Bikini streaker to front naked news

Sunday Star-Times

READY FOR TAKEOFF: Famous for her bikini-streak during a rugby test, Lisa Lewis is set to become Alt TV's first naked news reader.

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Lisa Lewis is set to become the Judy Bailey of the alternative TV scene.

The Hamilton part-time lap dancer, model and V8 ute racing driver starts work for Alt TV as its controversial new naked news reader on May 12.

In a job which will give new meaning to the term "news flash", five times a week Ms Lewis will read a daily news bulletin in the buff from the waist up on the privately owned, 24-hour live-to-air music television channel, which screens on Sky Digital 65 and is now also web-streamed on the internet.

Her bulletin will keep viewers abreast of current events at 10 on week nights.

Alt TV is expecting its share of knockers, but doesn't want anything to get in the way of its plans. It has even asked Ms Lewis to cut her hair.

But while Ms Lewis will be revealing more of herself on the small screen than she ever did in her infamous rugby test bikini streak in Hamilton two years ago, Alt TV is pulling out all the stops to reveal less.

Channel bosses have stopped Ms Lewis from talking to the rest of the media after stitching up an exclusive agreement with another paper.

They also forced her to cancel a photoshoot for the Waikato Times yesterday.

But Ms Lewis did offer a few comments before she was officially muzzled.

"I don't know about Judy Bailey comparisons, but that girl on Nightline (TV3) at the same time is going to suffer," she said.

Ms Lewis earlier told the Times of her interview experiences.

"They had each audition with clothes on, reading the news twice, and then removing clothes except for a g-string to read again.

"But I didn't think I would be asked to keep anything on clothing-wise, so never wore any underwear that day."

Alt TV's Thane Kirby reassured viewers that integrity would not be sacrificed for flesh.

"Naturally there will be a strong sense of newsworthiness on the show with highlights from the daily news," he said.

"But there will of course be that little bit of titillation to draw in the viewers' attention."

- © Fairfax NZ News