In January 2018 the ABC reported allegations made by three women regarding actor Craig McLachlan. The broadcast and online stories included interviews with these women.

Last week the Seven Network aired claims, since repeated elsewhere, that the women interviewed were “manipulated” by an ABC producer and reporter “to say certain things”. Seven producer Mark Llewellyn subsequently claimed the women were “coached” and that there was “clear evidence of words being put in (their) mouths”.

The ABC rejects these claims. They are also offensive to the women who stepped forward to tell their stories.

Seven has selectively edited raw footage and used very brief grabs without full context from near the end of an almost hour-long interview with one of the women.

The unedited footage shows the interviewee was asked to repeat in a more succinct way statements she had already made on-camera. This is a normal television industry practice in some cases to ensure content is presented in a clear way for viewers.

At the time of the original story the ABC offered Mr McLachlan the opportunity of an interview, sent him detailed questions and ran his responses extensively.

Media contact

Sally Jackson | ABC Communications

ENDS