Latest news with #AmandaKeller
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amanda Keller shares 'surreal' encounter with Ozzy Osbourne - following his death at age 76
Amanda Keller has revealed a 'surreal' moment she shared with Ozzy Osbourne as the world mourns the iconic rocker's death. The legendary Black Sabbath frontman died 'surrounded by love' at the age of 76, a statement from his family said. Speaking about Ozzy on her Jonesy and Amanda radio show on Wednesday, the broadcast veteran recounted a very surprising interaction with the iconic 'Prince Of Darkness'. 'I once met Ozzy Osbourne,' she told co-host Brendan Jones. 'I was working at Triple M and we were having a promotion.' 'This was before the reality show, so Sharon looked quite different. This is before, as she says, she had a lot of work done. This is old Sharon.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Amanda went on to explain that Sharon was attempting to assist Ozzy with an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. 'Ozzy looked quite befuddled and his hair was caught in his bracelets and she was trying to untangle him,' she said. While witnessing the scene unfold, Amanda revealed her shock when Ozzy admitted to being a fan of her work. 'He looked up at me and he said: "I know you",' Amanda revealed. 'He used to watch Beyond 2000 on satellite television. His wife said: "Yeah, we always used to watch that show. 'What a surreal moment.' Beyond 2000 was a long-running Australian science and technology series and Amanda joined the cast as a presenter in 1985. Amanda's admission comes after Ozzy's family revealed the news of his passing on Wednesday, just weeks after the Black Sabbath frontman performed from a throne on stage at Villa Park in Birmingham. In a statement, his family said: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.' 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' The rocker was able to bid an emotional farewell to his fans on stage this month as he reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005. 'You've no idea how I feel - thank you from the bottom of my heart,' Osbourne told the crowd in his final speech. The music legend vowed, however, that it would be his final ever performance due to his health, having opened up about his battle with Parkinson's in 2020.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amanda Keller reveals how a precious getaway helped her 'let off steam' amid her husband's battle with Parkinson's disease
Amanda Keller has revealed how a precious getaway with her son Jack couldn't have come at a better time, amid her husband's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease. The 63-year-old radio star admitted on the Jonesy & Amanda show on Tuesday that Harley's worsening condition had been hard on her family - and a recent trip to Tasmania with her son Jack, 22, helped them both let off steam. 'Jack and I spoke a lot about Harley while we were away,' she told co-host Brendan Jones on Tuesday. 'You know, when you're away on holidays, you go hard the first night and regret it for the rest of the time?' 'I had finished on the radio on the Friday, we flew to Hobart, and we were walking around Salamanca Bay. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. She continued: 'We had something to eat, and I said, "Let's just have one drink in this bar and we'll call it a night." 'That was 8 o'clock. Next minute, it's 12.30am. We'd been dancing in some club. Not club, it was a bar, you know, and Jack was obviously the youngest person there. 'And the next day we were both just so embarrassed at our behaviour. But it was such a great night to just let off steam.' Elsewhere in the chat, Keller opened up about the difficult decision to leave her husband behind, who is unable to travel. 'It's really hard. But the same time, I want the boys to have time away from all that too, or time with me where we can talk about that.' Amanda broke down in tears in May when she spoke about her 35th wedding anniversary with Harley. 'I don't want to get emotional,' she said. 'It's my wedding anniversary today.' 'In the old days, Harley and I would have been going out to dinner tonight. But he's not well enough to do that.' Amanda, who was in her late 20s when she walked down the aisle, added that the gravitas of marriage vows are often lost on young people. When Brendan brought up the concept of 'in sickness or in health,' Amanda said it's hard to grasp 'until you're living it'. 'You do fluctuate between dealing with what's in front of you and having the absolute s***s that you're dealing with what's in front of you. 'But I don't think you can get to 35 years without the sands shifting between you beneath your feet.' While the couple's life has changed invariably, Amanda added that she is grateful. 'We've lived a rich and wonderful life together, and we still do,' she said. The couple share two sons, Jack and Liam.
