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Jacintha Saldanha, who was the recipient of the hoax call. Metropolitan Police/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Australian radio show involved in hoax hospital call to be taken off air

The nurse who was the recipient of the hoax call, Jacintha Saldanha, was found dead three days later.

AN AUSTRALIAN RADIO show at the centre of a hoax call controversy involving Britain’s Prince William and his pregnant wife Kate Middleton has been taken off air permanently, the network said today.

Two DJs were sidelined by the Austereo network after making the prank call to the London hospital treating the duchess of Cambridge, which resulted in details of her recovery from morning sickness being revealed on air.

The Indian-born nurse who transferred the call to Kate Middleton’s ward, Jacintha Saldanha, was found dead three days later, triggering a massive backlash against Austereo and hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian.

The pair received death threats over the call, in which they posed as Queen Elizabeth II and William’s father Prince Charles.

They were taken off air and their show “Hot 30″ was suspended. Austereo confirmed that it was launching a new programme called “The Bump” to take its place permanently.

But an Austereo spokeswoman told AFP: “Mel and MC are still employed and on leave.”

Austereo chief executive Rhys Holleran said the network remained in contact with the two hosts.

“We look forward to Mel and MC returning to work when the time is right, in roles that make full use of their talents,” he said.

“We will discuss future roles with them when they are ready.”

Austereo suspended prank calls by its stations and pledged approximately €400,000 (Aus$500,000) to help Saldanha’s grieving family. Greig and Christian also made a tearful televised apology.

An inquest heard that Saldanha was found hanged in staff accommodation at the private King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London and there were no suspicious circumstances over her death. She also had marks on her wrist.

Saldanha left three notes, one of which reportedly criticised colleagues over her treatment at the hospital.

Australia’s media watchdog has opened an investigation into the call. Scotland Yard also investigated the affair but according to Australian police, Greig and Christian are unlikely to face prosecution.

- © AFP, 2013

Read: Australian radio station to give $500,000 to dead nurse’s family >

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    Nov 3rd 2021, 10:10 PM

    It is indeed right and proper for Barry Cowan to question what’s going on in the ESB. This organisation basically has a monopoly on how power is supplied in this Country and the regulator is a joke. There is definitely evidence of abusing their position as the main supplier without anyone in authority either knowing it caring about what’s truly going on with them. The recent scaremongering re power cuts over the winter months plus massive price rises should be enquired into by a Dail committee, at the very least.

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