Matty Johns Show kicks off

Channel Seven has just announced that The Matty Johns Show will launch on Thursday, March 25 at 7.30pm. A media release says Johns "will tackle the new season’s big issues as well as entertaining audiences with a family-friendly mix of sporting stars, special guests, live performances, music and comedy." It quotes Johns as saying: “I grew up watching league on Seven with Rex Mossop. Thirty years later for it to be me on Seven with a rugby league show is great.” Several "fun new characters" will debut in the show, including gardening guru Don Kirk, who has appeared in teaser ads already, explorer Alby Sandals and 10-year-old Steven the Big Kid . Johns will be joined on air by Shane Webcke for Controversy Corner. Unspecified stars of the game will be part of the studio panel each week. “I think were heading into a fantastic era for the game,” Johns says. The 7.30pm timeslot indicates that Seven expects big things from the show - and it means league tragics can watch both his program and Nine's The Footy Show without having to know how to set a DVR.