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Matt Shirvington opens up on marriage and fatherhood

<p>Matt Shrivington has opened up about marrying his "first crush" when he tied the knot with his wife in 2001. </p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> host spoke candidly to <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em> about the early days of his relationship with his wife Jessica, sharing how the pair "made it official" when they were just 18 years old. </p> <p>The 45-year-old reflected on his whirlwind romance, sharing how the couple met at a house party when they were teenagers. </p> <p>“We went to separate schools but had mutual friends and saw one another often at house parties,” Shirvo said.</p> <p>The former Olympian said the couple had a “false start” after Jess came down with chickenpox, while he was focused on his athletics career.</p> <p>“But by the time we’d finished our Higher School Certificate (Year 12, in NSW), we’d made it official. We moved in together aged 18 and started our lives as a couple,” he added.</p> <p>Jess and Matt married in 2001 and moved to London a year later, after Matt was based in England for his athletics training. </p> <p>Their family grew in 2006 when they welcomed their first child Sienna, before deciding to return to Australia in 2008. </p> <p>The couple had a second daughter, Winter, soon after, and went on to have a son, Lincoln, who is six.</p> <p>Shirvo shared how much he loves raising daughters and getting to see their sense of independence grow.</p> <p>“They’re great young women, strong and powerful, and I love seeing their desire for independence,” Shirvo said.</p> <p>“Sienna is extremely artistic and Winnie is ambitious about sport – she just competed in the under-17s National Rowing Championships."</p> <p>“It doesn’t matter what it is, if your kids have a passion for something and love waking up in the morning to do it, you’ll back it to the end of the earth as a parent.” </p> <p>On Monday morning's episode of <em>Sunrise</em>, Nat Barr praised the article and Shirvo for his heartwarming words about his family. </p> <p>“Interesting article in the paper over the weekend about our very own Shirvo — who got candid about life, love, and family,” Barr said, referring to the piece.</p> <p>“I wanted to give you a shout-out — it was really lovely, I loved reading it.”</p> <p>“My favourite part was when you said, ‘I never had a celebrity crush growing up, but I did marry my first crush’ It was a really gorgeous story,” Barr said of the piece.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Relationships

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Pete Evans gives up his wellness retreat

<p>Former<em> My Kitchen Rules </em>chef Pete Evans and his wellness advocate wife Nicola Evans are selling their Northern Rivers wellness retreat. </p> <p>The couple have been renovating the property - located 66km northwest of Byron Bay - since 2020, after initially purchasing the Byrrill Creek rainforest property for $1m. </p> <p>The seven newly renovated cabins now run as a space for Evans' cooking retreat, Evolve Sanctuary, which costs $1650-a-weekend. </p> <p>"Our weekend cooking retreats offer our guests to learn the fundamentals of a paleo and keto lifestyle,” the Evolve Sanctuary website reads. </p> <p>Recent events at the sanctuary include fasting retreats with Pete in a five-day juice, water and broth fast, costing $2250 per person.</p> <p>In addition to cooking courses, it also offers ice baths, red light treatment, a float tank and an infra-red sauna. </p> <p>JET Real Estate agents Tania Sheppard and Elizabeth Hickey have listed the 7.9ha property as  “a leader in wellness tourism with a strong cashflow”. </p> <p>The vendors are offering a leaseback, as this is the first property for sale in Byrrill Creek in the last 12 months. </p> <p>This comes after Evans and Robinson sold their longtime 10ha Tweed Shire hinterland property in 2021 for $3.15m. </p> <p>They also previously sold two Malabar homes for a combined $6m when they were heading north. </p> <p><em>Images: Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Nat Barr cowers during fiery interview with WWE guests

<p dir="ltr">Nat Barr and Matt Doran have been forced to intervene when a heated interview with two WWE stars turned sour. </p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Sunrise</em> hosts welcomed Australian wrestler Grayson Waller and his rival American wrestler LA Knight onto the show for chat, but things quickly devolved. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pair soon began trash talking each other, with a visibly shaken Barr admitting, “I'm getting a bit scared here – I'm glad I'm sitting on this side of the couch.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The interview then went completely off the rails when Matt Doran asked the WWE champions to demonstrate their wrestling abilities live on the show. </p> <p dir="ltr">When the pair refused to demonstrate on each other, Natalie suggested that they instead demonstrate using a <em>Sunrise</em> floor manager. </p> <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2I7CeFCfWn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/C2I7CeFCfWn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The male staffer then confidently strutted onto set and jokingly prepared to face off with Waller, who quickly became frustrated that the man and the <em>Sunrise</em> hosts weren't taking it seriously. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't think you understand, because if I go over there we're gonna have the police here, because I'm not gonna give you some fake punch,” Waller ranted at the man, standing up from his seat. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm gonna punch you straight in the jaw. The disrespect that you give me when you act like this isn't real. Don't act tough. You guys disrespect us, are you kidding me?” he continued. </p> <p dir="ltr">Natalie was visibly shocked by the outburst, nervously telling Waller. “I'm not disrespecting you.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Matt diffused the situation, doing his best umpire impersonation before escorting the floor manager off set. </p> <p dir="ltr">The hosts quickly wrapped up the interview moments later, with the tense interview later being shared on social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">The video was flooded with comments of confusion, as one person wrote, “The guy needs to lighten up, learn to have a laugh!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

