Peter Ford (entertainment reporter)

[2] He has recalled waiting outside a local newsagency for the latest issues of entertainment magazines and would attend the opening of shopping centres to see celebrities.

[2] He attempted to obtain cadetships with newspapers including The Herald and The Age and also approached radio stations in the hope of working in their newsrooms.

[2] At the age of 22 and with no television experience, Ford began a two-year stint working as a producer on the Network Ten breakfast show, Good Morning Australia, which was hosted by Kerri-Anne Kennerly and Gordon Elliot.

[2] From 1989 to 1990, Ford hosted a radio program called Alive and Dangerous on 3AK, where he interviewed personalities such as Ernest Borgnine, David Essex, Bill Kerr, Bud Tingwell and Denise Drysdale.

[citation needed] After Bert Newton encouraged him to pursue on air opportunities, Ford sent airchecks on audio cassettes to various Australian radio stations pitching the idea of him becoming their entertainment reporter.

[citation needed] After gradually growing his profile as an entertainment reporter, Ford is now utilised by many metropolitan and regional radio stations throughout Australia and New Zealand each day where he regularly "breaks" many stories relating to the media industry.

[3][4][5][6][7][8] On television, Ford has a regular spot on The Morning Show and has provided commentary to programs such as Sunrise, A Current Affair, Studio 10 and 20 to 1.

[1] In September 2009, Ford became one of many entertainment reporters internationally to fall victim to a hoax involving the supposed death of actress Jaclyn Smith.

[10] A tweet was published on Jaclyn Smith's official Twitter account stating that she was at safe and at home with her family and not in Honduras before describing the story as a "lie".

[10] In September 2014, Ford was criticised on ABC TV's Media Watch for inaccurately reporting that Ian Thorpe and Ricky Martin were in a relationship and had agreed to a magazine deal with $500,000.

[12] Ford had told 3BA in Ballarat that a magazine interview was about to be published about their relationship, before following it up with a tweet, prompted other media outlets in Australia and overseas to republish the claim.

"[21] Responding to Noyes article, Ford said he although he rejects the suggestion that he was endorsing domestic violence, he had educated himself by doing research which included speaking to psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

"[22] In August 2016, Ford was criticised after sending Meshel Laurie a postcard after she blocked him on Twitter after he questioned her complaints about Sonia Kruger's controversial comments about halting Muslim migration to Australia.

[26][27][28] Ford had claimed during the 6PR breakfast program with Basil Zempilas that Somers had been fired from hosting a 2019 Carols by Candlelight event in Ballarat reportedly due to outrageous demands.

[28] Ford had claimed Somers had run up an expensive bar tab, demanded a furnished marquee to serve as a dressing room and insisted of an appearance by Plucka Duck.

[28] After issuing the apology, Ford said the two months of legal discussions had been challenging and told Somers through the Herald Sun "...stop coming after me and causing havoc in my life and great distress to my family.

"[30] Chopra took offense to Ford's comments and responded by sharing a video detailing her filmography, providing a link to her IMDb page and writing: "Would love your thoughts on what qualifies someone.

[33] Ford also claimed requests to hear the final edit of pre-recorded conversation between himself and Cordeaux which went to air were denied by station management.

Ford raised doubts about claims Wilkinson made in her autobiography in 2021 regarding her final day co-hosting Today with Karl Stefanovic and later criticised the way she left The Project in 2022.

[1][2] In 2014, Ford was one of 12 commentators to be asked by TV Tonight to list five people within the Australian media industry whom they personally considered to be living treasures.

[39] Ford's list consisted of Bert Newton, Mike Walsh, Mickie de Stoop, Anne Wills and Peter Faiman.