Search

Sonia Kruger’s cheeky shot during Logies victory speech

The 2023 Logie Awards ceremony was filled with memorable moments, both triumphant and awkward. Sam Pang took on the role of the host, becoming the first in 11 years to do so. He kicked off the proceedings with a pointed and humorous monologue, highlighting the win for diversity as the first-ever host representing both Channel 7 and Channel 10. “I would like to acknowledge a win for diversity tonight. I am the first host in the history of the Logies to be half and half - half Channel 7 and half Channel 10,” Pang began. “Let’s be honest, it’s just be great to have an Asian on Channel 7 who isn’t trying to smuggle live birds through border security,” he continued, telling viewers to strap in for the “two-day” ceremony. One of the night's obvious highlights was the announcement of the Gold Logie winner, Sonia Kruger. Overwhelmed with joy, Sonia expressed her gratitude and thanked everyone involved in her shows, including Big Brother, Dancing With the Stars, and The Voice. She also playfully teased last year's Gold Logie winner, Hamish Blake, for sharing the same agent and their agent's hopes for concentrating on her in the future. Kruger quoted a conversation with the agent who had allegedly told her “I think people are a little over Hamish [Blake].” She added that the man had told her “Frankly I am hoping that he will leave the agency, so I can concentrate all of my efforts on you, Sonia”. Karl Stefanovic, on the other hand, faced a challenging moment during his appearance. Trying to add some impromptu humour to introduce a tribute to Barry Humphries, his joke about David Koch's favourite show, Bump, fell flat with the audience. “I did want to just check something... I am pretty sure before I heard Kochie say he loves Bump’s.... season 3. Did anyone mishear that? Because I am pretty sure I did. Anyway, those are the headlines tomorrow morning...” Karl said. The cameras caught Kochie looking bewildered to say the least. Sam Pang then by saying “I don’t want to say Karl’s joke about Kochie sank, but OceanGate are offering expeditions to visit it.” Following the In Memoriam segment, Sam Pang dedicated another In Memoriam to TV shows that had low ratings in the past year. This included Seven's Blow-Up, lacking the entertainment, artistry, and family fun it aimed for, and Ten's The Real Love Boat, which seemingly did not receive favourable reviews. Throughout the night, Sam Pang entertained the audience with a series of witty remarks. He thanked those who declined the hosting gig, <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">including Hamish Blake: “I appreciate it, mate, some of us have a mortgage,” said Pang. “By the way, a mortgage is when the bank loans... Ah,don’t worry about it.” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He joked that Kenny star Shane Jacobson said yes to hosting, “before even knowing what the question was.” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Karl Stefanovic said yes, as long the show was held in a park in Noosa.” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Eventually, it came down to two candidates, but “Rolf Harris said no, so here we are.” Then he took aim at the stars of MAFS, seated in the audience - he welcomed them to their “last-ever Logies." <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“The Voice is nominated tonight," continued Pang, "despite Peter Dutton’s strong opposition to the nomination...” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“The Block shows Australians what it is like to own their own home, making it the greatest fantasy series since Game of Thrones.” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He said I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! is “a wonderful show where we find out which Australian celebrities haven’t been adding to their super. Hi Kerri-Anne!” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He noted that Hamish Blake is up for his second Gold Logie this year, while comedy partner Andy Lee... “is mates with Hamish.” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He paid tribute to recently retired Sunrise host David Koch, who “changed breakfast television forever. Warmth, humour, personality... you needed none of those.” <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And then Today host Karl Stefanovic, sat with co-host Sarah Abo. Or as Pang put it: “Sitting next to your co-host - who do you have this year, Karl?” He said Karl’s table would only be more fun if “Michael Clarke was on it.” While Pang's monologue ended on a controversial note with a joke about being an Asian on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, the overall ceremony was filled with moments that kept the audience entertained. He also advised audience members “not to mix beer and wine, and make sure that you don’t mix your acceptance speech with an active court case.” Images: Channel Seven

