 3AW's Neil Mitchell the station tried several times to make contact.

 

Tim Webster & Tracey Spicer speak with ACA host Tracey Grimshaw ahead of her interview with radio hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who were behind the microphones on a prank call to London's King Edward VII Hospital.

 

Luke Bona speaks with Professor David Flint, who was previously head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority about the prank phone call to London’s King Edward VII Hospital.

 

There are calls for other radio companies to follow Southern Cross Austereo's lead and ban prank calls - in light of the royal prank call tragedy.

Sydney radio hosts Mel Grieg and Michael Christian broke their silence overnight, after duped nurse Jacinta Saldana took her own life.

Christian & Grieg told Channel Nine's A Current Affair they're heartbroken and gutted that they played any involvement in her death.

 

The family of the nurse at the centre of the royal prank call tragedy has thanked the public for its support.

The husband and children of Jacintha Saldana have met with British Labour MP Keith Vaz this morning - after the Sydney radio hosts who made the call broke their silence overnight.

Mr Vaz says the family is understandly devestated - but will make their own statement later today or tomorrow.

British media have savaged Sydney radio's royal pranksters, with one commentator slamming their tearful television interviews as a self-justifying sobfest.

The UK coverage is in sharp contrast to the generally more sympathetic treatment the pair have received in Australia.

Mel Greig and Michael Christian, whose 2Day FM show has been axed, were criticised for breaking their silence on TV current affairs programs rather than at a full media conference.

London's Sun newspaper describes the pair's apologies as grovelling, while BBC TV highlighted how they didn't seem bothered by the ethics of the prank, in which they posed as the Queen and Prince Charles in a telephone call to a London hospital.

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Blog comments Your Say

  • These 2 low sneaky mongrels are not sorry for what they have done but sorry that they have been shown for what they really are. That is a pair of unemployable low life grubs with no class whatsoever.

    Alberto Sunday 9 December, 2012 - 9:16 PM

  • @dave that is exactly the problem! We should not be "bowing to them" they are very well in their very cushy jobs and paid lots of overtime! For doing very little and in a lot of cases bugger all, if at all? I say "Raise your glass" to good politicians like Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce. I rest my case.

    Bobo Sunday 9 December, 2012 - 9:00 PM

  • What we don't know is did this unfortunate nurse get the sack after this disgraceful incident by knuckleheads from an Australian radio station or was disciplinary action pending against her? Regardless, I trust the British government or the late nurse's family will take legal action against the fools at the FM radio station and its management!

    Samuel Kyrikos Sunday 9 December, 2012 - 10:28 AM

  • I think that the UK media have a lot to answer for in relation to the death of the nurse who took the prank call. They would have been the ones hounding this poor women.

    Kim Sunday 9 December, 2012 - 8:33 AM

  • Good Cops.. like good Nurses and Fireman.. Our politians should be bowing to them.. and if anybody should NOT be given life long pensions.. its politicians..
    Raise your glass for Nurse Saldanha & Officer Anderson.

    dave Saturday 8 December, 2012 - 9:13 PM

  • Her role was so small, there must be more to it.

    James W Saturday 8 December, 2012 - 7:17 PM

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