ABC News
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
How playing the piano for strangers set in motion a new life for Baher Skaik
Five months after fleeing his home in Gaza, Baher Skaik sat behind a piano in Melbourne's Preston Markets, his proud family watching on. He was there to play for strangers, as part of the ABC iview series The Piano. What he couldn't have imagined was the life-changing experience ahead of him, thanks to the kindness of strangers and an unexpected visit from the Immigration Minister. "The piano isn't an instrument for me. It's a form of emotional release," he told host Amanda Keller at the time, describing the devastation they fled. "I had a good life with my family … and then when the war began, there was bombing every moment. "It's hard to describe the feeling when you are responsible for family and you see your daughters are suffering. They are crying all the time, screaming all the night. "We decided to leave quickly and we left our home with just our clothes." In the ruins of his office was his much-loved piano. "It's destroyed." A gift from a stranger Having made the difficult decision to leave their home in Gaza, Baher and his family travelled to Melbourne. Here they were supported by the Australian-Palestinian-led charity, Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA), as they settled into their new life. The ruins of Baher's private office in Gaza, where his piano was destroyed. ( Supplied ) It was through PARA that Baher learnt about The Piano, an ABC series unearthing and celebrating everyday Australians with a passion for the piano. Baher said he nearly let the opportunity pass, as he focused on finding work and supporting his family, but ultimately his heart told him to do it. "I don't usually play in public or to an audience [as] I'm normally quite shy," he said. But Baher's story struck a chord with the audience. "[One of the producers] told me that there was an anonymous donor who wanted to gift me a [new] piano. I know how expensive pianos are and it was very hard to accept that," he said. Within a few weeks, a shiny new piano arrived at the Skaik's family home in Melbourne. But there was an even greater surprise to come. Baher playing the piano at his home in Gaza / Baher with his new piano, gifted by an anonymous donor. Another unexpected surprise Three months after the series aired, Baher received a call from the team at PARA. They asked him to clear his calendar later that week. Minister for Immigration and Home Affairs Tony Burke was coming to visit. "The minister said he was happy to meet me and my family, and he expressed how my story had impacted him and how he wanted to show support by coming to meet us," Baher said. Baher played a song on the piano for the visitors before he was given news that would change his family's future. "[Minister Burke] said 'we were so moved to see you on the show and your story was such a wonderful story to see. We are so proud of you and your family for being here in Australia'," he said. "And he said that he [would like to] offer us permanent residency." Baher and his family were thrilled when Minister Tony Burke, and immigration officials, delivered news of their permanent residency. ( Supplied: Tony Burke ) Like many, Baher's goal in life had always been to find stability for his family. "[In Gaza], you would feel that no matter what you did, a time would come that would destroy everything," he said. "People need to know that what refugees really need is an opportunity to rebuild, and not every country will allow them that." While fear was a "constant" in Gaza, Baher said Australia offered safety and acceptance. "I had a feeling that this was going to be a positive experience in my life being here [in Australia] and I was right," he said. Mr Burke said the government had been making decisions on a case-by-case basis. "For Baher to so eloquently talk about his family's plight and his love of Australia sent an important message to everybody," he said. "His comments on … The Piano were as beautiful as they were generous and I'm glad Australia has been able to respond with the same level of kindness." For Baher, he just wants people to know that refugees don't only come with a painful story. Baher, his wife and their three daughters during a layover in Dubai, on their journey from Gaza to Australia. ( Supplied ) The Skaik family have made themselves at home in Melbourne where they are the first renters of a brand-new home. "My kids are in school; my wife works and she's happy," Baher said. "I'm also doing some graphic design freelance work with some clients and now I have a piano. "I don't need anything else."
