An emotional farewell for a beloved Melbourne weather presenter has been overshadowed by reports of a bruised ego behind the scenes. Veteran entertainer Daryl Somers is said to be deeply disappointed after failing to receive a mention during his former protégé Livinia Nixon's final broadcast on Channel Nine.
A Fond Farewell Overshadowed
This week, after 21 years in the role, Livinia Nixon, 50, delivered her final weather report for 9News Melbourne. The occasion was marked by a moving five-minute tribute package, celebrating her two-decade career. Colleagues like Tony Jones and Tom Steinfort paid heartfelt tributes, with Steinfort describing Nixon as the 'ray of sunshine in our team'.
The package featured a montage of her most memorable on-air moments, including a brief clip from her debut on the iconic variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday in the 1990s. However, according to a report by news.com.au, this fleeting nod to her past has caused an unexpected rift.
The Source of the Slight
Although the farewell video included a glimpse of Nixon's early career on Hey Hey It's Saturday, the show's long-time host and one-time executive producer, Daryl Somers, 74, was not acknowledged. Sources claim Somers, who helped launch Nixon's career when she joined the show in 1997, was left feeling 'bruised' by the omission.
The situation is further complicated by copyright ownership. Somers' company, SEA2010. The report suggests this may lead Somers to take a 'closer look' at the footage Nine used in its tribute package.
An Emotional Goodbye and New Beginnings
Amidst the reported backstage drama, the on-air farewell remained a deeply emotional affair. Surrounded by her family and the entire 9News Melbourne team, an appreciative Livinia Nixon explained her difficult decision to leave.
'This is a very difficult decision to make because I do love this job,' she said. 'But I feel it's the right decision at the right time for my family. I want to see my boys chase their dreams.'
She went on to thank her husband, Alistair, and Channel Nine for their 'unwavering support'. While she is stepping away from the news desk, viewers have not seen the last of her; Nixon will continue to appear on the network's travel programmes Getaway and Postcards.