TV

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Nat Barr and Shirvo announce new hosting gig

<p><em>Sunrise</em> hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington have announced their new TV hosting gig. </p> <p>The breakfast hosts are moving to prime time, as they prepare to welcome in the Christmas period with the annual <em>Carols in the Domain</em>. </p> <p>Nat and Shirvo will be hosting the festive celebration, which will be broadcast nationally on Channel Seven on Saturday 23rd December from 7:30pm. </p> <p>Barr hosted the event last year, but was joined by Shirvo's predecessor David Koch. </p> <p>In a statement about hosting the Christmas event, Shirvo said he'd watched <em>Carols in the Domain</em> "with my family since I was a boy, so to now be on stage hosting for the first time is quite surreal."</p> <p>He said that music plays an important role in his family Christmas, saying, “My sister, in the last few years and off the back of Covid where you weren’t allowed to sing or do anything together, decided that for the last couple of Christmases we all now have to do karaoke."</p> <p>“It’s not strictly carols, it could quite literally be anything, and we tend to do that after lunch, when everyone’s had a couple of glasses of champagne, and feeling disinhibited — that’s when the karaoke microphone comes out!”</p> <p>Shirvo added that he has attended the annual concert before, and is excited about the on-stage possibilities this year. </p> <p>“I have been to Carols in the past, but never up on stage. So, who knows — anything could happen,” he said.</p> <p>“I could be dressed up, I could be dressed down. I could be doing a singalong — at the end of the day, more than anything, Nat and I are just traffic cops, so we’ll just be throwing to the people that really matter — the performers and the performances.”</p> <p>"It's pure joy and that's why Australians have loved it for so many years. I can't wait," added Barr.</p> <p>Among the onstage talent on show this year are The Wiggles, Dami Im, Lucy Durack, Casey Donovan, Silvia Colloca, and many more. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.16px; font-family: graphik, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"> </p>

TV

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Matt Shirvington joins the cast of Home and Away

<p>Sunrise host Matt Shirvington has secured a role in one of Australia's iconic shows, <em>Home and Away</em>. </p> <p>The former Olympian turned TV presenter has secretly been filming scenes for the show, which will air some time next year. </p> <p>According to <em>7News</em>, Shirvington will be playing himself and recently shot a few scenes at Sydney's iconic Palm Beach. </p> <p>“As a kid who grew up watching Home and Away, it was all a bit surreal to be in Summer Bay with Alf Stewart!” he told the publication. </p> <p>“What a fun experience. The entire cast and crew were so welcoming and generous with acting tips and advice for this novice.</p> <p>“I think this will be one of those things my kids are never going to let me live down!”</p> <p>Although the storyline is still being kept a secret, viewers can expect to see the former athlete in “scenes which will air later next year”. </p> <p>The official Instagram page for <em>Home and Away</em> also teased Shirvington's appearance on the show. </p> <p>"Look who’s coming to Summer Bay in 2024 👀 ☀️" they captioned a photo of him at the beach with Ray Meagher, who plays Alf Stewart.</p> <p>Shirvington has been booked and busy this year, after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/kochie-s-sunrise-replacement-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replacing David Koch</a> as <em>Sunrise</em> host alongside Nat Barr back in June. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ 7News/ Home & Away</em></p>

TV

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Matt Preston unveils all in new memoir

<p>MasterChef icon Matt Preston has spilled it all in his new memoir <em>Big Mouth</em>. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>news.com.au </em>to promote his new memoir, the former <em>MasterChef</em> judge revealed the story behind the “secret hand gesture” he made on-screen. </p> <p>“The first four years of MasterChef were shot in Sydney and my family lived in Melbourne,” he explained. </p> <p>“So I had to find ways when she was watching the show, of letting her know that she was there.</p> <p>“At that point, I used to wear two wedding rings on my left hand, so during tastings I would twist the ring on my finger … so that she could watch and know that I wasn’t just lost in some strange MasterChef celebrity bubble but I was actually remembering her.”</p> <p>He also revealed a few behind the scenes secrets about <em>MasterChef</em>, including the tension between him and fellow judge Gary Mehigan in the first season. </p> <p>“You have to understand that there is a fundamental cobra versus mongoose relationship between food critics and restaurateurs,” he explained,</p> <p>He added that things might have been “a little frosty” between them because of  a review he had written about one of Mehigan's restaurants in the past.</p> <p>“I’m the guy who came to Gary’s restaurant, The Boathouse, and had a wobbly table and wrote about how wobbly my table was. He wasn’t happy.</p> <p>“So there was a certain amount of professional suspicion, shall we say,” he laughed. </p> <p>However, the pair have figured things out and Preston now considers Mehigan as  “one of my most trusted friends”. </p> <p>Preston also answered the one question viewers always ask in every season: “Don’t the dishes go cold before the judges have a chance to taste them?”</p> <p>“We had a number of strategies to ensure that we could see the food in its best form,” Preston told the outlet. </p> <p>One of those strategies was getting the contestants to make a second dish after the challenge ended, and tasting that first. </p> <p>“We’d taste that in a speed tasting before we did the main tasting,” Preston said. “We would go around and look at things like how high the souffle had risen and were the chips crispy.”</p> <p>“We were wandering around the whole time, you could see us in the back of each shot, poking into pots and tasting,” he said.</p> <p>“All you’re trying to do is make the playing field for the contestants as even as possible.”</p> <p>The memoir will be released on November 7 and also explores Preston's adoption, his fractured childhood and a few family tragedies. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

