Wake Up (TV program)
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | November 4, 2013 |
| Defunct | May 23, 2014 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Natarsha Belling, James Mathison, Nuala Hafner |
| Products | Morning television show |
| Parent | Network Ten |
Wake Up was a morning television show in Australia produced by Network Ten, featuring hosts Natarsha Belling and James Mathison. It was broadcast on weekdays from 6:30 am until 8:30 am, leading into Ten's discussion program Studio 10. The series premiered on 4 November 2013 and was filmed at Queenscliff Surf Club located at Manly Beach, Sydney. Meanwhile, national news segments were delivered by Nuala Hafner from a transparent studio situated at Federation Square, Melbourne.
Although the program benefited from prominent locations and experienced presenters, Wake Up faced challenges with audience ratings and was discontinued after a six-month run, with its concluding episode airing on 23 May 2014.
Presenters
| Presenter | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| James Mathison | Co-host | 2013–2014 |
| Natarsha Belling | Co-host | 2013–2014 |
| Nuala Hafner | News anchor | 2013–2014 |
Reporters and contributors
| Presenter | Role |
|---|---|
| Maude Garrett | Correspondent based in Los Angeles |
| Michele Mahone | Entertainment correspondent |
| Sam Mac | Reporter |
| James Kerley | Digital reporter |
| Jo Lamble | Psychologist |
| Monica Attard | Analyst for foreign affairs |
| Andrew Rochford | Health correspondent |
| Fr. Bob Maguire | Contributor for "The World According to Fr. Bob" segment |
Initially, Natasha Exelby served as a co-host but was removed less than three weeks after the show's debut due to insufficient chemistry on-air. Creator Adam Boland commented that although she demonstrated energy during rehearsals, this did not carry over during live broadcasts.
Controversy
On 14 May 2014, following the revelation of the 2014 Australian federal budget, Wake Up featured an on-air discussion with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and members of the public. During this segment, an 85-year-old participant named Vilma Ward openly criticized Abbott’s proposed pension age changes, calling them "rubbish" and referring to him as a "comedian." It was subsequently disclosed that Ward had longstanding affiliations with the Australian Labor Party, information which Network Ten had not disclosed before airing the segment.
Reception
At its launch, Wake Up was regarded as a step forward compared to its predecessor, Breakfast. The premiere attracted an average national audience of 52,000 viewers; however, within one week, the viewership dropped by approximately half and ultimately fell below the ratings of Breakfast, which had been canceled due to low audience numbers.