The latest blunder by the sensationalist current affairs show – which has been axed on Australia's east coast – is but one of many

Lizard on shoulder, February 2006

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Naomi Robson on Today Tonight. Photograph: AAP

Today Tonight, the Channel Seven nightly current affairs show, was axed on the east coast this week amid controversy over a “world exclusive” about the murder of Peter Falconio that turned out to have been filmed three years ago . But this is only the program’s latest blunder – the list continues.Host Naomi Robson appeared just 24 hours after Steve Irwin's death outside Australia Zoo wearing a khaki outfit with a lizard on her shoulder. Viewers slammed the broadcast as "tacky" and “insensitive”.

TT blamed the comical safari look on the wardrobe assistant who packed Robson's bags. Robson apologised and said she had no idea what her outfit would be until just before the cameras rolled.

Elderly woman in chains, February 2007

Anna Coren reports how the elderly woman was chained inside her nursing home room. Source: YouTube

A TT reporter bought chains and locked an elderly woman into her nursing home room for a story about a dispute with the home.

"As we go to air tonight this 84-year-old grandmother remains locked up in her nursing home room, chained to a cupboard," host Anna Coren told viewers.



Schapelle Corby’s sister defamed, May 2008

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mercedes Corby won her case against the show. Photograph: Jenny Evans/AAP

But federal government officials soon discovered the chains were a stunt set up by the TV crew. The reporter was stood down. The woman said later it was TT's idea to chain her to her cupboard.A NSW supreme court jury found that TT defamed Mercedes Corby, the sister of convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, by airing an interview with family friend Jodie Power. The judgment found that Seven had defamed Mercedes by implying she was a drug smuggler and a drug dealer and posed a threat to the safety of Power.

Seven had paid Power $100,000 for the interviews and gave her two all-expenses paid overseas holidays.

Earthquake deception, February 2011

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The current affairs show claimed a 'world exclusive' interview with a survivor of the Christchurch earthquake. Photograph: Dave Wethey/AAP

Outside court Mercedes said: "I really hope that in future Today Tonight thinks hard before broadcasting attacks and lies about somebody. It may be just showbiz and ratings for Today Tonight, but it is real people they hurt."The family of a New Zealand earthquake survivor was outraged when a Today Tonight reporter entered Christchurch hospital and filmed their injured mother with a small digicam as she lay in bed.

The reporter claimed a "world exclusive" bedside interview with the woman, who had been pulled from the rubble of the Pyne Gould Guinness building 24 hours after it was destroyed. But her son said TT did not have permission to interview her. The Canterbury district health board said the show had "blatantly" accessed the hospital without permission.

Screen siren humiliated, March 2011

The 'exclusive' on Abigail outraged friends and fans. Source: YouTube

TT humiliated former Number 96 screen siren Abigail by portraying her as a squatter and filming her with hidden cameras outside her home. Promos said: “We discovered the once-glamorous Abigail living as a hermit.”

The reporter claimed she was living “in squalor” in an abandoned Sunday school hall after her home was devastated by floods in Victoria. Her friends and fans were outraged.

Pageant controversy, July 2011

TT paid six-year-old Eden Wood $70,000 for an exclusive interview. Source: YouTube

Muslims misrepresented, October 2011

Facebook Twitter Pinterest TT claimed a council was 'spending ratepayers' money' to help Muslims spread their faith. Photograph: AAP

Magazine stitchup, August 2012

Shane Warne and his ex-wife, Simone. Photograph: Joe Castro/AAP

When rival Nine show A Current Affair paid $20,000 for the rights to cover a visiting US Universal Royalty pageant in Melbourne, TT pulled out the chequebook and signed the main attraction of the pageant, six-year-old US pageant star Eden Wood, for a $70,000 exclusivity fee.The deal meant Wood could not make her scheduled appearance at the children's beauty pageant. It was effectively ruined by the TV turf war and kids who had paid $50 to pose for a picture with Wood were disappointed.A TT story about a local council "spreading Sharia law” was found by the media watchdog to have breached the code of practice three times. The story claimed the council was "spending ratepayers money to make Muslims feel more at home and to spread their faith".The Australian Communications and Media Authority found that Seven had breached the code by misrepresenting the council, including telling viewers that no one from the council would speak to the program when, in fact, calls had been returned.A TT reporter teamed up with a paparazzo to get photographs of Shane Warne's ex-wife Simone with her new boyfriend and sell them to women's magazines for more than $50,000.But an investigation by the Sunday Telegraph uncovered the scam and he was stood down. He eventually left the program.

Seven's news boss, Peter Meakin, said: "We really do take this seriously. A man can't have two masters."

Tricked, March 2013

TT explains the truth about Jasmine Frost. Source: YouTube

TT was tricked into interviewing a woman who called herself Jasmine Frost and claimed she had been subjected to online bullying by internet trolls.



But Frost was part of the very same Facebook group featured in the story and she had approached TT asking to be interviewed for a joke.

The executive producer, John Choueifate, said: “We took her at face value and went to every measure to ensure her story stacked up, as we do with every guest.”



In another incident, one of the members of the Facebook group pleaded guilty to assaulting the reporter.

Simon Gittany court case, November 2013

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Seven did not use the controversial footage of Simon Gittany, centre, after being hauled over the coals by the presiding judge. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

A TT crew approached Simon Gittany and his girlfriend with a microphone outside a Sydney courtroom, where he was on trial for murdering his girlfriend. A trailer on the show's website said: "Explosive new evidence revealed in the case of Simon Gittany, who is accused of throwing his fiancee off their 15th-floor balcony."



The judge was furious and ordered the producer to appear before the court, describing what the crew had done as an alleged "interference with the administration of justice".

"I seek an undertaking from Channel Seven that any footage taken of the accused … on his approach to court this morning will not be used in any broadcast tonight," she said. TT agreed not to air footage.

Peter Falconio report, January 2014

A 'world exclusive report' about the body of murdered British tourist Peter Falconio. Source: YouTube

A “world exclusive report” about the body of murdered British tourist Peter Falconio was revealed by the NT News to have been filmed in March, 2011.



Rival networks call the report "shameful" and a “travesty”. But the reporter, Frank Pangallo, said he had been investigating the case for years and his report was a valid lead and the "best" so far.