TV

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Matt Shirvington's secret health battle

<p>Matt Shirvington has opened up about a secret health condition that he's been battling for years. </p> <p>The Sunrise host made the admission on Tuesday, while speaking to a paramedic about how asthmatics can stay safe during the thunderstorm season. </p> <p>"I've got sports-induced asthma, so when I exercise it gets worse. Especially in the cold. Go and get tested for that," the athlete turned TV host said. </p> <p>"That is a good warning for so many people," co-host Nat Barr added. </p> <p>There are many factors that can trigger an asthma attack, thunderstorms are one of them, and they can be very serious for asthmatics.</p> <p>The high levels of grass pollen in the air can be carried by a storm and the tiny pollen particles can be breathed deep into your lungs triggering a flare-up or attack, according to <a href="https://asthma.org.au/triggers/thunderstorm-asthma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asthma Australia</a>. </p> <p>Sports-induced asthma is another condition that is a long-term problem for some athletes when they exercise, as it makes it difficult for them to breathe. </p> <p>However, anyone suffering with these conditions can usually relieve their symptoms and stay active with proper care and the help of an inhaler. </p> <p><em>Images: Seven/ Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

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Marvel star ties the knot in super secret ceremony

<p>Marvel movie star Chris Evans has tied the knot with his girlfriend Alba Baptista in an intimate ceremony at their home in the state of Massachusetts. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/10/chris-evans-marries-alba-baptista/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Page Six</em></a>, the Hollywood A-lister and Baptista, a Portuguese actress, got married on Saturday, with only a handful of their closest friends and family attending the nuptials. </p> <p>An insider told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/hook-ups-break-ups/chris-evans-marries-alba-baptista-in-intimate-athome-wedding/news-story/872c843aa221bc8173f0a82feb7c6477" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a> that the nuptials were “locked down tight,” as guests signed NDAs and phones were forfeited for the "beautiful" ceremony. </p> <p>The guest list also included some of the actor’s Marvel co-stars, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner.</p> <p>The <em>Captain America</em> actor and Baptista first sparked rumours of a romance in November 2022, when a source told <em><a href="https://people.com/movies/chris-evans-dating-alba-baptista-source-exclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em> that the duo had been dating for “over a year.”</p> <p>“They are in love, and Chris has never been happier,” the insider said, already calling their relationship “serious” at the time.</p> <p>“His family and friends all adore her.”<iframe id="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.nent/entertainment/celebritylife/hookupsbreakups_5" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" role="region" name="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.nent/entertainment/celebritylife/hookupsbreakups_5" width="4" height="4" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Advertisement" data-load-complete="true" data-google-container-id="6" data-integralas-id-69c76c0a-f5d2-9885-70ea-25cce3e0243a=""></iframe><iframe width="1" height="1" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p>Just hours after the news broke, the couple was spotted holding hands during a stroll in Central Park.</p> <p>While little is known about the low-key couple’s relationship, Evans has proudly been flaunting his affection for Baptista online.</p> <p>The <em>Knives Out</em> star was spotted leaving a flirty comment on Baptista’s Instagram post around the same time that news broke of their relationship.</p> <p>Then, in February, the couple went Instagram-official as Evans began posting a series of PDA-filled pics to his Instagram Story in honour of Valentine’s Day.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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"I have never seen that": Nat Barr and Shirvo floored by Jamie Oliver's sneaky chicken hack

