Showing posts with label Fiona Coyne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiona Coyne. Show all posts

Friday, August 20, 2010

BREAKING. SABC3 on Fiona Coyne's death: ''Fiona played an integral part of placing the channel on the map.''



You're reading it here first.

I have the first official reaction from SABC3 on the death of Fiona Coyne, the broadcaster's erstwhile quiz show presenter of The Weakest Link.

''SABC3 is deeply saddened by the passing on of Fiona Coyne,'' SABC3 tells me. ''Fiona Coyne played an integral part in placing the channel on the map when it came to delivering the channel's main objective – that of keeping viewers entertained. The Weakest Link was one of the local programmes that performed exceptionally well for SABC3. As the host, Fiona Coyne was loved by many viewers and will be sorely missed. Our condolences go out to her family, friends and colleagues. Her passion and zest for the entertainment industry will live on within all of us.''

ALSO READ: Kee-Leen Irvine, close friend and super producer reacts to Fiona Coyne's tragic death: ''I still can't absorb that Fi is gone.''
ALSO READ: Fiona Coyne's apparent suicide at her Fish Hoek home.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

BREAKING. Kee-Leen Irvine, close friend and super producer reacts to Fiona Coyne's tragic death: ''I still can't absorb that Fi is gone.''




After the sudden, tragic and untimely death of Fiona Coyne who's body was discovered this morning by her domestic worker in her Fish Hoek home I have reaction from the shocked and devastated South Africa television community.

''Fi was a really close friend. In fact I spoke to her just yesterday afternoon for the longest time on the phone and the day before that and the day before that,'' super producer Kee-Leen Irvine of production house Rapid Blue, managing director and executive producer of TV shows such as SA's Got Talent (SABC2), So You Think You Can Dance (SABC1) and Strictly Come Dancing (SABC2) told me.

''I still can't absorb that my Fi is gone,'' says the distraught Kee-Leen Irvine about her close friend. ''I don't know what to say. How does one capture such an incredible human spirit in just a few words? I feel like someone has blasted a shotgun through my world.''

Duncan Irvine, the executive producer and CEO of Rapid Blue that produced The Weakest Link for SABC3 tells me that Fiona Coyne ''will be deeply missed''. Duncan Irvine worked closely with Fiona Coyne on the quiz show. ''Fiona became a very good friend,'' he says.

''She might be better known as The Weakest Link presenter which required a strong performer - also an incredibly smart one which she was. But Fiona Coyne was an incredible writer too. Her plays won awards and travelled the world. She hosted five seasons of The Weakest Link, one of the longest running series and it was often the highest rated entertainment show on SABC3. She had a fantastic sense of humour and we always laughed when we were together. She will be desperately missed.''

Since early this morning I have asked SABC3 repeatedly for any comment or statement on Fiona Coyne's passing. SABC3 has still not responded. The latest (17:20): SABC3 just told me that the broadcaster will only respond with a press release in regard to Fiona Coyne on Thursday.

BREAKING. Fiona Coyne died not in a car accident, but at home in Fish Hoek. Police is investigating but no foul play suspected.



I can now tell you that Fiona Coyne (45) has not died in a car accident as reported earlier today but at her home in Fish Hoek with a source close to The Weakest Link presenter - who's body was discovered early this morning - told me the police is investigating but that no foul play is suspected.

''Fiona Coyne died at her home in Cape Town, and not in a car accident as originally reported,'' one of her close friends just told me. Her domestic worker discovered her body this morning.

''The police have opened an inquest docket but no foul play is suspected,'' the friend told me.

BREAKING. Fiona Coyne, quiz presenter of The Weakest Link on SABC3 dies in a car crash on her way home.



Fiona Coyne (45) who presented the South African version of the quiz show The Weakest Link on SABC3 has died in a car crash this morning. She was on her way home to Fish Hoek where she lived.

Eyewitness News (EWN) was first to report the news about Fiona Coyne's death who rose to fame on television uttering the curt contestant send-off phrase: ''You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye.''