Dazzling looks, memorable moments, and award sweeps: The best of the 2023 Oscars

Actors, producers, and creative souls from all over arrived at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre to strut their sparkle down the 2023 Oscars’ champagne carpet. The event, otherwise known as Hollywood’s night of nights, was always set to break records and draw attention from film fanatics across the globe - hopefully for all the right reasons - with the likes of Everything Everywhere All at Once, Elvis, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Top Gun: Maverick up for Best Picture. In fact, Everything Everywhere All at Once was nominated for 11 awards by itself, with All Quiet on the Western Front and The Banshees of Inisherin following right behind with an astounding nine nominations each. Everything Everywhere All at Once snagged a staggering seven awards in the end - most notably, the cast and crew secured the top honour of Best Picture for all of their hard work. In the Hollywood comeback of the decade, Best Actor went to Brendan Fraser for his part in The Whale, and Best Actress to the multi-talented Michelle Yeoh for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, who took the opportunity to remind women everywhere that “you are never past your prime”. Michelle also made history with her win as both the first Best Actress nominee and winner to openly identify as Asian. Meanwhile, their supporting award counterparts went to Everything Everywhere All at Once’s Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Ke Huy Quan accepted his award - and made history as the first Vietnam-born actor to ever do so. He began by thanking his 84-year-old mother, who was watching from the comfort of home, saying “my journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp, and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. “They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I can’t believe it’s happening to me - this is the American dream.” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert snagged Best Director for Everything Everywhere All at Once. And for those with a great appreciation for the songs that make moments come to life, MM Keeravaani and Chandrabose were awarded Best Song for the catchy hit ‘Naatu Naatu’ in RRR. The ceremony also saw special guest appearances from The Banshees of Inisherin’s Jenny the Donkey, a fuzzy bear presenter, and appearances from a whole host of stars - as well as an emotional tribute to those Hollywood had lost over the past year, with John Travolta’s emotional words for the late Olivia Newton-John, to whom he remains “hopelessly devoted”. But, of course, the Oscars aren’t only about who goes home with the coveted golden statues, and the stars paraded down the champagne carpet - formerly the red carpet - in typical fashion in a shower of shoulder pads, sparkle, and swagger. Check out 2023’s best dressed and top moments below, and the <a href="https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023">full list of winners here</a>. Images: Getty

Movies

“Good things will happen”: Brendan Fraser breaks down at Critics Choice Awards

Actor Brendan Fraser, best known for his roles in The Mummy trilogy and George of the Jungle, broke down in tears at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards while accepting the honour of Best Actor for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. “I was in the wilderness,” Brendan said to his director, after making his way through the cheers and celebration of his colleagues to the stage, “and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you found me.” Brendan’s win comes after over a decade since his last leading role in a major film, and 13 years without an awards nomination. The actor, 54, thanked director Darren Aronofsky for the role set to revitalise his career in a heartfelt dedication. “Like all the best directors,” he went on, “you merely just showed me where to go to get to where I needed to be.” In The Whale, Brendan portrays a depressed 270 kg English teacher named Charlie, who is seeking to restore his relationship with his estranged daughter. Brendan underwent an immense physical transformation and donned prosthetics for the role, but it was the emotional weight of his experience that shone through in his speech. “If you - like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie - in any way, if you struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you are in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you too can just have this strength to just get to your feet and go to the light,” he said, voice breaking, “good things will happen.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Brendan Fraser’s acceptance speech after winning Best Actor 😭🖤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CriticsChoiceAwards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CriticsChoiceAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/iQgFe4FnjS">pic.twitter.com/iQgFe4FnjS</a> — Natalie ❁ (@livelyackles) <a href="https://twitter.com/livelyackles/status/1614817219917250561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote> Brendan’s emotions ran high backstage, with the modest actor’s gratitude flowing well into the night, telling one reporter, “I had no idea what this would feel like because I had no idea. I’m still pretty new to this so you’ll forgive me if I’m still trying to get used to it. Maybe I never will and that’s okay. But I know I’m grateful.” Fans of the actor took to social media to share their delight at his success, many opening up about their own tears as they saw Brendan recognised after decades of hardship in the industry. “Definitely didn’t expect for Brendan Fraser to make me teary today haha. Glad he won. He’s a great guy and deserves the award,” tweeted one fan, to an outpouring of likes from like-minded supporters. “So happy for him! I want him to win the Oscar he deserves it,” chimed another, amid growing Oscars buzz after a thus far successful awards season for the film and Brendan’s performance. With the nominations for the 95th Academy Awards set to be announced on the 24th of January, and many outlets predicting nominations in the categories of Best Actor and Best Picture for The Whale, things are looking good for the talented cast and crew behind the film.

