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From the media machine that gave us the "Chk Chk Boom" girl and perpetual party boy Corey Worthington, a new star was born on breakfast television on Thursday morning.
But exactly how long Hendra local Daniel McConnell's star will burn for remains to be seen.
A Hendra resident who confronted a man who had allegedly driven his car into a fish and chip shop says he gave chase when "all I had was me jocks on". Nine News
Hundreds of concrete blocks are being laid at the bottom of the Brisbane river to carry extra traffic and bike lanes along Kingsford Smith Drive. 7 News Queensland
A Hendra resident who confronted a man who had allegedly driven his car into a fish and chip shop says he gave chase when "all I had was me jocks on". Nine News
In his unique Australian drawl, McDonnell told Today: "I jumped out of bed, all I had was me undies on and I've walked out the front and I've seen the car smashed and I saw the bloke walking back to the car and I said, 'What are you doing, mate? You can't be leaving the scene. He goes, 'Don't be a hero, mate.' I said, 'I'm not trying to be a hero but the police are coming.' "Â
Aussiest interview ever guy? Daniel McConnell, with Sunrise host David Koch. Photo: Supplied
That was at 7am. By 7.30am, Channel Seven's rival show Sunrise had him on air.Â
It wasn't so much the event as the entertainment value McConnell and his thick Aussie accent provided that made him an instant star, especially with Nine's Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.Â
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Predictably a media bidding war broke out between the three commercial TV networks for him to appear on Today, Sunrise or Channel Ten's The Project.
But, in 24 hours, and following some seriously big cash offers of up to $10,000, it was Sunrise that secured McConnell, whisking him onto a plane bound for Sydney and having him locked down in a hotel room near Martin Place in preparation for his interview at the Sunrise studios on Friday morning with the plummy-by-comparison sounding Samantha Armytage and David Koch.Â
Daniel McConnell shot to national fame after he put on his "jocks" to chase a driver leaving a crash. Photo: Nine News/Twitter
PS was later informed that "Kochie" was a "personal favourite" of McConnell, which was what apparently clinched the deal to get him on their show for the bargain price of just $1000, along with a free trip to Sydney, no doubt much to Karl and Lisa's dismay.Â
McConnell said his previous trip to Sydney was when he worked as a ride operator at the Royal Easter Show.