Natasha Exelby is an Australian journalist and former news anchor.
Following her time in Canberra, Exelby became a senior journalist and news presenter in Sydney.
In June 2013, while reading news headlines on Ten Eyewitness News Late, Exelby began giggling while reading a number of serious items.Knox, David (23 June 2013) Natasha Exelby apologises after giggling through news tragedy, TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 March 2019. After the incident, Exelby apologised while Network Ten released a statement describing Exelby's actions as "totally unacceptable" and said there was no excusing her behaviour.
Exelby served as one of the original host on Network 10's breakfast news program Wake Up, working alongside Natarsha Belling and James Mathison, which launched on 4 November 2013.Knox, David (4 November 2013) Surf's up on eye-catching Wake Up beach, TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 March 2019. However, Exelby was dropped from the program less than three weeks after the first broadcast with creator Adam Boland blaming a lack of chemistry between the three presenters for the decision.Stephenson, Alison (20 November 2013) Natasha Exelby the first casualty of Channel 10's Wake Up, news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
Exelby has since said she was told about her axing in a carpark, 45 minutes before it was publicly announced.Croffey, Amy (18 January 2019) Natasha Exelby's 'dark place' after breakfast job firing 16 days in, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
While reading a late night ABC News bulletin on Saturday 8 April 2017, Exelby momentarily became distracted by her pen and failed to realise she was on air following the conclusion of a story.Carmody, Broede (10 April 2017) ABC newsreader's hilarious reaction to being caught 'daydreaming' on-air, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 31 March 2019. Upon realising she was on air, Exelby gasped and hurriedly introduced the sport segment, presented by Meredith Sheehan.
When the blooper was highlighted on Media Watch's social media pages, the clip went viral video. Following this, there was numerous stories published reporting Exelby had been punished by the ABC and taken off air because her blooper had gone viral. The belief that Exelby had been fired prompted many messages of support from fellow journalists, television presenters, politicians and entertainers, with the hashtag #putyourbloopersout emerging on social media in support.Mitchell, Georgina; Bourke, Latika (10 April 2017) ABC faces backlash after presenter Natasha Exelby reportedly banned over 'daydream' blooper, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 31 March 2019.Byrnes, Holly (10 April 2017) ABC24 bosses have banned Natasha Exelby from future on-air roles as news blooper goes viral, news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
However ABC news director Gaven Morris has denied Exelby was fired, describing the many media reports as "untrue" because Exelby was a freelance journalist and as such was not rostered for any additional on air shifts.Morris, Gaven (11 April 2017) Statement on Natasha Exelby from Director, News Gaven Morris, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 March 2019. Morris' statement followed an earlier statement released by an ABC spokesperson which also said Exelby was a "casual contributor" rather than a staff member and was only booked for occasional on air shifts.Carmody, Broede (11 April 2017) 'Our presenters are humans': Natasha Exelby not sacked from the ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
Some commentators accused Morris of lying and maintained Exelby had indeed been punished.Ben Fordham (11 April 2017) ABC spreading fake news, 2GB, Macquarie Media. Retrieved 31 March 2019.Knox, David (12 April 2017) ABC accused of 'backpedalling, lying' over Natasha Exelby saga, TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 March 2019. Exelby also maintains the ABC told her she was unable to go live on air again following the blooper, and had offered her producing shifts instead.Reid, Imogen (19 January 2019) What you need to know about I'm a Celeb contestant Natasha Exelby, news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
In June 2022, Exelby was named as one of the presenters of the network's new national news bulletin, 10 News First: Breakfast, which was introduced as a lead-in to morning program Studio 10. It was announced Lachlan Kennedy would present the Monday to Wednesday editions of the bulletin from the Sydney studio while Exelby would host the Thursday and Friday editions from the Melbourne studio.
In February 2023, Exelby resigned as an employee of Network 10 but continues to fill-in on Studio 10 on a freelance basis.
Police officers attended the scene on Orrong Rd at 6.15pm, where they conducted a preliminary breath test. A subsequent test returned a blood alcohol reading of .220. Exelby, 40, told police at the time she drank “two seltzers” that afternoon.
TRT World
Freelance Media Consultant
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
Return to Network 10
Controversy
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