This news just in via a Channel 7 media release:

In a joint statement today David Leckie, CEO of Channel 7, and Tom Maclean, CEO of Somers Carroll Productions, announced that Daryl Somers has decided not to sign for another series of Dancing with the Stars.

After seven hugely successful seasons of the show he wishes to move on.

“I’ve had a fabulous time on Dancing with the Stars but I’m ready for a new direction” Daryl said.

“To be honest, I have felt somewhat restricted by the tightly structured format and feel if I don’t move on now I’ll regret it. If the Network do another season, and I think they should, I hope they hit the refresh button. It’s been a great franchise for Seven and deserves to be taken to a whole new level. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the very professional teams at Granada and Seven and have forged some wonderful friendships along the way”.

CEO of Channel Seven, David Leckie, added: “Daryl has done a great job on Dancing with the Stars for the network but we understand his reasons for moving on and wish him well for the future”.

Firstly, after the shock of “really? seven series?” there’s only one thing that this means to me: The producers wouldn’t let Daryl play drums with the band so he’s taken his sticks and gone home.

Are there any StarDancers fans amongst the Boxcutterati? Will this make you more or less likely to watch the show? Do you think Daryl has other offers up his sleeve? Tell us in the comments.

News this morning that Mercedes Corby is planning to sue Channel 7 will no doubt see the network tied up in another useless court battle.

via The Age

Seven just announced the second half line up which includes the new series of Kath & Kim and this interesting bit of news:

Seven’s Director of Programming and Production, Tim Worner said: “From the feedback we’ve been getting from fansites and blogs, the message has been very clear – now from Seven we’re sending a message back – the waiting is over.”
“We’ll be running Prison Break and Heroes as close to their US telecast dates as practically possible.
“Sure, we have to change the way we take delivery of the materials but it’s more than that – we have to change the way we think and the way we sell these shows and at Seven we’ve shown we can do that.”

Has somebody hit them on the head and knocked some sense into them?