The thing that made Hamish Blake fall for his wife, Zoë Foster Blake
Hamish Blake is best known as one half of comedy duo Hamish and Andy, and for hosting shows including Lego Masters: Grandmasters of the Galaxy. Here, the 43-year-old reveals what made him fall in love with his wife, writer and beauty industry figure Zoë Foster Blake, as well as details of his first heartbreak.
My maternal grandmother was affectionately known as 'Moosie'. Not only was she very loving, but she was also a lot of fun. We went to her house in [Melbourne's] Wheelers Hill for dinner weekly, as she and Pop lived 10 minutes from our house in Glen Waverley.
Moosie wasn't the greatest cook, but her meatloaf was presented to us like it was our favourite. I have no recollection of saying that it was, but it was made with such love that you just played along.
Her favourite drink was Mateus Rosé. It came in this flat-shaped bottle. Moosie would have a few glasses and get a bit rowdy. She'd often take her shoes off because her feet had swollen up. Moosie died in 2019, but she's always with us.
My mum, Kerry, took her love for us to the next level. She was an English literature teacher, and so we were a big reading family – not every kid in suburban Melbourne had a mum who was interested in exposing them to Shakespeare. Later on, she worked for the Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia and I would go to opening nights. I recognise these as a formative experiences.
My parents separated when I was 17, but there were no hard feelings from my older brother, Lachlan, younger sister, Sophie, and me. We just thought it was something they needed to do.
I get on really well with my stepmother, Kriss. She and my dad, Noel, have been married for nearly 20 years. She is terrific and they make a great team.
Growing up, my crushes were on people who made me laugh, rather than those I viewed as romantic, but I do have this memory of taking note of Carmen Electra when I was 15.
My first real relationship was in year 11 with Anne, who had just finished year 12. She had a car, so that was a fast ascension into adult freedom. It was also the first time I'd explored the idea of being in a team and having a partnership with someone.
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Courier-Mail
15 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Who is the best Aussie radio star of the 21st century?
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australia, I have a big ask. I want you to tell me who you think is the best FM radio host from the last 25 years. Personally, I think there are five who could claim the title, including one who deserves way more hype (more on that soon). To celebrate the launch of the new app, we're celebrating the people, places and events we'll never forget from the first quarter of the 21st century by asking for Australia's view. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. It wasn't easy, and there are many talented stars who have been left out (apologies to Fitzy, Wippa, Andy Lee, Kate Langbroek, Merrick, Rosso and Matt Tilley to name just a few). I invited Mitch Churi, considered by many to be one of this country's most promising radio talents, to run through the shortlist with me. Here they are in no particular order. Hamish Blake He's arguably the funniest radio star Australia has ever known, and many have since tried to imitate what he does. 'So much commercial radio that's made today is based on Hamish and Andy, and more so Hamish Blake,' Churi said. 'He's so funny and charming.' Hamish and Andy dominated national FM radio from 2006 to 2017, creating some truly magical on-air moments that will be remembered for years to come. Hamish Blake. Picture: Nigel Wright Carrie Bickmore. Carrie Bickmore Carrie had a small role on radio as a newsreader before she made it big on TV thanks to Rove and The Project. But she's arguably done some of her best work alongside Tommy Little on The Carrie and Tommy Show which has been on the Hit Network since 2017. ' She's made that jump from TV to radio which I don't think works every time,' Churi said. 'I find TV talent often struggle on radio (but) Carrie bucked the trend. She's so organic, she's so natural, she's real.' Kyle Sandilands The KIIS FM host is easily Australia's most talked about radio star. He's had many controversies over the years, but there's no denying he's one of the greatest to ever sit behind a microphone. 