<p>Celebrity chef and all-round roast chicken wizard Jamie Oliver unleashed a culinary revelation on <em>Sunrise</em> hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington recently, rendering them momentarily dumbfounded by his quirky approach to chicken cookery.</p> <p>The Naked Chef himself, a spry 48 years young, graced the <em>Sunrise</em> breakfast program with his presence to unveil his unique chicken-cooking hack. Sporting an apron that read "I'm not a regular chef, I'm a cool chef," Jamie embarked on a culinary adventure like no other.</p> <p>To achieve chicken nirvana, Jamie began by marinating the poultry and potatoes in an enchanting blend of lemon, herbs and honey (presumably sprinkled with a touch of fairy dust) before revealing the move that floored the two hosts.</p> <p>In a move that would make Houdini jealous, Jamie wedged those marinated chicken legs into an oven rack, like a magic trick gone deliciously wrong. With the poise of a culinary acrobat, he lowered the rack into a preheated oven, allowing the chicken pieces to dangle over the potatoes below, like a suspenseful scene in a blockbuster movie.</p> <p>Apparently, the technique is used so that the excess marinade would gracefully drip into the tray, creating an explosion of flavour that would make fireworks blush with envy. In Jamie's own words, "This is giving you the best, most juicy chicken and (it’s) crispy."</p> <p>Mind. Blown.</p> <p>And where did Jamie find inspiration for this chicken wizardry? Why, in his travels around the Mediterranean, where rotisseries are as common as sunscreen at the beach. Truly, Jamie Oliver has taken "thinking outside the box" to a whole new level.</p> <p>Nat Barr and Shirvo appeared utterly mesmerised by Jamie's culinary sorcery. Shirvington exclaimed, "Mind blown," while Barr added, "Wow, I have never seen that!" If they'd had hats, they would've tipped them in reverence.</p> <p>In fact, the <em>Sunrise</em> hosts, joined by Mark Beretta, gave Jamie a standing ovation at the end of his demonstration – before revealing that Jamie is set to make a triumphant return to the Sydney Opera House in November for one night only, where he will grace the stage for an evening of deep conversations about his career, inspirations, life, love, and what keeps him motivated.</p> <p>In Jamie's own words: "Every time I visit Australia, it feels like a big old hug – it’s a real home away from home for me, and I'm so excited to be back this year for this event."</p> <p>So, prepare your questions about good food, good times, and perhaps even chicken-chandelier cooking, and get ready to laugh until your ribs ache. Jamie Oliver is back to steal the culinary spotlight, one chicken leg at a time.</p> <p><em>Images: Sunrise</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Matt Shirvington reflects on becoming a father

<p>Matt Shirvington has reflected on the moment he knew he was going to become a father, and the "life-changing" decision he had to make about his future. </p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> co-host recalled when his wife Jessica told him she was pregnant 18 years ago with the couple's first child when they were living abroad in London. </p> <p>The couple then had to decide if they would stay in the UK when their first child was born, or return home to Australia. </p> <p>Chatting with <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/sunrise-star-matt-shirvington-opens-up-on-family-and-fatherhood-c-11769794" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7Life</em></a>, Shirvo said, “We were living in London doing our own thing and we’d always planned to have a family but it was just an amazing surprise.”</p> <p>“It was a game changer for us because we were living in London and, although we had kind of had family come and go over there, we were away from home.”</p> <p>Ultimately, Matt and Jess chose to stay in London to welcome their elder daughter, Sienna, and remained there until Jess was expecting their second child.</p> <p>“Sienna was about two years old and Jess was actually pregnant when we came home and we had our second baby here in Australia,” Shirvo explains.</p> <p>The proud parents now have three children, Sienna, 17, Winnie, 15 and Lincoln, five.</p> <p>Acknowledging the age gap with their youngest, Shirvo says it’s a “different dynamic in our family, but a great one”.</p> <p>Now a seasoned dad celebrating his 17th Father's Day, Shirvo said the arrival of his first child changed his life "completely". </p> <p>He explained that they went “from being a couple to having someone else in your life that you have to look after”.</p> <p>“After that it’s kind of like, ‘Well, we’ve done this before we can do it again’... It’s pretty special.”</p> <p>Reflecting on his years of fatherhood, Shirvo says watching his kids grow up and finding their life passions has been what he loves most.</p> <p>“I’ve watched my kids grow up and see them have a passion for something and invest themselves and love something so much,” he shares.</p> <p>“As a parent, you’d do anything to allow them to do it and allow that to blossom."</p> <p>“That’s the bit that really gets me.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Matt Damon’s new Australian family tradition

<p dir="ltr">Matt Damon and his family are settling into life Down Under, as they have been spotted at the Royal Queensland Show, also known as Ekka, at the Brisbane Showground.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Hollywood A-lister spoke to organisers at the event, saying it was their second time attending the annual event. </p> <p dir="ltr">After spending more and more time in Australia, the 52-year-old said the annual agriculture show is quickly becoming a “family tradition”. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I love it here, this is our second year in a row coming," he told staff at the show in a clip posted to social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's turned into a family tradition, so thanks for having us back."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Superstar Matt Damon has returned to the Ekka for another year of fun, saying that the Ekka has now become a family tradition 💚 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ekka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ekka</a> <a href="https://t.co/GENBbKiCoC">pic.twitter.com/GENBbKiCoC</a></p> <p>— Ekka (@TheEkka) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEkka/status/1691342360381407232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The actor added words of praise for those working at the event, which includes rides, showbags, food stalls, live farming displays and the famous strawberry sundaes.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Shout out to everyone at the Ekka, you guys do a great job," he said before signing off.</p> <p dir="ltr">Damon, who is currently making the most of his time off work due to the writers’ strike in Hollywood, attended the Queensland Show with his wife Luciana Barroso, 47, and three of their daughters Isabella, 17, Gia, 14, and Stella, 12.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family are no strangers to Australia, after spending plenty of time in Byron Bay with fellow actor Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actor and his family also spent some time living in Sydney during the pandemic, while Damon filmed <em>Thor: Love &amp; Thunder</em> with Hemsworth.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Twitter</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b357e8b-7fff-3348-3cb8-7be024d867a9"></span></p>

