Australian Radio DJ Blames Bosses for Prank Call That Led to Nurse's Suicide

Australian radio DJ Michael Christian has claimed that his bosses at 2Day FM ordered him to make a prank call to the hospital where Princess Diana was being treated in 2012. Christian and co-host Mel Greig called the hospital pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, leading to the suicide of nurse Jacintha Saldanha. Christian blames the production team for ordering the prank and impersonation.

An Australian radio DJ, Michael Christian, has claimed that his bosses at 2Day FM ordered him to make a prank call to the hospital where Princess Diana was being treated in 2012. Christian and his co-host, Mel Greig, called the hospital pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, leading to the suicide of nurse Jacintha Saldanha. The incident has sparked a legal battle between Christian and the broadcaster, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).

Christian has sued SCA, alleging that the production team ordered the prank call and impersonation to gain access to the Duchess of Cambridge, who was pregnant with Prince George at the time. He claims that SCA failed to provide support and instead left him and Greig to take the blame for the incident [1].

The prank call led to a public backlash against the radio hosts and the broadcaster. SCA has been accused of not immediately taking public accountability for the incident and allowing Christian and Greig to be exposed to relentless public vitriol and abuse, including death threats [1]. Christian's lawyers have argued that SCA did not provide meaningful health support or a public relations campaign to rebuild his brand, leading to his gradual marginalization within the organization [1].

The incident has had lasting effects on those involved. Rhys Holleran, SCA’s chief executive at the time of the incident, has expressed ongoing anxiety about the event. Greig broke down during the inquest into Saldanha's death, expressing her deep regret and concern for the well-being of nurses [1].

The case highlights the potential legal and ethical implications of prank calls and the responsibility of broadcasters to protect their employees and the public from harm. As the case continues, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the allegations and the potential liability of SCA.

References:
[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/07/07/radio-dj-prank-call-princess-of-wales-hospital/