Sarah Harris breaks down over death of Jono Coleman
Sarah Harris has had a teary start on Studio 10 this morning over the death of TV legend, Jono Coleman.
Coleman, 65, passed away on Friday after a four-year battle with prostate cancer.
Harris was in tears when this morning’s show started, with the host joking: “I thought I would get further into the show (before crying)”.
“It is a hard day here for everyone here at Studio 10,” Harris continued. “We lost our beautiful mate on Friday night, Jono Coleman. He was an absolute legend of TV and radio but more than that, he was just a beautiful husband, he adored Margot. He was a beautiful dad and he was our mate.
“Goodbye Jono Coleman, our hearts are utterly broken,” Harris said.
This morning's episode of Studio 10 was dedicated to Coleman with a number of family and friends paying tribute to the TV personality, including Jess Rowe, Stephen K Amos, Ian Rogerson and Denise Drysdale.
Angela Bishop was also on the verge of tears as she revealed her late husband Peter, who died from cancer in 2017, used to receive cancer treatment alongside Coleman.
“He and Pete were having treatment together at some stages … and even then, as they sat side-by-side in those chairs having treatment, he (Coleman) again just brought joy and hope and positivity, every single time. He was a ball of positive energy as all times,” Bishop said.
Coleman’s death was announced by his wife, Margot, who said in a statement: “Jono and I have been soulmates for close to 40 years. We have been fortunate to live a rich and wonderful life and I have been lucky enough to watch up-close someone with enormous talent and the special gift to make people laugh.
“I will miss him beyond words and with the support of our gorgeous children, Oscar and Emily, and their partners, we will continue to live in the manner he wanted.
“When I asked Jono recently how he wanted to be remembered, he said, ‘For doing a good deed every day.’ Such was the generosity and caring nature of the love of my life,” Margot said.
Social media was immediately flooded with tributes after Coleman’s death was announced, with Grant Denyer writing: “I’ve never met someone so warm, welcoming and funny.”
Comedian Adam Hills wrote on Twitter: “One of my early radio heroes, and one of the nicest people I ever met. I used to wake up to his voice back when radio alarm clocks were a thing. A ball of positive energy who scaled the heights of the industry in both the UK and Australia.”
Mark Humphries tweeted: “Jono Coleman was a ball of positive energy and light, his enthusiasm was infectious and he was incredibly kind. I absolutely loved the guy.”
And Coleman’s former Studio 10 co-host, Joe Hildebrand, praised the entertainer in a piece for The Australian, writing: “His cameos and skits were eye-wateringly funny – if you search for them now you can see me literally crying with laughter. After I left Studio 10 I stayed in touch with Jono of course, but where once he would answer the phone before the first ring and one text message would instantly become a dozen he gradually became harder to reach as that godawful cancer set in. I finally managed to get him on the phone briefly one night a few weeks ago. He was clearly tired and weak and yet still somehow his ever-ebullient self, joshing with me in whispers.
“I knew he needed to sleep and he was far too polite to brush me off so I let him go with a promise to speak again. We never did and so I hope these words suffice: Jono, you were a great friend and an even greater man. Goodnight, you golden thing.”