The Circle (TV program)

The Circle
Company type	Television program
Industry	Television broadcasting
Founded	2010
Defunct	2012
Headquarters	Melbourne, Australia
Area served	Australia
Products	Morning talk show

The Circle was an Australian morning talk program broadcast on Network Ten from 9 February 2010 until 3 August 2012. Hosted by Gorgi Coghlan, Yumi Stynes, Chrissie Swan, and Denise Drysdale, it was scheduled during daytime hours on Network Ten.

The show was discontinued by Ten on 30 July 2012, with its concluding episode airing on 3 August 2012.

Presenters

Presenter	Years
Chrissie Swan	2010–2011
Denise Drysdale	2010–2011
Yumi Stynes	2010–2012
Gorgi Coghlan	2010–2012

During early 2011, Colin Lane served as a temporary substitute for Coghlan while she was on maternity leave. Similarly, in August and September 2011, Swan took maternity leave, with guest hosts including Lane stepping in.

History

Introduced on 16 January 2010 as a successor to 9am with David & Kim, The Circle premiered on 9 February 2010. The original presenting team featured Denise Drysdale and Chrissie Swan, both of whom departed at the end of the 2011 season—Drysdale to dedicate time to her family following the birth of her grandson, and Swan to pursue a role at the Australian Radio Network's Mix 101.1. Both hosts made appearances for the program's 500th and final episodes in 2012.

Initially broadcast from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm immediately after Ten Morning News, the show hosted guests such as singer and Australian Idol champion Guy Sebastian. On 29 April 2011, a special primetime edition aired in conjunction with Ten's coverage of the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

In 2012, the timeslot shifted earlier to run from 9:00 am until 11:30 am. Citing financial considerations, Ten decided to cancel The Circle, with its last episode shown on 3 August 2012. Beginning on 6 August, Ten's weekday morning schedule started at 8:30 am featuring programs like The Talk, Entertainment Tonight, and The Insider under the banner Mornings on Ten.

Segments

Broadcast live before an audience in Melbourne, The Circle combined lifestyle features, culinary demonstrations, interviews, and advertorial segments. These advertorials showcased products from home-shopping retailers such as Danoz Direct and Global Shop Direct.

Book Club: Cheryl Akle
Celebrity and Hollywood News: Richard Clune
Gardening: Melissa King
Cooking: Various chefs
Movie reviews: Marc Fennell
Roving reporters: Sean Lynch and Aleisha McCormack
Sport: Lehmo
Fashion: Emily Power
Steal Her Style: Kate Hopkins
Style Doctor: Anthea O'Connor
Music: James Young
Ten News updates presented by Ron Wilson (Monday & Tuesday) and Natarsha Belling (Wednesday to Friday)
Internet news segment 'World Wide Wonderful' by Andrew McClelland
Hollywood news correspondent: Katherine Tulich
Los Angeles correspondent: Louise Pennell

The Circle: Summertime

During the Australian summer non-ratings period (December through January), a pre-recorded compilation program aired featuring prominent segments from the previous year alongside ongoing advertorial promotions.

Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith Incident

On 28 February 2012, Jim Stynes ignited a dispute during The Circle by making a remark about a photograph of Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross awardee, that suggested possible cognitive difficulties. George Negus intensified the controversy with comments interpreted as casting doubt on Roberts-Smith's abilities. Both individuals later issued apologies, which Roberts-Smith accepted.

The episode attracted condemnation from the Returned Services League, Defence Minister Stephen Smith, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence. Following this, several prominent sponsors—including Big4 Holiday Parks, Australian Pacific Touring, SwisseVitamins, Saria Shoes, Yoplait, Hoselink, Mirvac Hotels, Jamaica Blue, Michael Hill Jewellers, Dulux, and Mitsubishi—chose to withdraw their sponsorship or advertising support. Otto Mode was the only fashion brand to maintain its sponsorship. Despite the departure of nine sponsors, Channel 10 decided to retain Stynes on the program. Meanwhile, Telstra ended Negus’s role as an event host in response to his statements.

This controversy emerged soon after the debut of Breakfast, hosted by Paul Henry, who had previously been involved in on-air controversies that led to his resignation from TVNZ.

Ratings

The Circle consistently trailed behind competing programs such as Mornings on the Nine Network and The Morning Show on the Seven Network. Nevertheless, the media attention surrounding the Ben Roberts-Smith controversy provided a modest increase in its viewership figures.

Music from The Circle

Music from The Circle is a curated album released on 8 April 2011 by Sony Music Australia. It contains 38 tracks personally selected by the show’s hosts. Among these is a unique piece titled "Circle Song," performed by Denise Drysdale, Chrissie Swan, Yumi Stynes, and Gorgi Coghlan. This song was co-written by Stynes alongside Australian musician Clare Bowditch.

Disc 1

Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror
Prince & The Revolution - Kiss
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
Toto - Africa
Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is
The Doobie Brothers - What a Fool Believes
Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
Michael Bolton - How Can We Be Lovers?
Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
Mr. Big - To Be With You
Spandau Ballet - True
Olivia Newton-John - Physical
Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing
Renée Geyer - Say I Love You
Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon
Mondo Rock - Come Said the Boy
Dragon - April Sun in Cuba
Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

Disc 2

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
John Farnham - Two Strong Hearts
Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
Chicago - If You Leave Me Now
Air Supply - All Out of Love
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream
REO Speedwagon - Keep on Loving You
Chris de Burgh - The Lady in Red
Daryl Braithwaite - The Horses
Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing at All
Cyndi Lauper - True Colors
Peter Allen - Tenterfield Saddler
Roy Orbison - She's a Mystery to Me
Sam Brown - Stop!
Carly Simon - You're So Vain
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams – Without Us
The Circle Girls – Circle Song

Awards and nominations

At the 2011 Logie Awards, The Circle secured two wins out of four nominations: Most Popular Light Entertainment Program and Most Popular New Female Talent awarded to Chrissie Swan. Swan also earned nods for the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television as well as Most Popular Presenter. The following year, at the 2012 Logie Awards, Swan received an additional nomination in the Most Popular Presenter category.