Andrew Bolt, Twitter users react to reports “The Bolt Report” is getting axed

Political commentator Andrew Bolt has denied reports that his program, “The Bolt Report,” is being cancelled by Channel Ten.

"This is not true,” the 56-year old television host wrote on his blog at the Herald Sun. “The issue is that my show is produced by News Corp, and several options are being considered which I can’t discuss and which I am thinking about.”

Bolt’s weekly Sunday morning political discussions, which premiered in May 2011, has not been renewed by the network in 2016, according to a report by The Australian.

Bolt assured his fans that whatever he was cooking up would involve doing more TV, not less. However, he said that he preferred to take a break from working every day, something that he has done for the past five years. “Enough with that,” Bolt wrote.

While he doesn’t have any concrete plans yet about what he’ll do in the future, Bolt hinted he may be involved in documentaries, similar to what he’s doing currently for the ABC. Bolt is currently filming a documentary with the working title, “I Can Change Your Mind About Recognition,” scheduled to air in 2017. The film follows two fierce individuals with opposing views about the referendum on Indigenous recognition who travel the nation together, according to Screen Australia’s web site. It will be directed by Simon Nasht, and feature NSW Deputy Labor Leader Linda Burney alongside Bolt.

“One liberating factor is that I now don’t feel so much that I have a dog in the next election fight,” Bolt mused in his column. “I can do other things without feeling I am deserting. Or am I wrong?”

News about the cancellation of “The Bolt Report” and Bolt’s upcoming feature in ABC was met with mixed reactions. Some were saddened by the news. Twitter user Mrs Doyle wrote:

“So sad that Andrew Bolt failed to become Australia’s version of Bill O’Reilly. Apparently the show has folded; lack of relevance I guess.”

Some Twitter users are also looking forward to Bolt’s future projects, including matthatestweets, who wrote, “excited for Andrew Bolt to take the vlogging scene.”

Others, on the other hand, didn't seem to welcome ABC’s project with Bolt. Twitter user MiriamCosic wrote, “ABC, why stoop to Andrew Bolt? There are loads of intelligent, knowledgeable & thoughtful conservatives out there.” Meanwhile, Twitter user AJG posted, “#ABC Andrew Bolt? Surely this is a joke.”

Those who criticise the conservative commentator found the report a new opportunity to pan Bolt. Twitter user LawyerAdamHouda wrote, “Never heard a person say anything positive about Andrew Bolt. What a miserable existence.” Others utilised sarcasm, like Twitter user JazzTwemlow who wrote, “It’s a pity. Andrew Bolt really liked that show.”

“The Bolt Report,” which runs for one hour, includes political panel discussions, interviews and commentary.