Movies

Chrissie, Sam & Browny to leave popular breakfast show

Nova’s breakfast show program featuring Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang and Jonathan ‘Browny’ Brown will stop airing at the end of the year after a huge seven years. The trio announced the bombshell news to listeners on Friday morning - just hours after their colleague <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kate-ritchie-taking-a-break-from-radio-gig" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kate Richie</a> revealed that she is stepping back from the spotlight of her Nova FM show. Chrissie, Sam & Browny’s last show will air on December 2 after their show sat on the #1 FM or #2 FM Melbourne breakfast show 19 times since it launched back in 2015. This has now raised questions on whether or not Chrissie will be spending more time on The Project next year after <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/carrie-bickmore-breaks-down-as-she-shares-huge-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carrie Bickmore leaves the show</a> at the end of the year. Chrissie however will not be leaving the Nova Network entirely saying she is excited for her new adventure. “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved professionally and personally since we first met in 2015 – especially the last few years as we all kept each other afloat during the pandemic,” she said. “I’m thrilled to now put a bow on the absolute gift of the Chrissie, Sam & Browny experience and am looking forward to a new adventure with Nova.” Sam also said he is looking forward to “sleeping in” after years of waking up early to host the radio show. “It’s been a privilege doing breakfast radio in my hometown. I’ve loved my time at Nova and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the show over the past seven years,” he said. “I would especially like to thank the listeners for their support. It has been a wonderful experience. I’ve made some life-long friends and feel very lucky to have worked with such an amazing team.” Jonathan however will remain at the network as he continues to work with the Fox Footy team. “When the opportunity presented itself to work alongside Chrissie, Sam and Deano seven years ago it cemented my family’s decision to make the move to Melbourne and start a new chapter post-footy,” he said. “I’ve shared some life-changing moments with our listeners and the team have become like family to me. “I’m grateful to the Nova family and our listeners for the opportunities in both Brisbane and Melbourne over the past 17 years and finish up feeling proud of what we’ve created together.” Image: Nova

MasterChef fans in tears over star's exit

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> MasterChef fans watched on in horror as they said goodbye to a fan favourite, "Dumpling King" Brendan Pang. Brendan hung up his apron after an intense two-round elimination, but no one was more shocked and saddened by his departure than his friend Reece. Brendan served up a seafood noodle creation after changing his plan to serve dumplings with at least one ingredient from the five display pantries, which were sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami. He was outdone by other competitors, including Reynold's duck with pickled beetroot and date puree as well as Tessa Boersma's scarlet prawns. The end result was emotional for Brendan and his friend Reece, as their banter quickly became a fan favourite on Back To Win. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeJqQCAYUa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeJqQCAYUa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">How can one person be so annoying @reecehignell 😭 #MasterChefAU</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/brendan_pang/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> BRENDAN PANG</a> (@brendan_pang) on May 21, 2020 at 6:07pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “Are you more confident now than you were a month ago?” Jock Zonfrillo had asked. “I doubt myself a lot,” Brendan, who came ninth on MasterChef in 2018, said as his eyes welled. “It’s really hard coming back for a second time, but you guys have made it worthwhile,” he added with a whisper, desperately trying to fight back his tears. “Normally we love umami in bucketloads, but on a day that was all about balance, unfortunately, there was one dish that elevated it way too far above the others,” Jock explained when delivering the news. Responding, Brendan said: “I can’t feel anything right now,” prompting Melissa to issue an emotional farewell. “You came back to win with a very clear idea of who you are and what you want to cook, and you showed us that in spades. “We haven’t been standing here very long, but I am 100 per cent sure that we have eaten the best dumplings that this kitchen has ever seen,” she said, adding: “We feel a lot of love for you. You will be missed, and we cannot wait to come and see you when this is over.” Fans were sad over the departure. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I knew if he went out I’d be sad but ugh I’m just a blubbering mess. We’ll miss your sweet soft spoken commentary and mouth watering dishes <a href="https://twitter.com/brendan_pang?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brendan_pang</a> 👏🏽👏🏽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterchefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterchefAU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masterchefau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@masterchefau</a> — Shanice (@lostgirl23) <a href="https://twitter.com/lostgirl23/status/1274662755107172352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Can’t believe this is happening. My heart is breaking for Reece and Brendan both. I’m gonna miss seeing this two interacting on my screen, absolutely smashing toxic masculinity and celebrating platonic friendships with every witty banter exchanged <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/MlWfbVpuNB">pic.twitter.com/MlWfbVpuNB</a> — Fiza Zali (@fizawanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/fizawanders/status/1274661458001838080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2020</a></blockquote> Reece posted a sweet tribute on his Instagram, saying that he was "completely devastated to see you leave tonight". <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBslckrjzT1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBslckrjzT1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Cakeboi (@reecehignell)</a> on Jun 21, 2020 at 5:12am PDT </div> </blockquote> "Season 10 sisters for life. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/audreys/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">#audreys</a>," Reece wrote. "Completely devastated to see you leave tonight however, I know all the amazing things you have going for you back home. Your new cook book has me cooking Chinese every second night and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bumplingsperth/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">@bumplingsperth</a> 🥟 is the hottest thing in Perth at the moment - cannot wait to come over and have my free dinners. "So grateful we got to do MasterChef together again - now go kill it!!!!🌈 Slay sis," Reece finished. Brendan runs a Chinese-Mauritian dumpling restaurant in Perth called Bumplings in Perth and has written a cookbook called This is a Book about Dumplings. </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