'He gets the craft unlike anyone else,' Churi said about Sandilands. 'He's brilliant. 'He actually taught me everything I know in radio. My first paid radio job was at KIIS FM and I was 'Mitch, the coffee bitch', a name coined by Kyle. ' I was 19 and I would make him eight lattes … a day.' Dave Hughes. Kyle Sandilands. Dave Hughes Hughesy started hosting a Nova show back in 2001, and enjoyed a pretty consistent radio career all the way through to late 2024 when his 2Day FM breakfast show was axed. 'He's similar to Kyle in that he doesn't hold back, he says what he wants,' Churi said about the comedian. 'There's no one like Hughesy on radio … It's that voice as well, it's so annoying but it's brilliant!' Fifi Box Fifi is adored in Melbourne where she has hosted the Fox FM breakfast show for more than 10 years. ' Fifi allows the audience to feel like we're a friend, and that's very hard to do,' Churi said. ' I remember listening to Fifi and Jules when I was in high school,' he added. 'When she went on maternity leave and had her baby, I was invested. 'I was like, 'is Fifi in labour? Has Fifi given birth?' 'It was my royal baby!' he joked. Fifi Box. Jackie O. Picture: John Appleyard Jackie O Over the years, some have suggested that Jackie O has ridden on the coat-tails of her controversial co-host, Kyle Sandilands. It's an unfair suggestion, because Jackie is one of the most talented broadcasters Australia has ever known. 'She's the brains behind that machine,' Churi said about The Kyle and Jackie O Show. 'Jackie's smart. 'She knows the image, she knows the brand so well, and the key to their success, I think, is a genuine friendship.' Mick Molloy The popular Aussie comedian has enjoyed a long relationship with Triple M, and currently hosts the station's breakfast show in Melbourne. 'He's very smart and knows that audience like no one else,' Churi said about Molloy. 'Of all the commercial stations in Australia, the Triple M audience is very peculiar … They know exactly what they want and he (Molloy) gives it to them every time. He's a genius!' Mick Molloy. Picture: Benny Capp Tim Blackwell. Tim Blackwell This is the radio star who in my opinion is criminally underrated. Blackwell has co-hosted the Nova drive show since 2011, and a large part of its ratings success over the years is down to him. Not only does he co-host, but he also panels the show (controls the mics, faders etc) and drives a lot of the show's content. 'The work that man does is more than any broadcaster in this country, hands down,' Churi said. 'I filled in for Tim when he was off sick a few months ago. I was panelling and I was hosting and I almost had a stroke! 'He commands that show, and I completely agree, he's slept on (underrated).' Amanda Keller I challenge you to find me one person who doesn't like Amanda Keller. Currently hosting the Gold FM breakfast show in Sydney, Keller has been one of Australia's most loved entertainers for decades. 'She's a very special talent,' Churi said about Keller. 'Amanda Keller is an intelligent woman. It's that intelligence and wit that we all wish we had, and it's also an ability to be really earnest and really honest with her audience. ' Having a breakfast radio show requires you to just lay everything bare on the table, and she is 100 per cent herself. 'She's not afraid to get on there and cry … and then the next break … she's making you laugh your ass off.' Amanda Keller. Picture: Brendon Thorne Marty Sheargold. Marty Sheargold The comedian parted ways with Triple M under a cloud of controversy earlier this year, but that shouldn't erase the incredible career he had before it. Sheargold was hilarious on the legendary Nova show, Kate, Tim and Marty, and enjoyed a loyal audience when he moved to Triple M to host The Marty Sheargold Show. Mitch Churi's top three When asked to pick his three favourites from the shortlist of 10, Churi named Amanda Keller, Tim Blackwell and Jackie O. What do you think? Have your say in the poll above. To celebrate the launch of the new app, we're celebrating the people, places and events we'll never forget from the first quarter of the 21st century by asking for Australia's view. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. Originally published as Who is the best Aussie radio star of the 21st century?
News.com.au
17 hours ago
- News.com.au
Who is the biggest Aussie TV personality of the 21st century?
