One half of 2Day FM prank duo crowned ‘top jock’ in station competition
2Day FM DJ Michael Christian has been named the ‘top jock’ in a national competition by his employer Southern Cross Austereo, which has seen him win a trip to LA.
Christian said: “From the start I felt like I had something to prove to myself.
“That regardless of all that’s happened in the past few months I'm still at the top of my game. So it felt good to see my name at the top of the final leader-board.”
Christian was one of the two presenters involved in the prank call made to the Duchess of Cambridge’s hospital ward late last year. It was followed by the suicide of nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who had answered the call. This year a note written by Saldanha was publicised blaming the two hosts.
He and Mel Grieg were suspended following the incident, however Christian returned to work at a sister station in Melbourne in February while his former on-air partner has not returned to work.
The competition has sparked a plethora of criticism, both in the UK and Australia with MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, stating: “Giving this award is disgraceful so soon after the tragic death of Jacintha.
“It’s ludicrous the company employing this DJ, having faced such international condemnation, should give him the award.”
Similarly, Stephen Conroy, Australian communications minister, said: “There were some very serious consequences of what was a prank and to be seen to be rewarding people so soon after such an event, I think is just in bad taste.”
An inquest into Saldanha's death is due to take place in September.