MasterChef viewers call out “creepy” moment between guest judge and Brendan Pang

MasterChef fans on social media were left feeling uneasy after an awkward moment during Tuesday night’s intense pressure test. The episode saw contestants Brendan Pang, Reece Hignell, Poh Ling Yeow and Sarah Tiong, tasked with recreating a flavour-packed and super spicy jungle curry without a recipe. But a clearly stressed out Brendan didn’t know how to react after he received a strange comment by the guest judge – one many have surely been faced with before – and it rubbed viewers the wrong way. As the 24-year-old sweated profusely and panicked over his curry paste, guest judge Benjamin Cooper of Chin Chin Melbourne told him to “smile”. “You want some advice?” Benjamin had asked while Brendan stressed over his curry. “I saw you smile earlier on … I feel like there's a bit of cheekiness in you,” he said. “Lose the stress, bring the cheekiness back. Don't be afraid to load it up with chilli. Don't be afraid to bring a bit of fun back to the dish. And enjoy it, 'cause cooking stressed isn't going to give you the result you want. “Show me the smile,” he added, to which Brendan laughed awkwardly. “I'm trying to smile!” he said. Fans called the moment out as “awkward”, “cringe” and even “weird and uncomfortable”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Errrrmmmm... I’m getting bad juju from the Chin Chin dude. The way he approached Brendan and asked him to smile. Sooo awks. *shudder* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> — Nikki Rivera (@twitnikki) <a href="https://twitter.com/twitnikki/status/1270297243300446210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> the chef from Chin Chin asking Brendan to “show me that smile” gave me big men asking women to smile energy it felt weird and uncomfortable? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> — Isha Bassi (@Isha_Bassi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Isha_Bassi/status/1270297068964216833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Brendan has 10 minutes to cook his curry AND remember to smile. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/1Wtv90pUeu">pic.twitter.com/1Wtv90pUeu</a> — Tara Watson (@tara_watson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/tara_watson_/status/1270299692283224064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> But despite the strange moment, the judges loved Brendan’s version of the jungle curry. Instead, Sarah Tiong was sent home after her curry broth was deemed “too thin”.

Food & Wine

Businesses can refuse service to sick customers as containment efforts continue

People with flu-like symptoms can be turned away from any shop or workplace as part of measures to prevent a second wave of coronavirus. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said he would “protect” and “defend” the rights of business owners and employers to turn away customers and staff members who are unwell. “All of us over our lives have been on occasions wanting to soldier on with a cold and a flu, flu-like illness – we cannot do that anymore,” he told reporters on Sunday. “If one of your colleagues, or an employee, or a client turns up you have every right to say, ‘go away, I am not going to let you in, I am not going to treat you’ ... unless you’re a doctor, of course.” Professor Murphy also warned Australians against hanging out in shopping centres as states and territories begin easing their coronavirus restrictions. “We have also seen pictures of people crowded in shopping malls, in other circumstances where they have not been observing the social distancing norms that are part of our new way of behaving,” he said. “So if you’re going to a shopping centre to buy something, go and buy something but don’t hang around the shopping centre for half-an-hour mingling for no purpose – go home.” Professor Murphy said Australia could risk seeing another widespread community transmission, also known as “second wave” of coronavirus, if people fail to uphold social distancing norms and hand hygiene practices. “It is as much about the rules and regulations as it is about personal responsibility and I really want to emphasise that point,” he said. Preventing widespread community transmission is vital to protect the elderly and those with chronic conditions, he said. “People have said to me, why don’t you just protect really carefully all those with chronic conditions and the elderly; make sure they are well cocooned away from everyone else in society?” he said. “As we have seen already, that’s just not possible, if you’ve got widespread community transmission. This virus is incredibly infectious.”

