An Australian TV reporter who was widely criticised for flying to the UK to interview singer Adele without listening to her new album has issued an on-air apology, admitting he made a "terrible mistake".

Seven Network's Matt Doran said the email he had been sent which contained a link to a pre-release copy of the album was "the most important email that I've missed in my life".

Sony reportedly refused to release the footage of the interview — which had been arranged as part of a deal between the record company and Channel Seven — after Doran said he had not listened to the album, 30, which has since gone to number 1 in the UK.

In his monologue at the end of Seven's Weekend Sunrise program on Saturday, Doran said the event had precipitated "a torrent of abuse and mockery".

He said having the opportunity to interview the Grammy award-winner was "an unspeakable privilege" and one of the highlights of his career.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

Watch

Duration: 1 minute 18 seconds1m 18s

Doran said "at least half" the interview was on the new music but that it would have been "reductive" to describe the album as "simply being about divorce".

He apologised to Adele, saying he would "never have knowingly disrespected" her by deliberately not listening to the album.

"I also apologise to Adele's Australian fans, and to you, our viewers."

Doran is no relation to the ABC reporter of the same name, who tweeted "go easy on me" — the name of a track on the new album — when news of the failed interview became public.

Loading