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Kate Langbroek reignites Australia Day debate

The annual celebration of Australia Day on January 26th has long been a subject of contention, but the debate has recently reignited with fervour. Radio personality and long-time panellist on The Project, Kate Langbroek, has weighed in on the matter by saying that altering the date won't resolve the underlying issues. She also lamented the sense of shame felt by many Australians on what should be a day of national pride. "I don't believe that if the date changed that it would be the end of these discussions and this discontent," she said. "But people have a hunger for something to celebrate about their nation, who want to be proud about their nation, and want to be able to have it on an annual basis. I think it's fair enough to want that." In response to her comments, co-host Rove McManus replied: "It does lead to the greater discussion for us as a nation of acknowledging that past so we can celebrate where we are now, which we still haven't done no matter what the day." The discussion on The Project underscored the complexity of the issue. While some, like Langbroek, advocate for maintaining the current date as a day of celebration, others argue for its change to acknowledge the painful history of colonisation. Langbroek then shared an anecdote about how a hesitant greeting of "Happy Australia Day" that she received only goes to show the level of discomfort and ambivalence surrounding the holiday. "[He] then sort of slunk away as if what he said was shameful. I know the reasons for it, I understand the reasons, but it's a great pity for our nation," she said. Co-host Georgie Tunny then proposed the idea of designating January 26th as a day of mourning while finding an alternative date for celebration – a notion met with both sarcasm and consideration. The public response to the panel discussion was predictably polarised . While some adamantly defend the tradition of celebrating Australia Day on January 26th, others advocate for change, citing the need to confront Australia's colonial past honestly. Amidst the discord, there are calls for innovative approaches to Australia Day. Suggestions range from incorporating solemn remembrance of Indigenous heritage in the morning to hosting citizenship ceremonies and festive events later in the day – a reflection of the nation's aspirations for unity and inclusivity. Images: The Project

News

Rove gets candid about wife’s terminal cancer battle

Rove McManus has opened up about his late wife's battle with terminal cancer, and how the couple navigated her devastating diagnosis in the public eye. The former talk show host spoke candidly with Jess Rowe on her podcast The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show, and shared how he would feel uncomfortable when asked questions about Belinda Emmett. "It was a tricky thing to navigate without getting mad at people for prying," McManus admitted. "I'd maybe give a warning and I've had times where I'd literally just sit there with my arms folded and say 'I'm not going to talk about it'." Rove also shared the difficulties of juggling his high profile career and caring for his sick wife, all under the scrutiny of the public eye. "At the time it was difficult because you're trying to juggle what you're dealing with in life with what you're dealing with at work," he said. "Having to do promotion which was part of the job you have to let people know what you're doing but then people want to know what's happening at home." The former talk show host went on to say that details about Belinda's health were reserved only for close friends and family, as he felt a lot of people asking about her wellbeing were now asking out of genuine concern. "It's none of your business what's happening at home, I'm not here to talk about what's happening at home," he said. "There are people who are like 'I need to know so I can write it down and tell people, or take it out of context, or make that key piece out of this whole chat that we've had'." The star explained that he'd respond to questions about his late wife with very brief answers or no answers all together. "I'd just shut down," he added. "People were told that there's legitimate no-go zones and if you don't respect that then you understand that maybe the response you get is not going to be a good one, and that's a roll of the dice you take." Belinda Emmett sadly passed away after her battle with cancer in 2006. Rove then remarried in 2009, and he and his wife Tasma Walton have been happily married ever since. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Larry Emdur opens up on "feud" with Rove McManus

Larry Emdur has spilled the beans on his “long-running feud” with one of Australia’s best-loved TV personalities in his new book. In his Happy As memoir, Larry recalls how his feud with Rove McManus began after Wheel of Fortune was cancelled, and Emdur looked for someone to blame. “Naturally, I blamed it entirely on Rove. And so began our long-running feud,” he wrote. “We’ve sumo-wrestled, we’ve taunted each other on social media, we’ve had a boxing match which only ended when I punched him in the dick. But I still consider him one of my great mates.” “Early one morning, Rove even took it upon himself to appear in the big window behind Kochie and Mel Doyle on Channel 7’s Sunrise with a huge handwritten sign that said: SAVE LARRY.” In the memoir, Emdur shares his first meeting Rove in detail, outside of a garage. “Hi, I’m Rove!” said the incredibly enthusiastic, smiley young guy who shook my hand at the garage door. If the Energiser Bunny had a long-lost human brother, this was him. “Oh, my gosh, thanks for coming in, we can’t believe you’ve come in!" From that moment on, he and Rove struck up a unique friendship and went into comedy together on The Loft Live, which was produced in a garage at RMIT Uni in Melbourne and broadcast on community TV Channel 31. "Rove once told me his budget for the show was $50 a week, but I could tell the show actually ran on adrenaline, enthusiasm, naivety, a truly wonderful sense of the absurd and a passionate love of television." Happy As by Larry Emdur, published by HarperCollins, is on sale from August 3 and available for pre-order now. Image: Getty