Domestic Travel

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Denise Scott, star of Mother and Son, reveals cancer battle

<p>Cherished Australian entertainer, comedian, and author Denise Scott has unveiled her private battle against cancer that has spanned several months.</p> <p>In an intimate conversation with the <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/celebrity/denise-scott-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Australian Women's Weekly</em></a>, Scott, who was honored with an Order of Australia earlier this year, candidly discussed receiving a breast cancer diagnosis just as she was gearing up to commence filming her inaugural leading role in a new television series. This role marked her portrayal of one of the central figures in the revived version of <em>Mother and Son, </em>a show where she is starring alongside comedian Matt Okine.</p> <p>Recounting the moment, Scott shared: "The night I noticed the rash, I thought, 'This is breast cancer'... Then, when the GP said mastitis, there was a momentary sigh of relief. But she also said, 'You've got to have a mammogram as soon as possible.' And then I think I knew."</p> <p>Medical advice informed Scott that she was confronting an aggressive cancer variant necessitating prompt intervention.</p> <p>Scott assumed the character Maggie in the reimagined rendition of <em>Mother and</em> Son, while Okine is taking on the role of her on-screen son, Arthur. These roles had been originally played by Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald during the 1980s to much acclaim, and it remains one of the most beloved TV shows of all time.</p> <p>As a result of the shock diagnosis, Scott embarked on chemotherapy and filming simultaneously. For scenes where she didn't need to face the camera directly, a stand-in body double was employed.</p> <p>"This production meant a lot to me," Scott told <em>AWW</em>. "But the doctors were making it clear: 'You have to start chemotherapy within days.' I don't know who first suggested I try to do both, which in hindsight was insane. I think it was me. I was thinking, I don't want to shut this whole production down, and I was also thinking, I want to live!"</p> <p>Okine, the visionary behind the show's revival, collaborated closely with the original creator, Geoffrey Atherden, to actualise the project. He said in an interview with ABC News that Scott showed remarkable bravery throughout the entire filming process, lauding her for her award-worthy depiction of Maggie.</p> <p>"I mean, ask anyone on the set and they'll tell you that the performance that Denise put into this show is nothing short of a world-class achievement," Okine said.</p> <p>"What she was going through personally and the character that she was able to build, and the moments that she was able to make, I mean, we joked but we were like 'you deserve the Gold Logie already'.</p> <p>For more on Denise Scott's journey, the September edition of AWW features an exclusive interview that you can also read <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/celebrity/denise-scott-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><em>Images: YouTube / ABC</em></p>

Caring

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Sneaky zoom call hints at secret new MasterChef style project

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Hold onto your spatulas – the culinary world just got a sneak peek into the top-secret virtual rendezvous of the original MasterChef judging squad, and let's just say, the excitement is sizzling hotter than a pan of frying bacon.</span></p> <p>Celebrity chef and all-around food wizard George Calombaris shook the internet like a well-shaken cocktail when he decided to share a teensy snippet of a recent clandestine Zoom chat with his former kitchen companions, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston. </p> <p>And although the video quality was about as polished as a well-worn wooden spoon, it was the content that had tongues immediately wagging as Preston playfully poked Calombaris about his dessert tastes being as "daggy" as a dad joke at a barbecue. And George, bless his apron-wrapped heart, heartily agreed: "The daggier, the better. As daggy as we are on this Zoom call," he clapped back.</p> <p>Captioned with all the mystery of a burrito's secret ingredients, the post read, "Some serious food talk for a very special project. But mostly just a lot of shots and giggles." Shots, giggles, and maybe a sprinkle of culinary magic – sounds like our kind of party.</p> <p>Since its release, the post has gone viral, racking up more views than there are slices in a pizza and comments flowing in like a chocolate fountain at a dessert buffet.</p> <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/reel/CvqDIXatvT7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/CvqDIXatvT7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by George Calombaris (@gcalombaris)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Just in case you've been marooned on a desert island with nothing but spam and a can opener, let's rewind a bit. George, Gary, and Matt were the original trio of culinary divinities who ruled MasterChef with their tastebuds and witty repartee for an entire decade.</p> <p>Fast forward to 2019 when the MasterChef cosmos decided to shift its cosmic culinary alignment, and boom! The trio was out, leaving fans with their mouths agape, much like when you taste-test something expecting sugar but get salt instead. CEO Paul Anderson cited "unsatisfactory commercial agreement negotiations" at the time – it's like a fancy way of saying, "We couldn't agree on the paycheck, folks."</p> <p>Rumour had it, that the judges asked for a 40% raise, basically demanding a pile of dough the size of a well-risen soufflé, to the tune of $1.5 million each for just one more season. Talk about giving the term "food for thought" a whole new meaning.</p> <p>And what's life been like after the MasterChef limelight? Well, Preston had a brush with reality TV stardom in <em>Dancing With The Stars</em>, but <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/sudden-exit-leaves-dancing-with-the-stars-viewers-stunned" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his dance moves</a> were as graceful as a turkey trying to tango. Then, there's Gary and Matt, who teamed up for a show called <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/now-we-re-cooking-masterchef-s-matt-preston-and-gary-mehigan-jump-to-channel-7-for-new-reality-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Plate of Origin</em></a>, which sadly got served a big ol' rejection slip by the audience. </p> <p>And let's not forget George – his restaurant group got slapped with a whopping $200,000 fine for underpaying staff to the tune of $7.8 million. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/i-take-full-responsibility-george-calombaris-breaks-down-over-wage-theft-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">But they did fess up and pay up</a>, so it's not all choppy waters in this seafood feast.</p> <p>In a podcast confessional, George shared, “We found the issue, we owned up, we paid back. A lot of the story that people don’t write about because it’s not cool enough or doesn’t get a headline is that we actually overpaid 49 per cent of our workforce that we never asked the money back for, and I wouldn’t of. I think the tough thing for me was, I thought by owning up, it’s the right thing to do, that’s how I grew up. So for me, that was probably the thing that hurt the most, being called a ‘thief’. I’m proud of how we acted, I’m proud of what we did to fix the problem.”</p> <p>So, following the leaked Zoom call, a sprinkle of kitchen drama and a trio of culinary legends ready to sauté their way into a new foodie escapade, it appears there is nothing left for us to do but stay tuned with our daggiest dessert forks at the ready.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Nat Barr reveals secret lotto win ahead of Powerball jackpot

