Much-loved newsreader Paul Lobb who was sacked without warning just days before Christmas reveals his surprising new career as a marriage celebrant - and fans are loving it
- Newcastle newsreader Paul Lobb was sacked in 2021
- The NBN presenter was replaced by weatherman
- He has reinvented himself as marriage celebrant
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A beloved newsreader who was sacked and replaced by his network's weatherman has reinvented himself as a marriage celebrant.
Newcastle personality Paul 'Lobby' Lobb had read NBN's 6pm news bulletin for more than a decade when he was taken off air just days before Christmas in 2021.
Nine Entertainment, which owns NBN, sacked Lobb without warning, announcing he would be replaced at the news desk by weatherman Gavin Morris.
Hunter Valley television viewers were so outraged by Lobb's sudden departure they launched a social media campaign for his reinstatement.
Beloved Newcastle newsreader Paul Lobb, who was sacked and replaced by his network's weatherman, has reinvented himself as a marriage celebrant. Lobb read NBN's 6pm bulletin for more than a decade when he was taken off air just days before Christmas in 2021
Almost two years after his unceremonious dumping from the airwaves, Lobb has revealed his new career move in a cheery video posted on social media. 'Hi, it's Lobby here, with some breaking news,' he says to the camera. Lobb is pictured with a young couple
Morris, a popular figure who was seen as a long-term asset by Nine, continued to present the weather as well as reading the news alongside Natasha Beyersdorf.
The move stunned Lobb's loyal audience in northern New South Wales, who launched a change.org petition demanding his return three days after his sacking.
Some of those to sign the petition unfairly attacked Morris, who has a larger-than-life action-man image, with one complaining about the way he pronounced 'satellite'.
Lobb's wife Alison urged her social media followers to contact NBN to complain about the treatment of her husband - and published the network's telephone number for them to call.
Angry viewers threatened to boycott the station as they mourned the loss of 'a true gentleman', a 'highly respected newsreader', a 'born and bred Novocastrian' and a 'good bloke'.
'I just want to say NBN have lost the plot,' one social media commenter wrote at the time.
Nine Entertainment, which owns NBN, sacked Lobb without warning just days before Christmas and announced he would be replaced by weatherman Gavin Morris to read the news alongside Natasha Beyersdorf. Morris and Beyersdorf are pictured
Almost two years after his unceremonious dumping from the airwaves, Lobb has revealed his new career move in a cheery video posted on social media.
'Hi, it's Lobby here, with some breaking news,' he says to the camera.
'Since I was last in your living room I've been working hard to become a marriage celebrant.
'I'm now using all those decades of storytelling experience to create unique marriage ceremonies for loved-up couples.'
The former newsman, who has called his business 'Married by Lobby', is offering a 'bespoke ceremony package' for $1,650 or a 'short & sweet' wedding for $850.
He will also conduct marriage vow renewals and baby-naming ceremonies.
'I'm so excited about my new career,' Lobb says in the video.
'Thank you so much for all the interest and support over the years. And don't forget, if you're getting married, call Married by Lobby. It's got a ring to it.'
Angry viewers threatened to boycott NBN as they mourned the loss of 'a true gentleman', 'highly respected newsreader', 'born and bred Novocastrian' and 'good bloke'. Lobb is pictured left with weatherman Gavin Morris and fellow anchor Natasha Beyersdorf
Among those to congratulate Lobb on his new career was the wife of retired NBN presenter Mike Rabbitt, the face of television sport in Newcastle for 30 years.
'Lobby, you will be fantastic in your new role,' Sue Rabbitt wrote on Facebook.
'Many couples will start their journey in the knowledge they have had a wonderful person preside over their big day. Congrats Paul. Rabbs and Sue.'
Another fan wrote: 'Oh that's awesome news. NBN news is not the same without you.'
One woman even addressed her husband in a post, asking: 'Can we divorce so we can get married again and have Lobby as our celebrant.'
Lobb's sacking from NBN, where he had worked for 23 years as a journalist, was seen as part of a cost-cutting exercise foisted on the regional station by its capital city masters.
The former newsman, who has called his new business 'Married by Lobby', is offering a 'bespoke ceremony package' for $1,650 or a 'short & sweet' wedding for $850. He is pictured centre with a couple renewing their marriage vows
Among those to congratulate Lobb on his new role was the wife of retired NBN presenter Mike Rabbitt, who was the face of television sport in Newcastle for 30 years. 'Lobby, you will be fantastic in your new role,' Sue Rabbitt wrote on Facebook
The high-rating NBN bulletin is broadcast through the Hunter and covers northern NSW, inland across the New England region and into parts of the state's north-west.
Kylie Blucher, Nine's managing director in Queensland and Northern New South Wales, described Lobb's sacking at the time as a consolidation of NBN's news presenting line-up.
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In an email to NBN staff, Blucher said the decision did not reflect on Lobb's significant contribution to the station and had been 'a tough one to announce'.
'Paul has been front and centre in loungerooms across Northern New South Wales delivering the local, national, and international stories our audience depends on,' she wrote.
'Over the past decade Lobby had built an enviable relationship with our viewers based on trust and his recognised commitment to the news.
Lobb began his career at NBN in 1993 as a trainee librarian and chyron operator - responsible for the text that runs at the bottom of the screen during news broadcasts.
He became a reporter in 1998 working out of the station's Port Macquarie office.
In 2008 he was named journalist of the year at the Northern NSW Journalism Awards for his reports on the grounding of the Pasha Bulker cargo ship on Nobbys Beach the previous year.
Lobb was a back-up newsreader for several years before joining Beyersdorf on the desk permanently in December 2010 when local broadcasting legend Ray Dinneen retired.
Dinneen had been at the news desk since joining Murray Finlay in 1975 and over the decades was paired with Anna Manzoney, Tracey Reid, Chris Bath, Melinda Smith and then from mid 2006 Beyersdorf.
Lobb will also conduct marriage vow renewals and baby-naming ceremonies. 'I'm so excited about my new career,' he says in a promotional video
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