Seven's insane plan to ambush Lisa Wilkinson exposed
A bizarre plan pitched by Channel Seven for Bruce Lehrmann to ambush Lisa Wilkinson has been revealed.
According to several close friends of Mr Lehrmann, Channel Seven's Spotlight program suggested that Lehrmann hover around the Sydney suburb of Cremorne in the hopes of catching Lisa Wilkinson unawares.
They proceeded to explain to news.com.au how they wanted Lehrmann to confront Wilkinson while a cameraman stood close in the hopes of manufacturing a must-see TV moment.
Mr Lehrmann's friends said he was not keen on the idea, although the program continued to suggest the ambush.
As the fallout continues over untested allegations in the Federal Court that Mr Lehrmann leaked Brittany Higgins’ private text messages to the current affairs program, the former Liberal staffer’s mates are spilling the beans on claims of the program’s bizarre plan.
“Bruce very much wanted a third program. But that was a bridge too far," another friend said.
“Seven were desperate for ideas. They raised it several times. On many occasions I met with Bruce after meetings and they were pushing for it."
“The plan as described was (they) wanted Bruce to be at a local cafe that they knew Lisa Wilkinson would go to and they would have a TV camera confront her.”
When asked what Mr Lehrmann planned to say during the ambush, the friend admitted, “I dunno. I don’t know if they thought that far ahead.”
Mr Lehrmann’s inner circle claim that it was just one of a number of wild ideas floated by Spotlight producer Steve Jackson as they pitched ideas for future programs about Lehrmann.
Another confidante of Mr Lehrmann’s said the Wilkinson plan was “bizarre” and joked it seemed to involve Mr Lehrmann jumping from behind a pot plant to startle the TV star, an idea the former Liberal staffer wasn't keen for, despite the Seven “ideas factory”.
“It wasn’t something that Bruce (Lehrmann) pushed," the source said.
“Spotlight had a million viewers and so they were always looking for any excuse for a third program. The plan was to spark some sort of public row.”
Mr Lehrmann’s criminal trial was delayed in the wake of Wilkinson’s ill-fated Logies speech, but his barrister Steve Whybrow SC has hailed the speech as keeping him out of jail.
“Frankly, if it wasn’t for Lisa Wilkinson’s speech at the Logies, Bruce would probably be in jail. Thank God for that speech," Mr Whybrow said.
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