Books

"Excited" Rove reveals new TV gig

Aussie TV presenter Rove McManus has announced he will be hosting the first Australian series to debut on Disney Plus. McManus took to Instagram to reveal that he will be the host of a new reality competition where teams of adults and kids are tasked with bringing their own toy stories to life. “I’m very excited to announce that my new show ‘What’s Your Toy Story?’ is coming to Disney Plus - it will be a celebration of imagination and the creative joy that comes from playing with toys (like I need a reason),” he shared with fans. Just an hour prior, McManus teased fans with a snap of the Disney logo with the Sydney Harbour Bridge pictured in the background and the caption: “Exciting day today…”. <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdpRRmZvDiH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/CdpRRmZvDiH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rove McManus (@rovemcmanus)</a> </div> </blockquote> Colleagues and fellow comedians quickly congratulated McManus, with Project co-host Peter Helliar writing: “This will have all the feels!! Congrats mate.” “Fantastic news mate .. I have a toy story but it’s not very ‘Disney’ x,” Morning Show host Larry Emdur joked. The comedian’s latest gig comes two years after his show Saturday Night Live was dropped by Network Ten after just two episodes due to disappointing ratings. His new show is one of several announced by the streaming giant, with Mirando Otto, Guy Pearce, Teresa Palmer and Deborah Hay among the high-profile Australian talent signing on to a variety of shows about Australian cults, Christmas, and space history. Disney also announced new documentaries that will follow the likes of the Matildas and the AFLW. The company has also hinted that more titles are in development, including opportunities in young adult, rom-com and comedy genres. The investment in new programming comes as the pressure ramps up to impose a government-mandated quota for international streaming services to spend a percentage of Australian revenue on local productions. Previously, industry advocates including Simon Baker, Screen Producers Australia and Bryan Brown have argued for a 20 percent quota. <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdpJMFbPXrJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/CdpJMFbPXrJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rove McManus (@rovemcmanus)</a> </div> </blockquote> In 2021, Baker advocated for a “richer, stronger, more potent Australian voice” during an appearance at federal parliament amid the influx of Hollywood productions using local actors and sets but telling stories set elsewhere. “It’s very good that foreign companies are coming in and studios are spending a lot of money here,” Baker said. “It’s great for our crews, it’s great for our economy. But it’s a sugar hit.” Meanwhile, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Disney’s senior vice president and managing director of the Walt Disney Company in Australia and New Zealand, specifically said the upcoming titles were a reason why a quota isn’t needed. “The commitment we’re showing through our local commissioning underpins the strong foundation of a long-term relationship we’re building with Australian and New Zealand content creators and the industry as a whole, without the need for quotas or other regulatory intervention,” she said during a showcase event in Sydney. Image: @rovemcmanus (Instagram)

"Dark day": Karl condemns tradies as Melbourne braces for third day of protests

<div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Today host Karl Stefanovic has weighed in on the violent construction worker protests in Melbourne yesterday where three police officers were hospitalised, calling them “heartbreaking and terribly sad.” "It was a dark day. On the streets of a major city - violence, fury, anarchy," Stefanovic added. "Police (were) forced to deploy smoke bombs, pepper spray and plastic bullets,” he said. Three police officers were hospitalised with minor injuries after a group of tradies protesting in Melbourne against mandatory vaccinations in the construction sector turned violent. Police have announced their tactics today "will be different". Today reporter Christine Ahern was caught up in the chaos and said earlier on the show the crew and herself was "physically threatened on numerous occasions". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 2000 protesters charged through Melbourne yesterday, taking over the city for eight hours. Organisers say they won't stop protesting until their demands are met. MORE: <a href="https://t.co/kRDsizvVgX">https://t.co/kRDsizvVgX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineAhern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChristineAhern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mq5Q8Zha0n">pic.twitter.com/Mq5Q8Zha0n</a> — 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1440403029082054662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2021</a></blockquote> Thousands of tradies filled the streets of Melbourne in mass protests after the $22 billion construction industry was shut down for two weeks. Anger has been brewing over vaccine mandates, designated break spaces on construction sites being shut down, and the sector’s operation under a 25 per cent worker capacity to meet social distancing requirements. Last week, tradies walked off the job in sporadic strikes, setting up tables and chairs in the middle of streets to take coffee breaks. But the ensuing protests have seen ugly brawls break out with police officers and journalists injured and a dog allegedly kicked. When talking to Waleed Aly on The Project, secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Sally McManus, said the issue could have been handled better by both the Victorian Government and industry bosses, given there was a lack of communication with workers before restrictions came in to place on their work sites. “Culturally for the construction industry, they had to fight for ages to get lunch rooms and then all of a sudden you turn up one day and you can’t use your lunch room. They are already at 25 per cent, already have the social distancing, et cetera, et cetera,” she said. The union’s Victorian state secretary John Setka said there had been little consultation with the government over Covid measures affecting the industry. “I have never spoken to Daniel Andrews to be honest,” Setka told the Today program on Tuesday. “I have never met him and never spoken to him. I’ve had no discussions with Daniel Andrews ever.” Tradies unlikely alone in views Those watching the chaos outside the CFMEU office were horrified, but experts say the angry boilover is unsurprising. University of Melbourne law professor Joo-Cheong Tham said the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) fundamentally opposes vaccine mandates. Some individual unions are in favour of requiring jabs among their workforces – teachers for example – but Prof Tham said the broader union movement has been “remarkably cohesive in opposing employer mandates”. “Four interlocking principles underpin this position,” he wrote in an article for <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.theconversation.com/" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. “They are (that) high vaccination rates should be attained through encouragement and facilitation, not employer mandates; that where strictly necessary, mandates should be implemented through public health orders; that effective access to vaccines should be secured; and that the voices of workers should be respected.” Image: Today and Twitter </div>

