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‘Sunrise’ tell-all: Howard ‘hasn’t forgiven’ Koch

Nine reckons it has the edge on Channel 7's Sunrise.

Nine reckons it has the edge on Channel 7's Sunrise.

Former Sunrise executive producer Adam Boland has revealed former Australian prime minister John Howard still holds a grudge against Sunrise host David Koch for making a joke about Mr Howard’s wife, Janette.

In his new tell-all memoir Brekky Central – released yesterday despite legal warning from Channel Seven – Mr Boland recounts the moment when Mr Koch told a joke about Mrs Howard, Kim Beazley and urine live on-air.

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According to Fairfax media, Mr Boland recalls how extreme backlash from the joke forced Mr Koch to write an apology letter to Mr Howard.

He alleges that Mr Howard still refuses to talk to Mr Koch, even when sharing a table at functions.

In the book, Mr Boland allegedly also shares details of a 2010 attempt to remove host Melissa Doyle from the show, a move which helped convince him to quit his role as executive producer.

According to Mr Boland, audiences found Ms Doyle “passive” in comparison to her Nine Network counterpart, Today host Lisa Wilkinson.

Additionally, low Melbourne ratings meant producers began considering breaking up the “Kochie and Mel” partnership, Mr Boland writes.

Ms Doyle stayed on at the show for another two-and-a-half years before being replaced by Samantha Armytage.

On Thursday, Channel Seven announced it had dropped a proposed court order against Mr Boland for the book.

“We have read [the book] and found there is nothing in it,” a spokesperson said.

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