Legal

Erin Molan tears up in heartfelt radio interview

Channel 9 star Erin Molan was reduced to tears during an “emotional” live radio interview on Thursday. The presenter became embroiled in an ugly trolling storm following allegations on Sunday she has fallen out with TV colleague and rugby legend Andrew Johns. The Sunday Telegraph reported a breakdown between the working relationship of Molan and Jones resulted in him removing himself from the network’s Friday night rugby league coverage. The Daily Telegraph reported a “feud” between the two stars began in 2017 when she replaced Paul “Fatty” Vautin as host of The Footy Show. Since the news broke, Molan has been up against a slew of “disgusting” and “inexcusable” trolling. While on the air with 101.7 WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda, the Channel 9 presenter explained she came on set wearing sunglasses because she had been unable to sleep the night before. “I am so sorry, I haven’t put my contacts in this morning. I had a rough night. I didn’t sleep very well and these are prescriptions,” Molan said. Breakfast radio duo Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller have both spoken out against the online vitriol against Molan, with Keller’s voice cracking under emotional strain when she said the whole situation “p*ssed her off”. “I get emotional with this Erin, I don’t understand why people give you a hard time,” she said. “It pisses me off. And I think it’s because you are so professional and you are so good at your job, that I think that men don’t like you being good at what they still see as their world. I admire the pants off you or the eyeballs off you and I just think you are the most professional female and it’s threatened, everybody.” Keller reached for the tissues after she watched as Molan teared up over the kind words. “And I just think in a few years time people will look back — same as the Adam Goodes thing — and think what did we do to her,” Keller said. “Why did we do that? All strength to you Erin. You’re an amazing woman and I hate that you’re going through this.” Keller added: “Your daughter would be so proud of you. You’re breaking the glass ceiling for a generation”. Former Footy Show star and Molan’s co-host Beau Ryan told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/">The Daily Telegraph</a> on Tuesday it is “bulls***” for trolls to blame the reporter for the decisions of Nine management. “That’s what happens to these reality stars … they get on there and think everything’s going to be rosy and then they get trolled and can get really down and dark. I saw that happen to Erin,” Ryan said. “She’s got a journalism background, she’s done nothing wrong and been trolled for her looks or what she’s done or said, or the show she’s working on, or the team she supports. And it took a toll on her.” Andrew Johns, a star analyst for Nine, disappeared from the network’s Friday coverage this season.

News

Radio host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones reveals his family’s cancer battle heartache

Radio host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones has candidly opened up about the cancer heartache that has plagued his own family, following his appearance on Channel Seven’s The Real Full Monty on Sunday night. The 50-year-old stripped down on stage with other Aussie stars to raise awareness for men’s health issues for the network’s one-off TV special. In an interview with <a href="https://au.be.yahoo.com/">Yahoo Be</a>, Jonesy said his father, Geoffrey, battled two different types of cancer and he hopes his story will encourage others to get checked regularly. “He was just very unlucky to get two different cancers. Prostate cancer is one thing, lung cancer is a different kettle of fish. Had he not got the lung cancer, he'd be still with us now,” the WFSM host said. “He had the prostate cancer and he got his checks regularly. “He probably got onto it a bit too late though, as far as getting the tests done. So really you should be getting it when you're 40, so I started getting my tests done when I was 40.” Sadly, Geoffrey passed away in September 2014. In the interview, Brendan also revealed how nervous he was to strip for yesterday’s The Real Full Monty. <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e3f896b69a9847c085a72e2f91893227" /><img style="width: 500px; height:482.6498422712934px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819967/1.jpg?width=500&height=482.6498422712934" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e3f896b69a9847c085a72e2f91893227" /> The radio star said he got a spray tan for the event and decided to stand next to Kenny actor Shane Jacobson, rather than Jett Kenny or Kris Smith. AFL star Campbell Brown, actor Shane Jacobson, NRL great Matt Cooper, Sunrise’s Sam Mac, model Kris Smith, AFL commentator Brian ‘BT’ Taylor and Lisa Curry’s son, Jett Kenny, also took to the stage for the cause. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Blru05jAf6K/" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 33.90625% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Blru05jAf6K/" target="_blank">A post shared by Shane Jacobson (@theshanejacobson)</a> on Jul 25, 2018 at 10:34pm PDT </div> </blockquote>

Caring

Brendan Jones reveals why he rejected co-hosting with Lisa Wilkinson

Radio host Brendan Jones has opened up in a new interview about why he won’t be making the permanent switch from radio to TV anytime soon. Speaking to <a href="https://au.be.yahoo.com/">Yahoo Be</a>, the Aussie radio star revealed that he was offered the chance to do a show with Lisa Wilkinson on Channel Seven in 1999. Despite getting along well with Lisa, Jonesy turned down the opportunity. He said: “It was a nice chemistry and then it just got to this point where they were saying, 'Would you leave radio for it?' and I said, 'Well no.’” “I've waited all my life to get to this point so I had to say no and I think it went to some swimmer or something in the end,” he added. The role was later filled by former Olympic swimmer, Duncan Armstrong. Despite enjoying his time hosting the Today show earlier this year, the 50-year-old explained why he would never ditch radio for TV. “Radio is the mother of all things and I would never leave radio to do solely TV because I don’t trust TV, I trust radio,” he said. Jonesy started his career in radio in the early 90s, working at the 2BCR Bankstown community radio station. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BikfKlgAcVQ/" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BikfKlgAcVQ/" target="_blank">A post shared by Brendan Jones Amanda Keller (@jonesyandamanda)</a> on May 9, 2018 at 1:28pm PDT </div> </blockquote> He has since worked his way up to the top and now, presents on breakfast radio show WSFM 101.7 with co-host Amanda Keller. Although he is loyal to radio, Jonesy still makes TV appearances and is set to appear in Channel Seven’s one-off TV special The Real Fully Monty.

