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Source: ONE News -
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Kyle Sandilands has been dumped as a judge on Australian Idol, while the future of his radio job remains uncertain after an on-air stunt went wrong.
Network Ten programming boss David Mott announced that the station had sacked Sandilands as a judge on the TV talent show, which he has been working on since 2005.
It follows outrage over Sandilands' 2Day FM breakfast program last week when a 14-year-old girl was strapped to a lie detector and asked on air about her sexual history.
She then revealed she had been raped when she was 12.
Mott said the network made the decision in light of the radio incident.
"Australian Idol is very much a family program and its appeal is very much right across the board, and we'd like to think that all families can enjoy the program in front of the TV," Mott told Ten's 5pm news.
In a statement, Ten wished Sandilands well but said his radio persona was out of step with the family-style image of Idol. Sandilands' Idol contract is reportedly worth $1 million.
"We thank Kyle for his contribution to Australian Idol over the last four years," the statement said.
"But it has become increasingly clear that as Idol has remained a family-focused show, even more so this year with the 6.30pm Sunday time slot, his radio persona has taken on a more controversial position over this period which is not in the interest of the show."
It added: "... the recent controversy surrounding Kyle's radio program has highlighted more than ever the conflicting attitude of the two careers."
Sandilands later said in a statement: "I'm disappointed at Channel 10's decision to remove me from Australian Idol. I have truly loved being a part of the show and wish everyone involved all of the success for this coming season."
He will be on the program for the first three episodes, featuring auditions that were filmed earlier in the year.
A replacement will be sought for the live performances starting on August 24, Ten said.
The fate of Sandilands' top-rating breakfast show with co-presenter Jackie O is still uncertain.
The duo was not on air on Monday, replaced by Chris Page, after Sandilands' management released a statement on Sunday saying he was "unable to perform his duties on-air at this time".
That prompted station owner Austereo to put the breakfast show on hold indefinitely.
A spokeswoman for the station would not comment on how long the show would be off the air.
But the duo will not participate in a digital radio promotion on Thursday in Sydney's Martin Place.
"I do know that we have been told they won't be there on Thursday," a spokeswoman for Commercial Radio Australia said.
Despite the outcry, some sources said the duo's position was safe at the station.
A veteran radio insider, from a rival network, said Austereo was planning to bring them back "bigger and better and stronger than ever".
"They have no plan to sacrifice their top-rating talent," the source said.
"They're certainly not dumped."
Another source expected Sandilands to be back on air as early as this week.
"He (Sandilands) is waiting for an appropriate amount of time. It could be Friday, it could be one week, it could be two."
Meanwhile, the logo of sponsor Optus was removed from the station's website, and 2Day FM took down from the site content showing past stunts, according to media site Mumbrella.
Among the censored items were segments about people stripping for money, the search for Sydney's smallest penis and a photo gallery of Sandilands in a race to produce a sperm donation.
Australian Idol will be screening on TV2 from Friday August 14 at 7.30pm, click here to go to the website.
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