Despite recent widespread reports claiming the driver recorded the TV brothers’ bombshell conversation, he has vehemently denied this saying: ‘I don’t have a dash-cam ... I don't even know how to record something on my phone.’
An ‘angry’ Karl apparently accused Richard Wilkins of keeping him from big entertainment stories and slammed Nine bosses for being ‘out of touch.’
'It was Pete and his wife Sylvie who jumped into my cab late one night,' says the driver in an exclusive interview with New Idea. 'He called Karl and told him straight away he was in a cab and that he was on speaker phone so they were all aware I was there and could hear everything.
‘Karl moaned that Dickie (Wilkins) kept all the entertainment contacts close to his chest and doesn’t share anything,’ the driver continued.
Detailing what was wrong with other well-known shows like 60 Minutes, Karl pointed out that ratings were down and was even bigheaded enough to outline advice for his bosses who have supported him through his thick and thin.
‘He said they didn’t know anything and thinks they are out of touch,’ he confirms. ‘Both the brothers clearly think they are better than what they do and spent a lot of time complaining about others.’
And while some industry insiders are wondering if Channel Nine’s ‘Golden Boy’ can bounce back from his latest gaff after a string of controversies, our spies at Nine have slammed the driver as sensationalist.
‘It was just two brothers having a bit of a moan,’ says the source. ‘Everyone knows Karl and Pete are in the boys club over there and it was just letting off steam.’
And despite rumours that the phone call was recorded and the driver was trying to sell it to the highest bidder, the 54-year-old insists this was not the case.
‘I actually wanted them to end the call, the complaining just went on and on and I needed a drink myself,’ he says.
‘It was just two brothers having a bit of a moan,’ says the source. ‘Everyone knows Karl and Pete are in the boys club over there and it was just letting off steam.’
And despite rumours that the phone call was recorded and the driver was trying to sell it to the highest bidder, the 54-year-old insists this was not the case.
‘I actually wanted them to end the call, the complaining just went on and on and I needed a drink myself,’ he says.
Read the full story in this week's issue of New Idea, on sale now.