Model mistake no publicity stunt, says Australian TV judge

Sep 29, 2010, 2:29 GMT

Sydney - Announcing the wrong winner in the reality television show Australia's Next Top Model was a genuine mistake and not a publicity stunt, celebrity judge Alex Perry said Wednesday.

Viewers were stunned when host Sarah Murdoch interrupted Kelsey Martinovich's acceptance speech to tell the 19-year-old that she was actually runner-up to Amanda Ware, 18, in the final of a contest for a modelling contract and a trip to New York.

'I'm feeling sick about this. I'm so sorry. This was a complete accident,' Murdoch blubbered on Tuesday. 'This is what happens when you have live TV, folks. This is insane, insane, insane.'

Perry, a fashion designer, denied the mix-up was staged to garner publicity.

'I think you saw that the instant (Murdoch) knew something was wrong, you could see it in her eyes - that wasn't lying, that wasn't acting,' he said.

Murdoch, herself a fashion model, is married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch's son, Lachlan.

Martinovich was rewarded with a free trip to New York for graciously accepting that a mammoth blunder had been made in the vote counting and in announcing a winner.

Next Top Model shows, created by US supermodel Tyra Banks, have become television ratings hits around the world.