Choosing the best Aussie TV stars from the past 25 years isn't an easy task — mostly because there aren't many. The days when the television landscape was dominated by household names who TV viewers genuinely loved have almost gone, replaced by a catalogue of reality drama queens, game show jesters and the odd newshound. And to make things more difficult, hardly anyone is watching. Anything. You only have to look at this year's Gold Logie nominations to get a view of how bleak things have become. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. The inclusion of the genuinely glittering Hamish Blake, Julia Morris and Sonia Kruger is countered by the eye-raising additions of P-plater A Current Affair host Ally Langdon and the ABC's Lisa Millar, who clearly got a guernsey because everyone loves the real stars in her fly-on-the-wall bush drama Muster Dogs. Surely there isn't enough people watching the ABC breakfast show to warrant a nod in the category of Australia's most popular TV personality, especially when the more established morning talent Karl Stefanovic and Nat Barr didn't get a look in. Then you throw in reality chef Poh Ling Yew (albeit undoubtedly a great cook) and Home and Away darling Lynne McGranger and you start to see what we mean. The evolution of Australian free-to-air TV is the root cause of the demise of the personalities. Talk shows are dead, expensive dramas are now almost the sole domain of the streamers and the audience in the mornings is now so small the Logies would struggle to raise a quorum. And when was the last time a free-to-air Aussie comedy got made, let alone found an audience? All that being said, the early 2000s did give rise to some genuine hitmakers, beloved characters and loungeroom favourites that deserve their place at the top of this list. Take your pick in the poll above. Rebecca Gibney When it comes to TV stars, Rebecca Gibney is a sure bet. Even in the fickle world of small screen drama, the model turned actor doesn't do duds. And when you consider television is an industry that generally courts youth, Gibney keeps getting work – and getting better. She may be a Kiwi by birth, but she is also an Aussie citizen and thanks to a raft of hit shows (did you see what we did there?) she is one of most bankable and popular stars. She was Australia's favourite TV mum as Julie Rafter on Packed to the Rafters, the smartest shrink on the planet in Halifax f.p. and a woman with a dark secret in the crime thriller Wanted. All quality, all hits and all added up to one Gold Logie and umpteen nominations. Rove McManus The last of the talk show kings whose career declined as Australian audiences fell out of love with the TV format. But at his peak he was a TV juggernaut. Rove Live was well watched and much-loved. His boyish charm and ability to get his guests to spill made him lots of money and won him three Gold Logies during a period when the competition was hot. So popular was he, he tried to transplant his Aussie-ified talk show into the tough US market, and although it ultimately failed, the brave attempt won the former stand-up guy much respect. He was also one half of one of Australia's much-loved romances, that with his late wife, Home and Away star Belinda Emmett, which only made audiences admire him more. Georgie Parker Before she rebooted the role of Alf's daughter Roo in the soap Home and Away, Georgie Parker was the most loved star on TV. Early on she built fans for her work on prime time drama A Country Practice but it was her spin as Sister Terri on the popular medical drama All Saints that carved her name into the Aussie TV record books. She won two Gold Logies, and many other Logie categories as well, and appeared as herself on dozens of other programs, including on stage at Carols by Candlelight and as a regular on Play School. She went quiet for a bit in the middle 2000s but returned to the screen in the Summer Bay soap in 2010, where she remains. Hamish Blake There is something irresistible about Hamish Blake. His easy charm and laconic sense of humour has made him a favourite among TV viewers of all ages. Whether he is appearing with his lanky sidekick Andy, or going it alone on his latest megahit Lego Masters, Blake can't help scoring a ratings bullseye. Like Rebecca Gibney, Blake is a TV hitmaker and he has earned two Gold Logies along the way (and it probably should have been more). He was also honoured with the Bert Newton Logie for TV presenter, which perfectly sums up his likability and his strike rate for making people