News

Roving gangs of bored monkeys raid homes

With the floods of tourists that usually flock to Bali unable to holiday on the resort island, its hungry resident monkeys have taken to raiding villagers’ homes in search of food and entertainment. Villagers in Sangeh say grey macaques have been coming to their homes from the nearby Sangeh Monkey Forest, spending their time hanging out on roofs and waiting for the right time to snatch a snack. With concerns that the monkeys may turn wild or lead a full-on assault on the village, residents have been taking food, including fruit and peanuts, to the forest. “We are afraid that the hungry monkeys will turn wild and vicious,” villager Saskara Gustu Alit said. About 600 macaques live in the sanctuary that surrounds the famous Pura Bukit Sari temple. Normally, the protected area is a popular spot for local residents shooting wedding photos, as well as international holidaymakers. Prior to the pandemic, over 6,000 visitors typically came to the forest each month, but these numbers have dropped drastically to about 500 people, as Indonesia banned all foreign travelers from entering Bali in July. The sanctuary has also been closed to local residents, meaning the monkeys have had no visitors at all. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843827/gettyimages-1135018189.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ec2eada32b94480fa0759c0eaf95153a" /> Image: Getty Images Operations manager Made Mohon said that the closure has also meant that the sanctuary is running low on money to buy food for the monkeys. Donations from villagers have made a difference, but they are also donating less and less as they feel the economic sting, he said. “This prolonged pandemic is beyond our expectations,” Made Mohon said. “Food for monkeys has become a problem.” The monkeys’ daily diet of 200 kg of cassava, their staple food, and 10kg of bananas costs about 850,000 rupiah ($80) a day. Though macaques are omnivores and can eat a range of jungle animals and plants, the monkeys living in the sanctuary have developed a preference for other things, thanks to their contact with humans. Often the monkeys will wander into the village and sit on roofs, causing mischief by removing and dropping roof tiles or making off with religious offerings placed outside by villagers. “A few days ago I attended a traditional ceremony at a temple near the Sangeh forest,” Gustu Alit said. “When I parked my car and took out two plastic bags containing food and flowers as offerings, two monkeys suddenly appeared and grabbed it all and ran into the forest very fast.” Since the monkeys usually have visitors to interact with - whether they’re jumping on shoulders, stealing sunglasses, or pulling at clothes - Gustu Alit believes boredom, not just hunger, is driving the monkeys. “That’s why I have urged villagers to come to the forest to play with the monkeys and offer them food,” he said. “I think they need to interact with humans as often as possible so that they do not go wild.” Image: Getty Images

International Travel

Rove McManus sells clifftop home for $14 million

Rove McManus and Tasma Walton have offloaded their luxurious clifftop Bronte home for $14 million and bought a deceased Coogee estate for $3.76 million. Just after a two-year long $4 million renovation on the picturesque bungalow, they sold it for an eyewatering $14 million – 4 years after purchasing it for $6.4 million. It appears they love to renovate though, as they have just bought the former rundown home of Spanish-born Pedro Capilla, who died at 101 in 2019. Pictures of the Coogee beach property make it clear McManus and Walton have quite a job ahead of them. With dated interiors, and rundown courtyard, the couple may just choose to knock down the property altogether. McManus and Walton are reportedly planning to spend majority of their hometown of Perth, having spent $2 million last November on a five-bedroom worker-upper.

Real Estate

Rove McManus and wife buy fixer-upper Perth home

Logie award-winning presenter Rove McManus and his actor wife Tasma Walton have bought a promising fixer-upper in Perth. While the couple is based in Bronte, the pair have both been spending more time in Perth. Perhaps in a move to break ground once and for all out West, the pair outlaid $2 million on a five-bedroom home with a spacious backyard and vast pool. Rove and Walton are both born in Western Australia and appear to be returning home to beachside City Beach, west of the Perth CBD. The 1960s home is over 1000sqm and was bought from the businessman Tony Sage, the owner of the A-League side Perth Glory. He paid $297,500 in 1989 for the two-storey home set midway between the beach and Bold Park. The pair, who grew up in beachside Geraldton, 420km north of Perth, married in 2009 at Broome. McManus and Walton will likely keep their renovated 1920s Bronte hillside home which they bought for $6.415 million in 2016.