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gold FM radio legends Jonesy and Amanda 'jumping ship' to another Sydney station as their potential replacement is revealed
Speculation is mounting that Gold FM stalwarts Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones could be readying to jump ship to a rival network. The pair, who have been hosting breakfast at the Sydney station 101.7 (formerly WSFM) for 20 years, have been rumoured to be eyeing off a spot at Triple M. According to recent reports, management at Gold are contemplating shifting the pair's popular Jonesy and Amanda show to the drive-time slot. Taking their current spot would be Melbourne based Gold star Christian O'Connell. Since this would mean a salary cut for Jonesy and Amanda, reported The Australian's Media Diary on Monday, insiders say that the pair are 'in talks' with Triple M. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Keller, 63, and Jones, 57, could be a catch for Triple M, after their Sydney breakfast team suffered a brutal blow in the third radio ratings survey of 2025. The Triple M trio of Beau Ryan, Aaron 'Woodsy' Woods and Cat Lynch's lost 1.5 per cent of the market share in survey two, and dropped another 1.5 in the latest survey. This puts them with a 4.4 market share from a previous 5.9. Meanwhile, Jonesy and Amanda finished third in the survey with a 9.3 per cent audience share, with 2GB's Ben Fordham in second place. It comes after the wildly popular Kyle & Jackie O Show was again number one in FM breakfast in Sydney, with a market share of 12.5 (up by 0.2). Though their performance in Melbourne has slightly dipped again and they dropped 0.7 to a 5.1 market share following the gains they made last survey. Sydney juggernauts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson have been embroiled in the battle since their multimillion-dollar expansion into the city saw ex KIIS FM stars Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Lauren Phillips be axed. On April 29, 2024 Sandilands and Henderson took The Kyle & Jackie O Show to Melbourne in a huge multimillion-dollar expansion deal. The move triggered the axing of Hawkins and Phillips own KIIS FM breakfast show. Sandilands and Henderson have since struggled to capture the Melbourne market. In November, Sandilands vowed to reduce the graphic sexual content on his KIIS FM radio show this year to appeal to the Melbourne audience more broadly. Brisbane listeners, meanwhile, have only embraced the pain tentatively with their syndicated drive-time slot, 'Hour of Power' finishing this survey with an 11 per cent share of the audience. The result puts them behind the Nova, B105 and Triple M in the same slot.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Dancing with the Stars faces chop in huge blow for Sonia Kruger
The Seven Network is tipped to axe long-running reality show Dancing with the Stars after the forthcoming latest series wraps in July. A week before the 22nd season of the program is due to have its premiere comes word the broadcaster has decided to cancel the show. Such a decision would be a devastating blow to the career of host Sonia Kruger. According to industry sources Seven is no longer prepared to foot the bill for the expensive reality show for which production costs are estimated to come in at around $1 million an episode. That would explain why recent seasons have occupied just five weeks of Seven's production schedule and not 10 weeks as was the case back in the program's production heyday from 2005 to 2009. Seven's bean-counters have looked at the program and, we hear, decided the sun has set on the format – again. Having launched the show in 2004 Seven cancelled the broadcast in 2015 after ratings softened. Ten picked it up in 2019 and 2020 showcasing the talents of Amanda Keller as host before cancelling the program. Many were surprised when Seven renewed the show the following year in 2021 – the decision largely motivated, insiders said at the time, by the return to the network of Kruger in 2019. Kruger was co-host of the original local series alongside Daryl Somers. The cancellation of Dancing brings to three the number of Kruger-hosted programs Seven has ditched in recent years. This follows the network poaching Kruger from Nine signing on a seven-figure contract that made her one of the highest paid women on Australian television. Kruger was initially hired to host Big Brother which has since moved across the dial to Ten and golf show Holey Moley which was axed after one season in 2021. With only The Voice still on air, Seven finds itself under pressure to find a prime time vehicle for the versatile frontwoman. Jackie O versus Sam in battle of dating show blondes The latest battle for TV ratings is expected to pit blonde against blonde when radio's Jackie 'O' Henderson takes on Samantha Armytage as the big name presenters of rival dating shows Stranded on Honeymoon Island and The Golden Bachelor. Two