‘Hijacking my show’: Credlin, Clennell in fiery on-air clash over One Nation comment

News24 host Peta Credlin took aim at the network’s political editor Andrew Clennell on Tuesday night, after the pair clashed over the commentator’s failure to defend him after Clennell claimed he was called a “dickhead” by One Nation’s national director James Ashby.

The on-air spat between the journalist and political commentator was instigated after Clennell said Credlin had not sufficiently defended him against comments made by Ashby, with Credlin clarifying that it was in fact One Nation leader Pauline Hanson who made the offending comments.

“This bloke Ashby came on your show last night, and he defamed me and multiple people have asked why you didn’t back me up,” Clennell said to Credlin at the start of a segment, diverting the conversation away from a different question he had been asked.

“I think it’s important to know that 20 years ago, James Ashby was convicted and fined for making threatening and abusing phone calls. He is in charge of this party, and his actions deserve scrutiny,” Clennell said, appearing to be reading from notes.

Earlier in the day, Clennell told his viewers that Ashby had cancelled a scheduled interview with the party’s leader after he had critiqued a number of cartoons One Nation has published that depict violence, in the wake of the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines.

Clennell showed his viewers a text sent to him by Ashby, which said that Hanson was cancelling a scheduled appearance on his show “after his weekend comments suggesting the cartoons incite violence”.

“The boss thinks you’re a dick again. She’s not interested in talking to you at the moment,” Ashby said via text. After informing Ashby he would be airing the text on his show, Clennell was again told “make sure you air the part where she thinks you’re a dickhead”.

But after it was brought up by Clennell instead of Credlin, she rebuked her colleague.

“Well, first of all Andrew, one, have a look down there. The show is called Credlin, right? I will decide what we discuss on the show and the order in which we discuss it,” a frustrated Credlin responded.

Credlin went on to clarify that it was Hanson that thought Clennell was a “dick”, not Ashby.

“If I didn’t like you, if I didn’t respect you, mate, you wouldn’t be on this show for nine years,” Credlin said.

“I heard the discussion about him telling you that Pauline Hanson thought you were a dick. I didn’t hear him say that, Andrew. And if I did, I would have jumped in, right?

“I call a spade a spade. I’m straight up and down, but you’re not going to hijack my show at the top when I said I would get to this.”

Clennell has been more forceful in his occasional criticism of One Nation amid growing support from the News Corp network, formerly known as Sky News Australia, for the populist right-wing party.

Ashby, who was Hanson’s chief of staff until several months ago, has become a growing presence in the party and is often viewed as the party’s most powerful figure. He is widely expected to run in the Queensland seat of Capricornia at the next federal election in 2028. He is also a frequent guest on News24.

Clennell and Credlin have previously clashed on air over topics relating to One Nation. Clennell criticised Victorian One Nation leader Warren Pickering in September over revelations of drug use and sexual deviance, asking Credlin “why does One Nation get the leave pass?”