laugh. A genuine star. Sonia Kruger One of the highest paid hosts on television, Sonia Kruger earned her stripe by working really hard. With her easy wit and megawatt smile, Kruger was so reliable she became the TV host of choice. Kruger had early success and then she built her following on the Mornings couch with David Campbell. She realised one way to attract attention was to ride the wave of reality television, taking on roles in Dancing With The Stars, Strictly Come Dancing, Big Brother Australia, The Voice Australia and she even survived the short-lived but truly horrible reality golf show, Holey Moley. Kruger made headlines for her misunderstood Gold Logie winning speech in 2023 (which you can watch in the player at the top of the page) but it didn't do her too much harm because she is back on the nominees list this year. John Wood Probably the most unlikely genuine star of Australian television through the 2000s, John Wood started getting noticed when he played the magistrate with a sharp mind and a heart of gold in the hit drama Rafferty's Rules. It won him awards and a loyal — and rather large — audience. It's an audience he brought with him when he signed for the blockbuster cop show Blue Heelers and, with co-star Lisa McCune, rode a wave of success that would last a decade. He was nominated for the Gold Logie every year for 10 years, before finally scoring the gong in 2006, the year the show was cancelled. We would have included McCune on this list but she left the show in 2000. Eddie McGuire Nicknamed Eddie Everywhere for his seemingly endless list of TV credits, sports-mad McGuire was once considered the most powerful face on television. Not content with ruling the world of AFL as a commentator and president of the polarising footy club Collingwood, McGuire was literally everywhere. He has been host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Millionaire Hot Seat, 1 vs 100, The Footy Show, Footy Classified, the Million Dollar Drop, Between The Lines and This Is Your Life. At one stage he was even CEO of the Nine Network and temporarily hosted A Current Affair, which was a bit of a disaster. If there was a telethon or natural disaster fundraiser, McGuire was on the mic, and although he never won a Gold Logie, he hosted the awards twice! Kate Ritchie Although now almost exclusively spending her time on radio, Ritchie is responsible for nurturing one of the most-loved characters on Australian TV – Home and Away's Sally Fletcher. For 20 years fans watched Sally grow up, surviving way too many scandals and traumas that could conceivably occur in one small town, especially one with the particularly sunny name of Summer Bay. She was rewarded with two Gold Logies and a loyal base that followed her to other TV projects, including crime hit Underbelly, and eventually onto radio. So popular is she, that media organisations reporting on her recent personal traumas cop bag-loads of hate mail from TV viewers warning to leave their Sally alone. Now that's superstardom. Carrie Bickmore Carrie Bickmore may have made her name as the foundation host of the now-defunct The Project, but she was never better than as the quick-witted journo sidekick to Rove McManus on the talk show Rove Live. The segment, Carrie @ The Newsdesk, was the precursor to the Project slogan, news done differently, and won the young West Australian a huge following, especially among young female viewers. She won a newcomer Logie for her work, as a warm up for the gold statue, which she won in 2015. It was during her acceptance speech that her stardom exploded when she accepted the award wearing a beanie to launch her now successful brain cancer charity. The beanie idea was a tribute to her late husband's own cancer struggles. Karl Stefanovic Alternately described as a TV buffoon and an undeniable chat show talent, it's hard to ignore the man affectionately known as Karlos. One of the highest paid stars on the small screen throughout the 2000s, Stefanovic had minor gigs before landing the seat on the Today Show, Nine's flagship brekkie offering. Famously starting the job on less money than his more famous co-host Lisa Wilkinson, Karl leveraged his talent and his blokey charms to eclipse Wilkinson in salary, and ultimately outlast her on the Today couch. Although the show struggles in the ratings, and breakfast audiences aren't as lucrative as they once were, Stefanovic remains one of the biggest names on the box.
News.com.au
17 hours ago
- News.com.au
Who is the best Aussie radio star of the 21st century?