Real Estate

Belinda Emmett’s mum marks 14th anniversary since tragic death with emotional post

The late Belinda Emmett’s mother has honoured the anniversary of her death with an emotional tribute. The world lost Belinda over 14 years ago from breast cancer on November 11, 2006. Taking to Instagram, Laraine Emmett shared a photo of the former Home And Away star surrounded by angels, along with the caption: "Forever Young!" "Miss you so much Belle ... 14 long years since I have been able to hear your infectious laugh, a smile that would light up any room you walked into and the most caring person anyone would meet ... An Angel walking on earth," Laraine added. Belinda died after a long battle with breast cancer at the age of 32. <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/CHbbHiWB0yh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CHbbHiWB0yh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Laraine (@larainetoni)</a> on Nov 10, 2020 at 3:21pm PST </div> </blockquote> It was just eighteen months after she married her TV host beau Rove McManus, who liked Laraine's post on Wednesday. The blonde beauty won the hearts of television viewers as Rebecca Fisher on Home and Away. It was the role that would go on to earn her a Gold Logie nomination in 1999. In an interview with New Idea last year, Laraine and husband Michael revealed they are still in touch with Rove. "Rove's got his own wife and we respect that, but we stay close," Michael said. "It's nice to have the little ones around ... It's lovely to have [Ruby] in our lives as well. It's not in a huge way, but it's pretty wonderful." Rove is now remarried to actress Tasma Walton and together they share a seven-year-old daughter, Ruby. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838763/belinda-emmett-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e8830fecd28d460b8aa617fc84ce3807" /> Belinda and Rove would have celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in January since the pair tied the knot at the Mary Immaculate Church in Waverley on January 29th, 2005. While McManus has chosen to remain private about his first wife, he did write a short but meaningful tweet back in 2009, on the second anniversary of her death that still resonates with friends and family. It was short, sweet, and pure, reading: “thinking of Belinda today. And smiling xxx”.

Relationships

Australia’s favourite couple! Rove McManus and Tasma Walton’s unlikely love story

Rove McManus and Tasma Walton have a penchant for keeping the intimate details of their relationship well under the radar. However, they have become one of Australia’s favourite famous couples. While they have both become well known figures on our TVs, they seem to have remained as humble as ever. Actress Tasma is best recognised for her roles in the TV WEEK Logie Award-winning drama Mystery Road, and Cleverman. Her husband has reached his own level of fame and has gone on to collect three Gold Logies over the years and is best known for his hit variety show Rove Live. The popular television program was suspended and renamed simply, Rove, in 2006 after the death of Rove's first wife, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/belinda-emmett-1974-2006-3274" target="_blank">Belinda Emmett.</a> The world-famous television host took a hiatus in 2006 after the death of his first wife, Belinda Emmett and returned to his show with a new name – simple Rove – in 2006. The former Home And Away star lost her eight-year long battle with cancer at 32-years-old. Rove and Belinda had been married for almost 18-months before his tragic loss. The star would find happiness again however, and in 2007 became dating Tasma. Two years later they tied the knot in a private beach wedding in Broome. “He's faced some very big challenges and has come through them with strength and grace,” Tasma said of Rove to the Herald Sun. “Rove McManus and Tasma Walton are pleased to confirm that they were married on Tuesday June 16 in a private beach ceremony in Broome, Western Australia,” a statement from the couple read when the news broke. “It was Tasma who proposed to Rove, having first asked his mother for her blessing.” While the couple is notoriously private, they have spoken a few words about one another publicly and have made it clear just how much love and admiration they have for each other. “He's kind, intelligent, generous. And he's funny, so joyous and playful, and he brings that out in me. We still behave like schoolchildren. We laugh a lot – little things, like when he puts on his cap and his ears stick out,” Tasma explained <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/my-love-for-rove-9488" target="_blank">The Australian Women's Weekly</a>. The happy couple welcomed a daughter, Ruby, in 2013, and were glowing with joy. “She's her own little person,” Tasma told TV WEEK at the 2018 Logie Awards. “She has a wonderful spirit and personality and is very expressive.” Scroll through the gallery to see the Aussie couple.

Beauty & Style

Fake tweets and no bums on seats: The real reason Rove was axed after just two shows

