From 1997-1999, I was Executive Producer of television programs including Mansfield’s Melbourne, hosted by the late Bruce Mansfield. I was proprietor of the TV programs, and also The Advertiser newspaper group. In early January 1999, I arranged air travel to London in exchange for promotion in my media products.

Here is a copy of a news release sent to Robert Fidgeon, then Editor of The Guide section of the Herald Sun:

BRUCE BROADCASTS FROM BBC

“3AW’s Nightline host, Bruce Mansfield, is wasting no time in the 1999 radio ratings war.

“Barely one week into the New Year’s broadcasting, the popular night-time host will fly internationally this weekend, to add another dimension to the year’s night-time radio programs.

“Mansfield will broadcast next week’s Nightline programs from BBC studios near London, with co-host Philip Brady in the South Melbourne studios of 3AW. He expects to have a range of high-profile guests in the studios in Britain.

“A request has even been put in to have Prince Charles as a Nightline guest.

“Mansfield will waste no time for the promotion. He leaves on a special Lauda Air ‘Boeing 777’ flight this Saturday night for London, arriving just in time for Monday night’s 3AW broadcast.

“Bruce will broadcast each of the four-hour programs from BBC studios at Cheltenham in Gloucester shire. Mansfield and Brady currently link with a spot each week with the BBC team, about two hours west of London, near the border of Wales.

“During the week, Mansfield will take a portable tape-recorder into the streets of London, as well as a special trip in ‘The Chunnel’ which links England and France.

“‘Phil and I have just entered our ninth year on air with the Nightline program, and not a single program has passed without one of his in the 3AW studios,’ Mansfield told The Guide.

“Phil has been taking trips to Russia, America and New Caledonia over the past 12 months. Now it’s my turn to bring some overseas flavour to Nightline.

“Mansfield will also tape segments for Good Morning Australia and his nightly Mansfield’s Melbourne program whilst in London. Producer Simon Owens has organised a dedicated satellite link for next week’s 20 hours international marathon.

“1999 looks set to be another huge year for Mansfiled. As well as the nightly top-rating radio program, Mansfield hosts a half-hour TV program six-nights-a-week on the Melbourne community television station, Channel 31. Audience number for Mansfield’s Melbourne exceed just over 200,000 on a Saturday eveningm, according to the station.

“Mansfield has also resurrected Night Owl Theatre, which goes to air 11.30pm, Fridays, on Channel 31. This week’s edition runs for a marathon four hours, and includes The Three Stooges, Robert Mitchum’s The Big Steel, more than a dozen studio interviews and ‘Eric’s Epilogue; which has built up a cult-following around Melbourne.

“The versatile compere, who celebrates 40 years in Melbourne radio this year, also fronts weekly lifestyle programs in Sydney and Brisbane, and will launch his next book, Nightlines #2 – within a month.”

• I was Producer of the Mansfield’s Melbourne TV program, and Editor of The Advertiser newspaper group. I was Bruce Mansfield’s UK radio producer in those broadcasts back to 3AW Melbourne in January 1999.