Australia’s Next Top Model’s suffered a major embarrassment when the wrong winner was accidentally announced in the show’s finale.

Host Sarah Murdoch (Rupert’s daughter-in-law don’tcha know) named Kelsey Martinovich as Australia’s Next Top Model but backtracked minutes later, announcing that Queenslander Amanda Ware was the actual winner.

“I don’t know what to say right now … I’m feeling a bit sick about this,” Murdoch said when she realised her mistake.

“I’m so sorry, oh my god, I don’t know what to say. This is a complete accident, I’m so sorry.

“It was fed to me wrong.

“This is what happens when you have live TV folks, this is insane, insane, insane.”

Amanda Ware was announced Australia’s Next Top Model in front of a live audience during the show’s finale at Sydney’s Luna Park on Tuesday night.

Foxtel has since announced that it will be awarding Martinovich $25,000 to make up for the error.

“Tonight we saw the perils of live TV. At the time of the result announcement there was a miscommunication between the broadcast truck and the stage,” said Foxtel spokesman Jamie Campbell in a statement.

“Sarah handled what was a difficult situation with utmost professionalism and grace. Amanda and Kelsey were neck and neck in the voting all night.

“We apologise to Kelsey for the error, and Foxtel will be sending her to New York as well as awarding her $25,000 as a prize,” he said.

Rightful winner, Ware, will meanwhile receive an eight-page spread in women’s magazine Harpers Bazaar, a contract with Priscilla’s modelling agency, a $25,000 Levi’s campaign, a $20,000 cash prize, a Ford Fiesta Zetec and a trip to New York.

Watch the excruciating Australia’s Next Top Model moment here.

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_OowbhjJXE]