Tracy Grimshaw calls out ‘control freak’ Ellen DeGeneres as she reflects on interviewing comedian

Tracy Grimshaw has reflected on her exclusive 2013 interview with Ellen DeGeneres, which took place ahead of the American comedian’s Australian comedy tour. 

The TV presenter, 62, told 9Now that she believes Ellen used ‘controlling tactics’ to  put her ‘on the back foot’.

‘I had to interview her on her set, in front of her live audience and I’m an outsider and a nobody, walking on to that set,’ Tracy said.

‘It was designed to make me feel small and it was designed to put me in my place,’ she added.

Tracy said Ellen is ‘a control freak’ and being interviewed on her set was a ‘controlling tactic’.

‘Ellen doesn’t like giving interviews, she doesn’t give a lot,’ she added.

The interview comes after Tracy said goodbye to A Current Affair after 17 years with Channel Nine last month.

The veteran broadcaster, 62, bid goodbye to her audience in an emotional show before being sent off with applause, hugs and well wishes from her Channel Nine colleagues.

And after heading out the team gave speeches with Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick, and Tom Malone, Nine’s managing director of radio, singing her praises.

Refreshments were served as fellow on air talent recalled stories of their time working with Grimshaw.

Peter Overton shared that he was once caught by the newsreader trying to relieve himself next to a car during reporting of a bushfire, according to The Australian.

After the speeches celebrations some staff headed to Pickled Possum in Neutral Bay on Sydney’s north shore for a spot of karaoke with eight bystanders looking on to see the performances.