The ABC has apologised for an audio blip that spoilt the Talking Pictures segment of Sunday’s Insiders program.

The corporation’s switchboard was flooded with calls from thousands of irate viewers who complained they couldn’t hear what Mike Bowers and Sammy J (at top) were discussing because someone else’s voice was droning on noisily in the background during the entire segment.

“We’ve tracked down the problem and we sincerely apologise for it,” my very reliable source within Aunty told me.

“Our studio people forgot to mute Insiders panellist Annabel Crabb’s microphone and it was just Annabel continuing to offer her expert opinion on Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, the Kevin Rudd scandal and other world issues that she clearly has complete mastery over and wanted desperately to share with her audience.

“To compound the error, Speersie [Insiders host and the ABC’s national political lead David Speers] had also ducked out to the dunny so there was no-one there to pull her up.”

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At a time viewers are turning off old mainstream TV in favour of curating their own viewing choices via paid or free streaming services, it’s good to see innovative thinking still has a place among the free-to-air networks.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn that Network Ten is bringing back the gameshow Wheel of Fortune in a special Australian-made series hosted by Irish comedian and chat show star Graham Norton. (below)

It’s fantastic to see programming executives are still prepared to think outside the box when deciding what viewers can watch on the box.

It seems like only yesterday that the show first screened on the Seven network back in 1981 where it had a home for 25 years.

The Nine Network programming innovators bought the format back to life briefly in 2008 but low ratings saw its swift demise.

Thankfully original thinking and a willingness to embrace innovation and cutting-edge ideas still has a place in Australian commercial TV and I hope that Network Ten’s decision inspires its rivals at Seven and Nine to embrace its way of thinking.

I know for a fact that there are many very talented people ready to take advantage of any such opportunities.

Daryl Somers for one is already yet again dusting off his plans for a revival of Hey, Hey, It’s Saturday and is willing to substitute any day of the week in the title.

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Let me say upfront I’ve got nothing against Graham Norton. In fact my sources within the BBC tell me he is one of the most penetrating interviewers working in TV or radio today, if not the most penetrating.

Almost as penetrating as our own Alan Jones, if my sources are to be believed.

The incisive questions Mr Norton bravely throws at his guests such as “Tell me about your latest movie?” or “You are such a big star, aren’t you?” can always be guaranteed to spark a revealing response.

But surely our own home-grown TV industry is big enough to provide a host for the newest version of Wheel of Fortune.

I can’t help but feel that Network Ten perhaps did not look hard enough before signing Mr Norton.

I know for a fact that previous hosts of the show such as “Baby” John Burgess and Tony Barber (left and middle below) are available, and both being over the age of 80 would certainly bring experience to the hosting role.

I should confide that my immediate response was to wish fervently that Ernie Sigley (right above) were still alive.

In fact Ernie could still do the job, given the wonders of artificial intelligence technologies.

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