Australia, I have a big ask. I want you to tell me who you think is the best FM radio host from the last 25 years. Personally, I think there are five who could claim the title, including one who deserves way more hype (more on that soon). Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. It wasn't easy, and there are many talented stars who have been left out (apologies to Fitzy, Wippa, Andy Lee, Kate Langbroek, Merrick, Rosso and Matt Tilley to name just a few). I invited Mitch Churi, considered by many to be one of this country's most promising radio talents, to run through the shortlist with me. Here they are in no particular order. Hamish Blake He's arguably the funniest radio star Australia has ever known, and many have since tried to imitate what he does. 'So much commercial radio that's made today is based on Hamish and Andy, and more so Hamish Blake,' Churi said. 'He's so funny and charming.' Hamish and Andy dominated national FM radio from 2006 to 2017, creating some truly magical on-air moments that will be remembered for years to come. Carrie Bickmore Carrie had a small role on radio as a newsreader before she made it big on TV thanks to Rove and The Project. But she's arguably done some of her best work alongside Tommy Little on The Carrie and Tommy Show which has been on the Hit Network since 2017. ' She's made that jump from TV to radio which I don't think works every time,' Churi said. 'I find TV talent often struggle on radio (but) Carrie bucked the trend. She's so organic, she's so natural, she's real.' Kyle Sandilands The KIIS FM host is easily Australia's most talked about radio star. He's had many controversies over the years, but there's no denying he's one of the greatest to ever sit behind a microphone. 'He gets the craft unlike anyone else,' Churi said about Sandilands. 'He's brilliant. 'He actually taught me everything I know in radio. My first paid radio job was at KIIS FM and I was 'Mitch, the coffee bitch', a name coined by Kyle. ' I was 19 and I would make him eight lattes … a day.' Dave Hughes Hughesy started hosting a Nova show back in 2001, and enjoyed a pretty consistent radio career all the way through to late 2024 when his 2Day FM breakfast show was axed. 'He's similar to Kyle in that he doesn't hold back, he says what he wants,' Churi said about the comedian. 'There's no one like Hughesy on radio … It's that voice as well, it's so annoying but it's brilliant!' Fifi Box Fifi is adored in Melbourne where she has hosted the Fox FM breakfast show for more than 10 years. ' Fifi allows the audience to feel like we're a friend, and that's very hard to do,' Churi said. ' I remember listening to Fifi and Jules when I was in high school,' he added. 'When she went on maternity leave and had her baby, I was invested. 'I was like, 'is Fifi in labour? Has Fifi given birth?' 'It was my royal baby!' he joked. Jackie O Over the years, some have suggested that Jackie O has ridden on the coat-tails of her controversial co-host, Kyle Sandilands. It's an unfair suggestion, because Jackie is one of the most talented broadcasters Australia has ever known. 'She's the brains behind that machine,' Churi said about The Kyle and Jackie O Show. 'Jackie's smart. 'She knows the image, she knows the brand so well, and the key to their success, I think, is a genuine friendship.' Mick Molloy The popular Aussie comedian has enjoyed a long relationship with Triple M, and currently hosts the station's breakfast show in Melbourne. 'He's very smart and knows that audience like no one else,' Churi said about Molloy. 'Of all the commercial stations in Australia, the Triple M audience is very peculiar … They know exactly what they want and he (Molloy) gives it to them every time. He's a genius!' Tim Blackwell This is the radio star who in my opinion is criminally underrated. Blackwell has co-hosted the Nova drive show since 2011, and a large part of its ratings success over the years is down to him. Not only does he co-host, but he also panels the show (controls the mics, faders etc) and drives a lot of the show's content. 'The work that man does is more than any broadcaster in this country, hands down,' Churi said. 'I filled in for Tim when he was off sick a few months ago. I was panelling and I was hosting and I almost had a stroke! 'He commands that show, and I completely agree, he's slept on (underrated).' Amanda Keller I challenge you to find me one person who doesn't like Amanda Keller. Currently hosting the Gold FM breakfast show in Sydney, Keller has been one of Australia's most loved entertainers for decades. 'She's a very special talent,' Churi said about Keller. 'Amanda Keller is an intelligent woman. It's that intelligence and wit that we all wish we had, and it's also an ability to be really earnest and really honest with her audience. ' Having a breakfast radio show requires you to just lay everything bare on the table, and she is 100 per cent herself. 'She's not afraid to get on there and cry … and then the next break … she's making you laugh your ass off.' Marty Sheargold The comedian parted ways with Triple M under a cloud of controversy earlier this year, but that shouldn't erase the incredible career he had before it. Sheargold was hilarious on the legendary Nova show, Kate, Tim and Marty, and enjoyed a loyal audience when he moved to Triple M to host The Marty Sheargold Show. Mitch Churi's top three When asked to pick his three favourites from the shortlist of 10, Churi named Amanda Keller, Tim Blackwell and Jackie O. What do you think? Have your say in the poll above.