Rove McManus’ TV show Saturday Night Rove has been cancelled after just two episodes. The comedy show proved to be a ratings disaster for Channel 10. Premiering with 244,000 metro viewers on August 24 and dropping down to a disappointing 138,000 metro viewers for episode two. Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://tvtonight.com.au/" target="_blank">TV Tonight</a>, Rove said: “It was clear looking at the numbers that the audience we hoped would find a freewheeling live show on a Saturday night just weren’t there. We spoke with 10 today and we both called it. “The opportunity to play live in front of Australia again was fun, no matter how brief, and I would like to thank my amazing co-stars, the behind the scenes team and everyone at 10 who got behind Saturday Night Rove.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> "Say hi to your mum for me!" <a href="https://twitter.com/Rove?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Rove</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaturdayNightRove?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaturdayNightRove</a> <a href="https://t.co/nfAomwumJw">pic.twitter.com/nfAomwumJw</a> — Saturday Night Rove (@SatNightRove) <a href="https://twitter.com/SatNightRove/status/1165214723052191745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> Also releasing a statement to the website was a spokesperson for Network 10, saying: “Unfortunately Saturday Night Rove hasn’t resonated with viewers the way we had hoped, so Rove and 10 have made the decision to remove it from the schedule. Rove is a sensational entertainer and a close friend of 10, and we thank him for all his hard work, and all the laughs, on Saturday Night Rove.” The show was aired during Channel 10’s Pilot Week in 2018 and was soon given a six-episode run in 2019. But despite warnings over the dead time slot, Rove was convinced that he could somehow make it work. Before the first episode aired, the host spoke to Hit TV, saying he knew the challenges that would come his way. “Finding a way of getting people’s attention is the big one – there are so many options for an audience now,” he said. “But not only is the audience fractured, within each household the audience is fractured. You could have each individual member of the house watching their individual program on a laptop or a tablet or a phone. So how do you get everyone in a household together to watch something?” Viewers who tuned in took to Twitter to express their disappointment, saying the show fell flat, but the network was busted after they heavily edited the feedback and aired an ad featuring glowing reviews from those who watched the first episode. Reported by industry blog <a rel="noopener" href="https://tvblackbox.com.au/" target="_blank">TV Blackbox</a>, one tweet that was shown by Ten exclaimed “ROVE! Fantastic to have you back!!!” But in reality, it read: “Rove it’s fantastic to have you back, but you need to listen to your loyal fans and change the format please.” Another tweet Ten displayed said: “Amazing … FUNNY!” but the original read: “Soo I kinda liked it, it’s not amazing but it’s funny and can we get some musical performances please?” “The inclusion of these tweets was human error. We have updated our processes to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” a spokesperson from Ten told <a rel="noopener" href="https://tvblackbox.com.au/" target="_blank">TV Blackbox</a>. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaturdayNightRove?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaturdayNightRove</a> I'm a Huge Rove fan. I hate to say this it'ss F#!king Terrible!!! So awkward! So un funny! Judith Lucy is so annoying! the new sidekicks are just as bad. Bring back the old format....Rove behind a desk with Peter Helliar to support him — James (@nutcase12) <a href="https://twitter.com/nutcase12/status/1167744651840778241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">31 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> When Kevin Rudd is the funniest thing on your show, ou have a problem <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaturdayNightRove?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaturdayNightRove</a> — 💧Dr Jos 🇦🇺🇫🇷🇱🇧 (@redruby17) <a href="https://twitter.com/redruby17/status/1167746240160813057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">31 August 2019</a></blockquote> Channel 10 has yet to announce a replacement for Saturday Night Rove.

Grant Denyer replaced by Rove McManus amid health problems

Grant Denyer has temporarily stepped down as the host of Channel Ten’s Celebrity Name Game due to ongoing health issues. Rove McManus is set to fill in Denyer’s role at the game show for two weeks. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/08/rove-guest-host-on-celebrity-name-game-due-to-grant-denyer-illness.html" target="_blank">TV Tonight</a>, Denyer contracted a stomach parasite from a family holiday in Bali. “The show must go on, and I owe Rove McManus a big thank you for stepping in to my small shoes and hosting Celebrity Name Game for a short stint,” Denyer said in a statement. “A consummate professional, household name and all-around top bloke, it’s no wonder they chose Rove to take over while I take some time to recover. The fact that Rove fits my wardrobe is only an added-bonus.” <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/B1DqW87n1i8/" 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/B1DqW87n1i8/" target="_blank">Im all good now... but a couple of weeks ago I came back from holidays with SAVAGE Bali belly and unable to film @celebnamegameau 🤮 But the show must go on, so my boy @rovemcmanus kindly offered to jump in for a few episodes to help a brother out. I’ve been back filming for weeks but enjoy Rove’s show’s this week and get ready for his MASSIVE live return with ‘Saturday Night Rove’, starting really soon!! Cheers Rove ! X</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/grantdenyer/" target="_blank"> Grant Denyer</a> (@grantdenyer) on Aug 12, 2019 at 1:30am PDT </div> </blockquote> In an Instagram post, Denyer shared that he has since returned to filming at the studio for future episodes. “I’m all good now,” he wrote, encouraging viewers to “enjoy Rove’s shows this week”. The news comes as McManus prepares for his own show Saturday Night Rove, which is set to launch on Channel Ten on August 24. Earlier this year, Denyer <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/grant-denyer-back-in-hospital-after-serious-health-setback/" target="_blank">took time off his radio and TV hosting commitments</a> to treat his annular disc tear.