<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-065bbcf1-7fff-5baa-200b-87cc5d670f62"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Sunrise</em> host Natalie Barr has revealed her secret lotto win ahead of the $100 million mega jackpot draw on Thursday. </p> <p dir="ltr">Over half of Aussie adults are expected to buy a ticket for a chance to take home the fifth biggest lotto jackpot - and Natt Barr and co-host Matt Shirvington did not want to miss out. </p> <p dir="ltr">While purchasing tickets for the draw live on-air, her co-host revealed the unbelievable win. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Nat has the auto-pick where it just repeats,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And she’s credited because she won like 900 bucks last time — wasn’t the 100 million.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Barr excitedly confirmed the win: “$930! A few weeks ago!” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">The revelation comes just as news agencies across the country are expected to experience a ticket rush, as millions of Australians fight for their chance to win the life-changing jackpot. </p> <p dir="ltr">Many are expected to buy the tickets "last-minute" as the entries for the draw will close on Thursday  at 7.30pm AEST. </p> <p dir="ltr">The last time someone won a major jackpot was a lucky father from Bankstown who took home $100 million dollars in June. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Sunrise</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Furious Matt Shirvington shocks viewers with a passionate rant

<p>Matt Shirvington has shocked <em>Sunrise</em> viewers after launching into a passionate rant about a cause close to his heart. </p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> host, who has only recently taken over from Kochie, spoke directly to the audience about Aussie Olympic sprinter Peter Bol and his recent exoneration from a false positive drug test. </p> <p>Bol was provisionally suspended in January after news broke he had returned a positive A sample for synthetic EPO during an out-of-competition drug test. </p> <p>During the eight-month ordeal as Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) retested the samples, Bol continuously maintained his innocence.</p> <p>This week, SIA announced Bol's case had been closed after a subsequent independent analysis of his B Sample returned a false positive. </p> <p>Bol announced the good news with a message on social media on Tuesday. </p> <p>"I have been exonerated. It was a false positive like I have said all along! The news from Sport Integrity Australia today was a dream come true," he tweeted.</p> <p>After hearing the new of the exoneration, Matt Shirvington, who competed in the 2000 Olympics as a sprinter himself, shared his thoughts on Bol's unfortunate situation. </p> <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cvat5EMA8X3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/Cvat5EMA8X3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>On Wednesday morning, Shirvo took aim at the entire system that failed Peter Bol. </p> <p>"Peter's name has been dragged through the mud and we all know mud sticks. Now there are plenty of questions that need to be answered," he said. </p> <p>"Why did he test positive in the first place? Do testing protocols need to change? And the big one, who leaked the result of his A-sample before his B-sample had been revealed? And why?"</p> <p>"Peter Bol deserved better. He was let down at every level and a mere apology isn't going to cut it. The damage is done. Damage to his reputation, his mental health, his family, friends and fans. Damage to the sport that I and millions of fans love."</p> <p>"In the race to remove the stain from his reputation, Peter is left to play catch up due to a flawed system and an organisation that have let him and Australian sport down."</p> <p>Many viewers were left shocked by his passionate tirade, and praised him for sticking up for the Aussie athlete.</p> <p>One person said, "Well said Matt - straight from the heart," while another wrote online "So well said, Matt! Australia's still behind ya, Peter. So sorry you had to go through this."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

