One of the DJs behind the prank phone call to the Duchess of Cambridge’s hospital has returned to broadcasting on an Australian radio station.
Michael Christian, known as MC, hosted yesterday morning’s slot on the Melbourne popular music radio station Fox FM, part of the Southern Cross Austereo network that also owns 2Day FM, the station behind the prank call in early December.
It is the first time Christian has appeared on radio since he and fellow DJ Mel Greig pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in the prank phone call to the King Edward VII hospital in London where Kate Middleton was being treated for a severe form of morning sickness.
Three days later the nurse who put the call through to Ms Middleton’s room, Jacintha Saldanha, took her own life, sparking international outrage against the DJs and the radio station.
No calls
In his new role, Christian is the sole presenter of Fox FM’s weekday morning programme. It is a music-based programme in which he does not make or take calls. He did not mention the controversy in his first show.
Christian had previously presented the programme on Fox FM before his move to 2Day FM’s Hot 30, which made the prank call. The Hot 30 show was suspended from broadcast following Ms Saldanha’s death and has been permanently replaced by another show.
Southern Cross Austereo chief executive Rhys Holleran said: “We are happy to have Michael back on air. We have always supported our talent returning to work when appropriate.”
Austereo would not confirm when Greig would be coming back. – (Guardian service)