As the fallout of Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case continues, Mark Llewellyn, executive producer of Seven’s Spotlight, is reportedly leaving the network. He has been working as EP of the show since 2020.
The Australian reports that Llewellyn has engaged employment lawyer, John Laxon, as he seeks to negotiate termination, and handed in his building security pass on Wednesday. The masthead also reports that network insiders have indicated that Llewellyn “might not be the only figure to depart Seven as the Spotlight scandal shakes out.”
Speaking anonymously to The Sydney Morning Herald, a senior Seven executive described Llewellyn as “a dead man walking.”
“He has appointed lawyers. The position is pretty untenable.”
Seven has declined to comment.
Llewellyn’s departure comes after ex-Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach took to the stand in Lehrmann‘s case against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson last week.
In both a sworn affidavit and his testimony to the court, Auerbach detailed the lengths to which the program allegedly went to secure its now infamous interviews with Lehrmann – including reimbursement for illicit drugs and sex workers, $10,300 on Thai massages, several expensive dinners, and a $401.83 round of golf in Tasmania. This was on top of the company’s decision to pay for Lehrmann’s rent in Sydney, which had already been widely reported.
Auerbach also claims that the show was provided with thousands of pages of confidential documents that Lehrmann had in an “e-brief” for his criminal trial, but which were not tendered in court.
In response, Auerbach said he had been indirectly asked to “delete any materials that could be damaging for Seven” by lawyer Richard Keegan in the days ahead of the Spotlight interviews going to air, and that Mark Llewellyn suggested that he “wipe all contact” with Lehrmann ahead of the interviews airing.
See Also: Taylor Auerbach takes to the stand in Bruce Lehrmann trial
Seven denies all of Auerbach’s accusations of wrongdoing, with a spokesperson saying the network was “appalled” at the allegations.
“Seven shares Justice Lee’s concerns about allegations being thrown around like a gatling gun with no opportunity for them to be met,” a spokesperson said last week.
“Seven again confirms that Mr Auerbach was never offered a promotion or a pay rise in late 2022 or afterwards.
“Seven also wishes to make clear that it never reimbursed Bruce Lehrmann for expenditure that had allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes. Again, the invoice referred to in court does not suggest this is the case.”
Justice Michael Lee is scheduled to deliver his judgment in Lehrmann’s case on Monday 15 April.