Farming hero Brendan Farrell breaks down over mate’s death in emotional video

Burrumbuttock Hay Runners founder Brendan Farrell is a hero to many in the outback. He delivers donated hay to drought-affected Aussie farmers but it means Brendan has seen first-hand the utter distress of famers in the midst of a crippling dry spells. But today, the hardened fourth-generation farmer broke down as he found out that one of his mates he had been helping on a rural NSW cattle farm had taken his own life. In a heart-wrenching Facebook video which has been viewed over 197,000 times and shared by over 4,000 people at the time of writing, the man who was recently awarded a Queen’s Birthday honour, said the news of the man’s death was a “real kick in the guts”. The pair first met when Brendan was delivering dog food in 2015 to drought-affected farmers in outback NSW. “I saw this old bloke at the side of the road,” he said. “I pulled up and said: ‘Mate, do you want some dog food? And, he said: ‘Yeah, righto.’ “I put five bags of dog food in the back of his Jeep and we got talking there and he had the oldest pair of wire strainers in the world. They must have seen more kilometres of wire than I can imagine.” The next time he was down that way, Brendan dropped off a pair of new wire strainers and a note telling the farmer to “keep his chin up”. The unnamed, single farmer was “gobsmacked” and the two stayed in touch ever since. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fburrumbuttockhayrunners%2Fvideos%2F2079473492301830%2F&show_text=0&width=267" width="267" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> “Bonds are formed in special ways and that’s what hurt,” Brendan said as his eyes filled with tears in the video. “It’s just a real kick in the guts today, that’s all. “To all those farmers who are thinking of doing something silly, think of a bond or a special moment.” Brendan added the pressure of drought “is absolutely horrendous” and took aim at the government and corporations for exacerbating the mental and physical strain on the nation’s farmers. “I’d been looking after this farmer for a while,” he said. “I thought I was winning the battle with this fella but depression is a very dark place – I’ve been there. “The problem is I can’t see a farmer ringing some random person in an office to spill out all their problems … I just don’t know which way you go with this.” He said he’d hand back his award in an instant to have this bloke back. ““Every award in Australia cannot bring a life back … I would hand back my award to have this bloke back,” he said. “He couldn’t get his cattle to market because they were too poor,” he later told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/06/21/15/54/hay-runner-left-devastated-by-suicide-of-cattle-farmer-mate">Nine News</a>. “He couldn’t sell his property because it was worth nothing. Couldn’t feed his cattle because he didn’t have enough money to buy the feed or the freight. So he is gone.” Brendan pleaded with farming families to hang in there and urged any person contemplating the worst to just stop and think of the repercussions for family, friends, children. “Think of a special moment, for Christ’s sake,” he begged. “Just keep getting up out of bed, put your shoes on and your hat on, because the sun keeps rising every day.” Lifeline 13 11 14

Mind

The moment you missed: MasterChef’s Brendan Pang suffers horrifying accident

Last night’s episode of MasterChef Australia saw contestants complete a brunch challenge in teams. During the frantic challenge, 24-year-old Brendan Pang took a fall, smashing a glass bottle and cutting his hand open. <img width="498" height="415" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818591/brendan-pang_498x415.jpg" alt="Brendan Pang"/> After seeing the amount of blood coming from the wound, Brendan knew he needed immediate medical attention. "There was a lot of blood," Brendan told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/tvweek" target="_blank">TV WEEK</a> of the incident. "It's probably the most horrifying injury I've ever had." Brendan’s teammates quickly came to his aid and he was sent straight to hospital. "I needed 13 stitches," he said. <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818592/2_500x375.jpg" alt="2 (82)"/> "[But] the pain came later on. I think in the moment of being in the MasterChef challenge I didn't really feel anything." Despite the injury, the Perth social worker was most worried about leaving his team one man down. "I was really disappointed," he said. "I wanted my team to win. I didn't want to let them down." However, his teammates were only concerned with Brendan’s safety. "They said, 'we'll do this for you,'" he said. "I know now my health comes first and I really had to leave." Luckily, Brendan didn’t suffer any severe damage to his hand and it has now healed. "I've been quite lucky. It's healed really nicely and my hand is fine. I didn't cut through any tendons or muscles.” Reflecting on the incident, Brendan found it humorous that he was able to avoid all the flames, knives and boiling water in the MasterChef kitchen but was then taken down by a bottle of olive oil. "It's kind of funny," he confessed. "It was just a freak accident."