Caring

Rove McManus' happy announcement

Despite low ratings, popular TV personality Rove McManus has had a major win with his variety show Bring Back Saturday Night returning to Network Ten, it has been announced. In August, the channel followed in the tradition of major American TV networks like its new owner CBS, and ran a number of pilot TV programs to test audience reaction and interest, and decided which ones should be green-lighted for a series. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Very pleased to announce that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaturdayNightAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaturdayNightAU</a> is officially on the air for <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel10AU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Channel10AU</a> in 2019! Happy Halloween indeed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/10tvwithatwist?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#10tvwithatwist</a> <a href="https://t.co/bT15EMUjSx">pic.twitter.com/bT15EMUjSx</a> — Rove McManus (@Rove) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rove/status/1057754628517851137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote> The show, hosted by McManus, was only watched by just shy of 300,000 viewers – the lowest rating show of all of the eight shows – but the multiple Gold Logie winner says that in the social media age, television ratings aren’t everything. “It’s not just about bare bones, there are a lot of other things to factor into it,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/former-tv-king-rove-bounces-back-from-string-of-flops-with-new-show/news-story/b77eaa1e793ce80935326296e1c9239b" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a>. “And also, we had an overwhelmingly positive response on social media … I can’t remember the last thing I worked on that was overwhelmingly positive on social media, so that’s nice as well.” Beverley McGarvey, Network Ten Chief Content Officer, said that there are few in the industry who have the experience to host a variety show. “Rove is the best man for the job,” she said. “He is such a talent and he can do those big entertainment shows — it is a very short list of people that have that experience.” It could be a chance for McManus to bounce back, at least on screen (his company Roving Enterprises is behind Network Ten's popular nightly news program The Project), after some career setbacks. Some of his latest projects have failed to capture an audience including gameshow Show Me The Movie (although it will be back for a second series) and his radio show hosted with Sam Frost, who vied for love on The Bachelorette, was axed last year after running for 18 months on the Hit Network. But one TV insider who spoke to the publication said that Network Ten was beholden to the TV host to green-light Bring Back Saturday Night because of his production deals with the broadcaster. He said the [age] had lost “currency”. “Ten knows too well Rove’s currency has plummeted but executives need to keep him sweet,” they said. “His production company is behind a number of Ten shows like The Project. They seriously don’t have any choice, if they don’t keep Rove happy, they’re stuffed,” they said. In August, when the ratings came out for the variety show pilot, the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/the-once-popular-comedian-rove-mcmanus-seems-to-have-lost-his-australian-audience/news-story/d7cae6f425c54b2faba59c06a7b4035a" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph</a> quoted a “a highly placed television executive” as saying that, “the audience just does not like Rove anymore". “When he was young, there was a real freshness to him and he seemed to be slightly too young to have that knowing way that he had,” they said. “There was this inherent charm in how young he was and that knowing schtick that he had.” They added, “Now that he is just an older bloke, the knowing and the age line up so he has sort of lost that cheeky charm.” But the TV insider believed that projects “properly produced” with McManus at the helm may work. Media Week’s James Manning told the publication that the variety show’s difficult Saturday night time slot affected its initial ratings. “It was a tiny audience but Saturday night is a difficult one to pull an audience if it is not live sport,” Manning said. But McManus had plenty of well-wishers when he announced the return of the show on his Twitter account. Said one fan: “About time you came back to the type of show you are great at. Looking forward to it.” Did you watch Bring Back Saturday Night? Let us know what you thought in the comments section.

Rove McManus’s wife Tasma Walton opens up on family secret that changed her life

Despite her success as an actress, her marriage to Rove McManus and her beautiful daughter, Tasma Walton felt like something was missing because of the mystery surrounding her family heritage. "Pieces in the puzzle were missing," Tasma said in an interview with <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/tasma-walton-family-indigenous-history-49277" target="_blank">TV WEEK</a>. Tasma was raised by her mother in Geraldton, Western Australia, and explained that there were many questions around her heritage. Drawn by the curiosity about her identity, Tasma did a DNA blood test while living in the US with her TV presenter husband. <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: 50.0% 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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BcYJSpPFGfJ/" target="_blank">A post shared by Rove McManus (@rovemcmanus)</a> on Dec 6, 2017 at 2:18pm PST </div> </blockquote> Unfortunately, the test failed to give her any further answers as the results showed that her background was 93 per cent British and seven per cent unknown. However, over the past five years, members of her family have been researching their ancestors’ history and Tasma has since learnt more about her family’s past. "It took me a long time to discover my Indigenous heritage," the 44-year-old said. "On my mum's side, my ancestors were taken from their clan and brought over to Western Australia. "They were completely separated and isolated from their families. They were made to become white, relinquish cultural ties and fit into a colonised world." Since finding out about her family’s past, Tasma has passionately dedicated herself to championing Indigenous stories. She has appeared in ABC’s Cleverman and the 2013 film Mystery Road, which has been turned into a series. “The more I understand my Aboriginal heritage, the more it makes complete sense to me," Tasma said. "My bloodline has been on this land for tens of thousands of years. So the more I learnt about myself and my family, the more yearning I felt to tell these stories. "I can't help but feel proud and want to explore that and tell the world about that." While filming Mystery Road, Tasma was able to return to Western Australia but found it difficult to be apart from her four-year-old daughter, Ruby. "It was hard," Tasma revealed. "But it often plays out like that with Rove and I. We have these chunks of time where we're single-parenting." Tasma said the distance is made easier by calling her husband and daughter on Skype. "Ruby has become very used to Skype," Tasma laughed. "But we just make it work. And sometimes it's nice to actually immerse yourself in the work, free from the duty and obligation of parenting."

