An Australian TV reporter whose “million dollar” interview with Adele was canned after he admitted not listening to her new album is “mortified and unequivocally apologetic”.

Matt Doran, who works for Channel 7, and a crew flew to London ahead of the singer’s first new LP in six years, 30.

After carrying out the interview, it is said that Adele asked Doran if he had listened to her album – and he said he had not.

As part of the deal agreed for the sit-down, it is reported that Sony had veto rights over the chat – and subsequently said it could not be broadcast.

The Australian Daily Telegraph reports that the deal negotiated by Channel 7 was worth $1m (£540,000) as it included rights to Adele’s chat with Oprah Winfrey.

Following the debacle, Doran said he had missed an email with a preview copy of the album on it while flying to London on 4 November.

The album came out on Friday.

Doran told The Australian he is “mortified and unequivocally apologetic” about the incident.

“When I sat down to interview Adele, I was totally unaware that I’d been emailed a preview of her unreleased album,” he said.

“I have since discovered it was sent to me as an ‘e card’ link, which I somehow missed upon landing in London.

“It was an oversight but NOT a deliberate snub. This is the most important email I have ever missed.”

Initial reports suggested the Easy On Me singer had stormed out of the interview – but Doran said: “What was meant to be 20 minutes was extended to 29 minutes. The majority of the chat was about the album.”

Doran was criticised by other journalists – with some saying he must have been “wilfully ignorant” and that the talk was the “easiest part” after the negotiations.