Celebrity gardener lists stunning $2.5m garden hideaway in city

TV host and landscape architect, Brendan Moar, has listed his four-bedroom Camperdown home with a price guide of $2.5 million. The Dry Spell Gardening host’s home in Sydney’s Inner West spans three levels and has an eccentric design throughout. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818415/1_500x333.jpg" alt="1 (139)"/> The home features a spiral staircase, a modern fire place and a courtyard oasis. The courtyard features a pool, that wraps around the kitchen and dinning room, an outdoor dining area and a mosaic feature wall. The landscaper’s handiwork shines through the abundance of plants and nooks and crannies that are in the courtyard. Inside the house, the top floor master suite features an ensuite and a private rooftop garden. Scroll through the gallery above to see inside Brendan’s home and stunning garden. What do you think of his landscaping handiwork? Let us know in the comments below.

Home & Garden

How an innocent dance with Camilla cost this TV star his job

Did a TV star get sacked because of a dance with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall? That’s the question on everyone’s lips after Brendan Cole, a New Zealand-born professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing (the UK’s version of Dancing with the Stars), was fired from the show. The Duchess, who is understood to be a fan of the show, reportedly agreed to dance with Cole during a charity event at Buckingham Palace in November. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.74074074074074% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdCkm6rlpfP/" target="_blank">A post shared by Brendan Cole (@brendancoleinsta)</a> on Dec 23, 2017 at 1:45am PST </div> </blockquote> "I love this," Cole captioned the above photo. "I asked the delightful Duchess of Cornwall if it was ok to ask her to dance. Luckily she said yes ... What a charming host and a wonderful day at Buckingham Palace."<a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/buckinghampalace/"> </a> However, it has been alleged that Cole broke royal protocol by dancing with Camilla (royals are not to be touched in any manner beyond a handshake), and many believe it to be the reason for his sacking. A show insider told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5628864/strictly-brendan-cole-sacked-dancing-camilla-buckingham-palace/" target="_blank">The Sun</a> it was “the last straw”, saying he displayed “arrogance and diva behaviour” by going against detailed instructions on how to handle himself in front of the royals. “It was a tea dance in aid of an osteoporosis charity encouraging older people to stay active and each of the professionals was to pair up with the guests while Craig danced with Camilla,” the insider said. “But Brendan being Brendan had to make it about him and ignored everyone and made a beeline for Camilla – who politely didn’t cause a scene. Everyone was outraged by the cheek of his actions, he always has to be centre of attention.” Despite the insider’s comments, a spokesperson for the Duchess of Cornwall said Camilla “thoroughly enjoyed” the dance, and Cole himself denies it was why he lost his job after 14 years on the show. He also claims the BBC did not brief him on royal protocol prior to the event. Do you think his dismissal is fair? Tell us in the comments below. Image credit: Brendan Cole/Instagram.

Music

William Tyrrell's biological father is wanted for arrest

The <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/2017/09/william-tyrrells-biological-father-revealed-for-first-time/" target="_blank">biological father of missing boy William Tyrrell</a> is reportedly wanted for arrest, concerning a failure to appear on court for charges related to stolen credit cards. Brendan William Collins, who was revelled to be the biological father of the boy who tragically went missing from this grandmother’s house in 2014, was arrested in November last year on the charges, and noted to be “unsteady on his feet”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Pictured: William Tyrrell's father Brendan Collins <a href="https://t.co/kjCDCW790u">https://t.co/kjCDCW790u</a> <a href="https://t.co/9bWqult1bl">pic.twitter.com/9bWqult1bl</a> — Walkileaks (@walkileaks) <a href="https://twitter.com/walkileaks/status/907068654700949507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2017</a></blockquote> Collins, who former partner Karlie Tyrrell is William’s biological mother, has been ruled out as a suspect in the missing child case. Last year the NSW government offered an unprecedented $1 million reward for any information that would lead to the recovered of the missing boy. What are your thoughts?

Family & Pets

Brendan Jones confesses: "How I almost ended my friendship with Amanda Keller"