Family & Pets

Have you ever spotted this mistake in The Sound of Music?

American-born actor Nicholas Hammond appeared on Rove’s new program Show Me The Movie! and was left stumped after one question from the host. Hammond, who played the eldest son Friedrich von Trapp, and the other panellists were shown a clip from the iconic musical when the von Trapp children performed “So Long Farewell”. Rove asked the panellists if they could spot the continuity error that appeared in the scene. Hammond, who might've been blinded by his memories of shooting the scene, couldn’t give the correct answer. “So no pressure... you were in this scene Nicholas Hammond from The Sound of Music,” Rove said. “The mistake is obvious... the mistake is my dancing,” Hammond laughed. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshowmethemovietv%2Fvideos%2F169114590569452%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> When Rove went to the rival team to see if they could give an answer, captain Joel Creasey confessed that two of the teammates had never watched the movie. “Leave the room!” Hammond joked, causing the audience to break out in laughter. After the contestants failed to spot it, Rove revealed that the mistake was with the von Trapp children’s choreography. The children were seen several feet away from the end of the carpet at one point but then seconds later they are standing at the very edge. Hammond was only 15 when he starred in the movie alongside Julie Andrews. He later starred in the Amazing Spider-man '70s CBS series and has not yet retired from acting. In the last few years he has appeared in several productions and has a role in upcoming Australian show Ladies in Black. He now lives with his partner Robyn Nevin in Southern Highlands, south of Sydney. Did you ever spot this mistake in The Sound of Music? Let us know in the comments below.

Movies

Rove McManus: “I’m back where I belong”

Rove McManus is set to make a <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/2018/02/rove-mcmanus-exciting-news/" target="_blank">stunning return to Australian television</a> after years in the wilderness and a brief stint on radio, with the three-time Gold Logie winner lined up as the host of the brand-new program Show Me the Movie! The 44-year-old comedian and television presenter is looking forward to resuming life Down Under, raising his young family and making a comeback on local screens. "We (he and wife Tasma Walton) have got Ruby, who is four, and we are well and truly settled back in Sydney," McManus told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/" target="_blank">Now to Love</a>. "Ruby has started preschool now, so we're back in Australia and loving it." The former host of the wildly successful Rove Live (later renamed Rove) program, McManus is returning to his roots with Network Ten for the new program which will be produced by the team behind ABC quiz series Spicks And Specks. "I was in at Ten having a chat about some other stuff and they mentioned they had this show from the producers of Spicks And Specks, which is a show I was really fond of," Rove told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/" target="_blank">Now To Love</a>. "I was really interested when I heard that. It was something that was ready to go and it was an easy decision to make." Joining McManus as panellists on the show are emerging comedian Joel Creasey and actress Jane Harber, who you might have seen on Network Ten’s Offspring. "We've crossed paths over the years, but I've never really worked with each of them," Rove says. "And when we had a day of playing dress-ups and mucking around filming the promo, it came really easy for us. It was like we'd known each other for ages." He adds: "I've always believed that if you're having a good time making a show, it's easy for people at home to have a good time watching." <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4tj53M_WJ78" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Since Rove ended in 2009 there hasn’t been a successfully locally made talk show on commercial TV, and McManus urged TV executives to reexplore that format. "I get asked about it nearly every single day," he says. "I also get asked: 'When will you return to doing a talk show?' "I think, until the connection is made between the people who make those decisions to people like yourself, then it just won't happen. It's as simple as that." What are your thoughts? Are you excited about Rove’s return? Or are you not really fussed?

News

Rove McManus’ exciting news

Rove McManus is set to return to our TV screens hosting a new panel show on Ten. McManus will host Show Me The Movie, which will feature two teams – captained by comedian Joel Creasey and Offspring actor Jane Harber – tackling film questions. Ten said in a statement: “From big-budget Hollywood blockbusters to sci-fi, animation and chick flicks, Show Me The Movie! will celebrate the good, the bad and the ugly of the big screen. The stars, A-list gossip, iconic movie dialogue and classic cinematic moments all get a comedy make-over.” The rotating panel of guest panellists will include “visiting international stars”. McManus said of the new show: “I’m excited to start work on this new show and very happy to be back at Ten. “Like many people, I enjoy going to the movies, so combining that with my love of television should make this the perfect vehicle to have fun with. McManus was once one of Ten’s most familiar faces, hosting weekly Sunday night show Rove Live from 2000 to 2009. He recently co-hosted 2Day FM’s Sydney breakfast show with Sam Frost until it was axed at the start of last year.

