'He was trying to take my top off': Don Burke denies accusations from former co-workers
Former co-workers of gardening guru Don Burke have accused him of sexually harassing and indecently assaulting women during the filming of Burke's Backyard in the 1980s and 1990s.
It's believed more than 50 women have been interviewed and made serious allegations about his actions following an investigation by the ABC and Fairfax Media.
Louise Langdon, who worked as a researcher on Burke's Backyard in the 1980s, said she was often left “speechless” by his behaviour.
"He decided that it was okay for him to put his hands on my T-shirt and try and pull my bra strap, my bra, off and somehow remove my clothing,” Ms Langdon told the ABC.
"He was trying to take my top off.
"He was saying it in a joking way, 'It's too hot up here. It's too hot up here. You don't need so many clothes on'."
Bridget Ninness claimed she was bullied relentlessly during her seven-year stint as the main female producer on his show.
"He was lewd. He was lewd and he was crude and he loved …to shock you, it was always of a sexual nature so it was always designed to confront you and to demean you," she said.
Don Burke has since vigorously denied these claims and hired top defamation lawyer, Patrick George, a senior partner of Kennedys Australia.
In his statement Burke described himself as "a classic sitting duck" because he not only presented the program but ran the production company behind it, meaning he inevitably had to fire some employees.
"I also believe that this publication is opportunistic and intended to severely damage my reputation, by trying to link my alleged behaviour with the appalling behaviour of Harvey Weinstein, which has gained a lot of media traction," Mr Burke said in a statement.
"The bitter irony is that I have had a lifelong opposition to sexism and misogyny. Burke's Backyard was a lone bastion of anti-misogyny from its inception in 1987."