They’re now one of the biggest radio duos in Australia but Amanda Keller and Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones friendship was nearly over before it had ever begun. In an extract from his new memoir Fifty Shades of 50, Jonesy recalls filling in for Amanda Keller and Andrew Denton in the late ‘90s on their Triple M Sydney breakfast show and how he very nearly stuffed up the relationship that would go on to become a formidable radio duo. “Filling in for the Breakfast show is no easy task. There was one on-air break that threatened to tear the fabric of my relationship with Amanda and doom any chance of us ever working together. On Andrew and Amanda’s show there was a segment called ‘The Rumour Mill’, where people would ring in with ‘rumours’ they had heard. Usually they were pretty benign: Coke has a new flavour, Baby John Burgess was going to be hosting a new show (usually rung in by Baby John). One morning a rumour flashed up on my phone screen, Amanda Keller Pregnant. I used the two-way to talk to the producer, who assured me it was okay and it was a funny call. Once a radio show starts, there’s no stopping it. It’s a bit like that episode of I Love Lucy where she was working in a pie factory. Seemingly all she had to do was get the pies of the conveyor belt, but as soon as she hesitated or got distracted the pies ended up on the floor. In Lucy’s case, hilarity ensues, for a radio show, it just ends up being bad radio. So, with the pie analogy in mind, I put my faith in the producer; I have to there’s only one minute to go on Nickelback. In my mind, I imagined the call would have something to do with the plunging neckline Amanda had displayed on the show Good News Week that Andrew was giving her grief about before they went on holidays intimating that her bosoms had gotten bigger. The caller went to air and said that Amanda was pregnant. My co-host that morning was former Simon Townsend’s Wonder World! reporter and one-time Playboy model Jodie Young. Jodie asked how the caller knew this and I was preparing for the plunging neckline comment, but our caller said ‘I saw her coming out of an ultrasound clinic.’ Jodie and I looked at each other, and I hastily wrapped up the call. As we went into the ads, someone from the newsroom came through on the intercom and said, ‘Well that was shit.’ I didn’t know what to say. I buzzed the fill-in producer Rebecca and the fill-in PD Simon and asked, in what world was that even remotely funny? They told me not to worry, but it really plagued me, and rightly so. What wasn’t known by me, and everyone else, was that Amanda and her husband Harley had been trying for a baby with IVF, and that particular day at the clinic they had just been told that their last attempt had been unsuccessful. MMM sent a bunch of flowers; for me that wasn’t enough. I wrote her a letter in which I expressed my sincerest apologies and if I had known what that caller was going to say there’s no way it would’ve ever got to air. I mailed it and then went on my Christmas break, but I still felt that it hadn’t been resolved and spent the holiday feeling pretty glum. My mate Scotty noticed I was distracted one day and I told him what had happened. He said ‘That’s a pretty shitty thing to do.’ He and his wife Vicki were having their own battles with IVF, so I was very aware of the struggles facing childless couples. He added, ‘Perhaps you can just avoid her.’ So I made up my mind I’d just avoid her for the rest of my life. When I came back to work, instead of going through the usual door, I went around through the sales side. My plan was going well until the first person I ran into was Amanda who for some strange reason was on that side of the building. She looked at me gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, ‘Thanks for the letter.’ And that was that.” <img width="88" height="135" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/3c049c8e59771ed1265be4621628e873" alt="Jonesy’s book is out now." style="float: left;"/>This is an extract from Fifty Shades of 50 by Brendan Jones, published by New Holland Publishers, is available from all good book retailers or online <a href="http://www.newhollandpublishers.com">www.newhollandpublishers.com</a>. RRP$32.99

Books

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Sonia Kruger’s cheeky shot during Logies victory speech

Dazzling looks, memorable moments, and award sweeps: The best of the 2023 Oscars

“Good things will happen”: Brendan Fraser breaks down at Critics Choice Awards

Chrissie, Sam & Browny to leave popular breakfast show

MasterChef fans in tears over star's exit

MasterChef viewers call out “creepy” moment between guest judge and Brendan Pang

Businesses can refuse service to sick customers as containment efforts continue

Erin Molan tears up in heartfelt radio interview

Radio host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones reveals his family’s cancer battle heartache

Brendan Jones reveals why he rejected co-hosting with Lisa Wilkinson

Farming hero Brendan Farrell breaks down over mate’s death in emotional video

The moment you missed: MasterChef’s Brendan Pang suffers horrifying accident

Celebrity gardener lists stunning $2.5m garden hideaway in city

How an innocent dance with Camilla cost this TV star his job

William Tyrrell's biological father is wanted for arrest

Brendan Jones confesses: "How I almost ended my friendship with Amanda Keller"

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Sonia Kruger’s cheeky shot during Logies victory speech

Dazzling looks, memorable moments, and award sweeps: The best of the 2023 Oscars

“Good things will happen”: Brendan Fraser breaks down at Critics Choice Awards

Chrissie, Sam & Browny to leave popular breakfast show

MasterChef fans in tears over star's exit

MasterChef viewers call out “creepy” moment between guest judge and Brendan Pang

Businesses can refuse service to sick customers as containment efforts continue

Erin Molan tears up in heartfelt radio interview

Radio host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones reveals his family’s cancer battle heartache

Brendan Jones reveals why he rejected co-hosting with Lisa Wilkinson

Farming hero Brendan Farrell breaks down over mate’s death in emotional video

The moment you missed: MasterChef’s Brendan Pang suffers horrifying accident

Celebrity gardener lists stunning $2.5m garden hideaway in city

How an innocent dance with Camilla cost this TV star his job

William Tyrrell's biological father is wanted for arrest

Brendan Jones confesses: "How I almost ended my friendship with Amanda Keller"

Our Partners

Join Over60