years after the honeymoon ended for contestants, Seven has finally found a slot in its schedule for the Endemol Shine production Stranded on Honeymoon Island which is narrated by Henderson. There has been much conjecture about why Seven has taken so long to broadcast the expensive program which has been described as a cross between Married At First Sight and Survivor and sees producers match strangers looking for love before abandoning the couple, still dressed in their wedding garb, on a deserted island with few distractions. The last thing the network would want to do with a copycat (and possibly inferior) reality show is pitch it into direct competition with either of those two established programs. What a crack programmer constrained by budgets might do is hold onto the program and strategically schedule it against – or immediately ahead of – another dating show, one which has had its own gestational issues – in this case The Golden Bachelor hosted by one-time Seven breakfast star Armytage. The producers of Nine's Bachelor have had their own teething problems with The Golden Bachelor. These have included delays in finding an appropriately televisual 60-year-old+ bachelor, problems creating chemistry among older contestants and issues with the Sydney location. Seven network programmers will be hoping they've found a sweet spot in the year for Stranded on Honeymoon Island after shooting it in 2023. Jackie 'O' recently announced the program is slated to air this month. The KIIS FM breakfast star who was absent from her radio show for three days last week due to illness – she had the flu – and was off again this week when her radio partner Kyle Sandilands, a fellow Seven star, called in sick on Thursday, should by then be sufficiently recovered to hit the airwaves in earnest to plug the show. Chairman Kim's in-flight entertainment ABC chairman Kim Williams appeared to be in terrifically high spirits as he took to the air on board a Qantas Dreamliner flight from Sydney to New York last month. While this column can't confirm whether Williams sidled up to the nation's top brass in the Qantas's chairman's lounge prior to his flight as experienced and pampered chairs routinely do, this column can confirm Ita Buttrose's successor wasted little time slipping into his complimentary Qantas jimmy-jams for the 22-hour haul to the Big Apple via Auckland. According to eye witnesses, it was an upbeat and talkative Williams who boarded flight QF3 to New York. The ABC on Thursday clarified Williams' Sydney-New York May 16 business class flight was not funded by taxpayers. A spokeswoman furthermore said the ABC chair was travelling 'alone on non-ABC matters'. The statement suggests Williams will be picking up his own tab. While Williams' selections from the dinner menu drew little reaction – the options of seared snapper with vegetables, Korean braised chicken with rice or beef fillet with chimichurri with a selection of cheeses to follow, apparently equally distracting to all – his in-flight entertainment choice did prompt chatter. Not for the passionate classicist a catalogue of pre-flight downloaded arts documentaries, BBC news programs and stimulating audio compilations. While the ABC chairman's Kindle did keep him entertained for a good portion of the journey it was the media boss's film selection that brought chortling from nearby travellers. Williams, who was chief executive of Foxtel for a decade until 2011, has long been a supporter of Australian content and homegrown talent so his choice of a Nicole Kidman film was not surprising. Some squirmed in their seat when he hit play on Babygirl, a raunchy film in which Kidman plays a sexually frustrated woman drawn to a younger man who dominates her. Our eyes in the sky were unable to confirm whether Williams made it through Kidman's first torrid scenes and into her first bowl of milk, or he decided it was a little too much for aircraft viewing. No word on what he was doing in New York although his trip did coincide with the New York Upfronts preview season. Networks battle it out for investigative spoils Nine's statement on Thursday concerning the creation of a dedicated longform current affairs and investigations unit appears motivated, in part, by recent strikes against the media company by rivals Seven and Ten. The news that 60 Minutes' executive producer Kirsty Thomson will head up Nine's new unit is seen as an endorsement of the woman who lost the support of veteran reporter Liz Hayes before Hayes quit the network in February. Two months later Hayes turned up at Seven's Spotlight for a one-off guest appearance, a move seen as a public rebuke of Thomson and Nine which last year axed Hayes' Under Investigation series. Following Hayes' not so subtle swipe has come Ten's decision to launch its own news investigations unit. Claims Ten will invest $20 million in the unit have spurred talk the unit would come at the expense of Ten's much-depleted The Project.
