Kerri-Anne Kennerley confronts Derryn Hinch after he called her a ‘cockroach’

Kerri-Anne Kennerley has reignited a decades-long feud with controversial politician Derryn Hinch after he called her a ‘cockroach’ in one of his books. 

The self-proclaimed ‘Human Headline’, 76, was being interviewed via Skype on Studio 10 about his latest book, Unfinished Business – Life of a Senator, when Sarah Harris brought up his inflammatory comment.

Rather than shying away from the subject, Derryn reaffirmed his belief Kerri-Anne, 66, was indeed the ‘cockroach of Australian television’. 

‘It was a compliment. I was trying to say that she’s a survivor. We both hosted the Midday show,’ he said, referring to the his stint on the daytime program in 1994. 

He added: ‘She’s a cockroach. If a nuclear war hit your television studio, you may go Sarah, but I bet you Kerri-Anne will still be there.’

‘Hold on, I listened to you whinge for years about Midday, for god’s sake,’ Kerri-Anne jumped in, seemingly late to their filming session while clutching a cup of coffee.

She added sarcastically: ‘You wrote in your book black and white I was “the television equivalent of a cockroach,” yes, I’m really flattered.’ 

‘Alright, take it like you want,’ Derryn shrugged it off. 

It wasn’t the first time Kerri-Anne had confronted Derryn about the savage snub, having told him exactly what she thought about the statement being printed when they both found themselves in Los Angeles years ago.   

Derryn attempted to continue: ‘You are a survivor. If a bomb hits-‘  

‘Don’t ask me to thank you now,’ Kerri-Anne jumped in.

Sarah asked if it was time to ‘bury the hatchet’ between the feuding media personalities, but Kerri-Anne immediately said ‘no’.