Movies

Rove McManus shares a rare photo of his daughter Ruby

Comedian Rove McManus has shared just how proud he is of his four-year-old daughter. Earlier this week, the former radio announcer shared a sweet post dedicated to his daughter Ruby, something the private star usually shies away from. "Four years to the day and still as true as ever. Happy birthday to our special little Ruby," he captioned the black and white photo of his little girl. <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: 50.0% 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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BcwCT6Nl38u/" target="_blank">A post shared by Rove McManus (@rovemcmanus)</a> on Dec 15, 2017 at 8:59pm PST </div> </blockquote> Rove was still able to express his love for his daughter without sharing a photo of her face, something the protective father does assumedly for privacy. Back in September, the 43-year-old shared a picture of Ruby’s t-shirt which read: “I <3 Daddy”. "The feeling is mutual #FathersDay," he captioned the adorable picture. <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: 50.0% 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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYj7Z6Dj8co/" target="_blank">A post shared by Rove McManus (@rovemcmanus)</a> on Sep 2, 2017 at 7:02pm PDT </div> </blockquote> In the past, Rove has opened up about his role as a father and how his daughter has changed his life. "It is like having a little present that you get to keep on unwrapping, almost on a daily basis, and there’s always another great thing inside," he told <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/" target="_blank">The Australian</a>. Rove shares his daughter with wife Tasma Walton.

Family & Pets

Rove reflects on glory days: "Carrie owes me for her success!"

Nearly two decades after the premiere of his first national talk show Rove Live, Rove McManus has reflected on how it became such a hit and launched the careers of many Aussie talents we see on our TV screens today. "I was excited that my 10 mates could see it - that was a huge success," Rove told TV Week, adding that was his first goal for the talk show that launched on Nine Network before moving to Channel Ten. Rove Live soon became a breeding ground for Aussie talent like Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and comedy duo Hamish and Andy, who all started on the weekly show. <img width="522" height="261" src="http://www.throng.co.nz/files/u4208/rove.jpg" style="user-select: none; background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 20px 20px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, #eeeeee 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, #eeeeee 75%, #eeeeee 100%), linear-gradient(45deg, #eeeeee 25%, white 25%, white 75%, #eeeeee 75%, #eeeeee 100%); display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> These names have all gone on to great things in the intervening years and when asked if they owe him their success, Rove jokingly shot back: "Absolutely.” He added: "Of course they do. I'll be seeing Pete tonight, so I'll remind him of that!" The affable host said he fondly remembered celebrating the show’s 10th anniversary and was proud of the fact he landed many visiting international talents on the show. "We'd get stars to detour to Melbourne, because we became the show to do, which I'm really proud of," Rove says. <img width="377" height="393" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/11/22/473AA15F00000578-5168751-Launching_pad_Rove_Live_kick_started_the_career_of_household_nam-a-11_1513031603675.jpg" alt="Image result for rove live carrie and rove" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Rove Live kick-started the career of household names including The Project's Carrie Bickmore. Of the TV landscape today, the father-of-one, and husband to actress Tasma Walton, said he feels that there is a need for a new show dedicated to “light entertainment”. "Without pointing fingers, there are a lot of very similar shows on air at the moment," he says. "There are, of course, plenty of programs guests can turn up on, but there's no show dedicated to just that - light entertainment. And I think there's a hunger for it."

Belinda Emmett's parents break silence about Rove

Belinda Emmett was the television star who stole our heart's with her beautiful smile and fighting spirit. A decade has passed since she was cruelly taken from this world, and as her family and friends continue to mourn her passing with emotional tributes on social media, her parents have talked about her death in an interview with <a href="https://www.newidea.com.au/" target="_blank">New Idea</a>. The exclusive interview saw the actress’ parents open up about life without their beloved daughter, and how they’re still in touch with her TV star widower Rove McManus. The 43-year-old comedian married Belinda in 2005 while she was still battling terminal breast cancer, and reportedly struggled to come to terms with her passing. And while he’s entered another relationship with 43-year-old actress Tasma Walton, Rove reportedly stays in contact with Belinda’s parents, who have developed a special bond with his three-year-old daughter Ruby. “Rove’s got his own wife and we respect that, but we stay close,” says Belinda’s father Michael, who said that he’s met Ruby. “It’s nice to have the little ones around. We’ve got our own grandchildren and they’ve all grown. The oldest is at university, and you do miss those little children. So it’s lovely to have (Ruby) in our lives as well. It’s not in a huge way, but it’s pretty wonderful.” Michael also touched on how bewildered he was that such a healthy person could be struck down by cancer so early, saying, “We have a memorial seat for her down near Ettalong, by the playground, where she used to jog and swim. “She never smoked in her life, and only occasionally had a wine. For her to be struck down is probably the most remarkable, ridiculous thing. She did all the right things, ate the right foods. For her to be struck down is a travesty of justice. But she did more in her 32 years than most people do in 90.” Hero image credit: Twitter / Australian World‏

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