TV

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Pete Evans "silenced" by Kyle and Jackie O

<p>Pete Evans has been silenced while defending his controversial opinions on <em>The Kyle and Jackie O Show</em>. </p> <p>The disgraced celebrity chef appeared on the KIISFM show on Thursday morning in an attempt to clear his name, after destroying his own career by spreading misinformation about the Covid pandemic. </p> <p>Throughout 2020 and 2021, Evans found himself in hot water after claiming that Covid-19 was a "f**king hoax", and was slapped with many fines after peddling fake, and often dangerous, treatments for the virus online. </p> <p>Calling into the show from his property in north-eastern New South Wales, the 50-year-old doubled down on his opposition to Covid vaccines, masks and social distancing.</p> <p>The former <em>My Kitchen Rules</em> judge also went on to cast doubt upon Covid rapid antigen tests and defended his claims about the "healing" abilities of the BioCharger lamps he was fined for promoting in 2020. </p> <p>However, much of his conversation with Kyle and Jackie O was beeped out by the station's censor.</p> <p>The censorship divided listeners, while some fans of the show called in to declare it was time to "un-cancel" him, because he is a "real man" who "stands up" for his beliefs. </p> <p>Another alleged that Evans had "gone and done the research" and "wasn't just talking s**t", and therefore shouldn't be barred from sharing his opinions publicly, even if they are viewed as scientifically incorrect.</p> <p>Others praised the work of the station's censor, saying the hosts and the station have a responsibility to stop dangerous misinformation being spread, especially when it could cause harm. </p> <p>One caller, who was a medical professional, pointed out that Evans, isn't qualified to give health advice, and that what he said on-air was "just the tip of the iceberg".</p> <p>"The issue is everyone with 100,000 followers, or whatever it may be, thinks all of a sudden they're a doctor or a personal trainer or wherever it may be and that they're qualified to give this health advice," she said.</p> <p>Another argued that Evans should remain cancelled because he has never apologised over his claims that were proven wrong by Australia's top medical authorities.</p> <p>Kyle Sandilands later explained why the censor had beeped out parts of Evans' interview, as well as some of what was said by the fans who called in to defend him. </p> <p>"I believe that this isn't the censor beeping out what she doesn't believe is right or wrong. This is the censor beeping out what legally we can and cannot put to air," Sandilands explained. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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"I saw that!": Tom Cruise reacts to Shirvo's 100m Olympic sprint

<p>Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, known for his association with A-list celebrities – and of course for his energetic, high-speed running in almost every film he's ever made – found himself captivated by<em> Sunrise</em> host Matt Shirvington's Olympic Games history.</p> <p>Appearing on the Channel 7 breakfast show on Monday morning, Cruise was greeted by enthusiastic fans outside the Sydney studio who chanted his name and displayed banners.</p> <p>However, it was a particular video showcasing Shirvo's performance in the 100-metre sprint at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games that truly caught Tom's attention.</p> <p>"Tom, I have to be honest with you, as a kid growing up, I was a sprinter and went to the Olympic Games," began Matt during the segment.</p> <p>"Did you? Wow, what year were you?" an intrigued Tom inquired.</p> <p>Matt went on to reveal that he had competed in the 100-metre sprint at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Tom, clearly impressed, responded, "I saw you run in that Olympics. I saw that!"</p> <p>As Tom gazed at the screen, he witnessed Matt, donning yellow and green attire, sprinting patriotically in the competition, juxtaposed with footage of the actor's own running scenes in his action movies.</p> <p>"Look at that. You're a great runner. I'm a good runner," remarked Tom.</p> <p>He then went on to explain that while he often runs in his films, he doesn't receive much assistance with training.</p> <p>"I've been an athlete my whole life, participating in gymnastics and sprinting. I was like that little kid who would get a new pair of sneakers and then joyfully sprint, splashing through puddles.</p> <p>"I haven't had extensive training, you know, but throughout the years, I've received some coaching and worked with different coaches as I grew up."</p> <p>Tom continued, "You know what I do? I observe people, study them, and then try different things on my own.</p> <p>"I'm the kind of person who watches someone, imitates them, and reads about other people's training. I've trained with different Olympians, constantly studying."</p> <p>At this point, Matt chimed in, saying, "If you ever need a coach, let me know."</p> <p>Amidst giggles, Nat Barr interjected, "We'll arrange a training session for you guys."</p> <p>Tom went on to reveal that earlier that morning, he had engaged in sprints around his hotel room in Sydney, as he always makes an effort to stay fit.</p> <p>"I've trained my whole life. You never take a break," he emphasised.</p> <p><em>Images: Sunrise</em></p>

Movies

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Nat Barr's real opinion on Matt Shirvington

<p dir="ltr"><em>Sunrise</em> presenter Natalie Barr has shared her real thoughts on her new co-host Matt Shirvington.</p> <p dir="ltr">After almost a month since former co-host <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/kochie-s-emotional-farewell-on-sunrise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Koch’s departure</a>, all eyes have been on Barr and Shirvington, who have apparently known each other for years prior to hosting <em>Sunrise</em> together.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We live in the same area, so we’d see each other in the street and say hi because we both vaguely knew who the other was,” Barr told <em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">She revealed that years ago they would walk past each other on the street as they picked their children up from school, and had since been “in and out of each other’s lives and would see each other at events and always got along”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s the type of guy who just fits in – a really nice, normal guy with a daggy-dad sense of humour,” she told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">Barr then went on to share how she deals with public scrutiny and revealed that she doesn’t feel any extra pressure from being the more experienced presenter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t mind a bit of scrutiny. I mean, I’m on TV. Some people will like the way I do things, some won’t,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you can’t cope with that then I guess you shouldn’t be on TV.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Barr revealed that ever since she took the hosting job she made a pact with herself to not get into the comments, and so she has turned off all notifications on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I turned the notifications off on Twitter years ago. People can DM me on Instagram but as soon as I get hate and abusive stuff, I block and delete,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can’t stop people being nasty, that’s just what society is like,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Barr said that she understands that as a public figure she can’t just take in the good comments about her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You get personal scrutiny, horrible messages and critical articles written about you,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think when you do a public job, it’s part and parcel. You can’t expect everyone to be writing glowing appraisals.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the challenges, Barr remains optimistic about her career and the future of <em>Sunrise</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think we have developed a show with the same heart and soul that we started with 21 years ago and that can never change,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There will be tweaks, people will come and go, but it’s bigger than any one of us. And that makes me happy.”</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Sudden exit leaves Dancing With the Stars viewers stunned

<p>Fans of <em>Dancing With the Stars</em> were left in shock as celebrity chef Matt Preston made an unexpected decision to quit the show on Sunday night, creating a first in the series' history.</p> <p>After finding himself in the bottom two and facing a dance-off against former AFL star Gavin Wanganeen to secure his spot in the competition, the former <em>MasterChef</em> judge interrupted host Daryl Somers to drop a bombshell announcement.</p> <p>“I’ve loved everything about this, but my ankle is cooked,” Preston revealed to Somers and co-host Sonia Kruger.</p> <p>“I can’t dance again tonight so what I want to do is to concede and give the win to Gavin, who did brilliantly today and I’m so proud to be doing this for you, brother.”</p> <p>Somers, clearly taken aback, expressed that such a situation had never occurred before and invited the judges to share their thoughts on Preston's decision.</p> <p>“I mean, injuries happen and there’s nothing you can do about that,” Craig Revel Horwood said.</p> <p>“I’ve been a dancer all my life, if you’re injured you shouldn’t dance on an injury – so Matt, I think you’ve made the right decision. Sad to see you go, but Gavin, darling welcome, for you get another life on the show now.”</p> <p>“You’re absolutely doing the right thing and thank you for giving us determination and your courage, you’ve been wonderful,” Sharna Burgess agreed.</p> <p>“And I’m gonna give you a big hug after the show.”</p> <p>During a recent candid interview on the Stellar podcast "Something To Talk About," Preston shed light on his motivation for joining the dancing competition in the first place, explaining his desire to step far outside his comfort zone.</p> <p>“An opportunity like <em>Dancing</em> comes along and you go, ‘I don’t need to do it.’ And then you go, ‘Well, let’s have a crack,’” he said.</p> <p>“There’s one word that I keep hearing a lot from certain people of a certain age who’ve achieved a lot, and that’s the fear of ‘humiliation’. I think this is a really debilitating idea, this idea that your children are going to think less of you or your friends are going to joke about you.</p> <p>“Humiliation is just an anxiety that really has no place in the modern world.”</p> <p><em>Images: Channel 10</em></p>

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Ratings results after Shirvo’s first day in Kochie’s chair

<p dir="ltr">The results are in and <em>Seven</em> has maintained its position on top, with thousands of viewers tuning in to watch newly appointed <em>Sunrise </em>co-host Matt Shirvington <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/kochie-s-sunrise-replacement-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replace Kochie</a> on the breakfast TV show.</p> <p dir="ltr">Over 235,000 metro viewers tuned in to Seven on Monday, while Nine’s Today drew around 188,000 viewers, and 104,000 watched ABC’s News Breakfast.</p> <p dir="ltr">The reactions were positive and many took to social media to share their well-wishes for the former sprinter after his first day on the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Your first morning Shirvo, great, So natural,” one viewer posted on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The best person to replace Kochie,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Matt Shirvo is exactly what Sunrise needed,” another viewer added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am so glad they went with Shirvo. A fresh start for Sunrise,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 44-year-old was<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/kochie-s-sunrise-replacement-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> announced as the new host</a> alongside Nat Barr on June 5, and officially replaced Kochie a week later.</p> <p dir="ltr">He has shared his delight and excitement over joining the show, and even posted an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtWFmBhPAT4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">image </a>of all the alarms he set in preparation for his new job.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m so excited but also humbled by the opportunity to co-host such an important show to so many Australians,” he said last week.</p> <p><em>Image: Sunriseon7 Instagram</em></p>

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