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Maggie Smith farewelled in emotional funeral

<p>Dame Maggie Smith has been farewelled in a "poignant but not sad" funeral service. </p> <p>The intimate service was attended by Smith's closest friends, family and colleagues, as mourners gathered at the Mortlake Crematorium in London to celebrate her life. </p> <p>According to one attendee, guests paid tribute to the late actress with "brilliant eulogies" and by "belting out hymns", with the service described as "beautiful, warm, and full of laughter". </p> <p>"Such a beautiful goodbye to Maggie Smith today," the guest said. "It was warm and funny and full of love and brilliant eulogies, with the best hymns bringing belted out by all. It was poignant but not sad because hers was a life so richly lived."</p> <p>"I knew her because of [the guest's husband's] decades of working with her but I adored her."</p> <p>"[The guest's daughter] was traumatised when she first met her as she knew her as the terrifying housekeeper Mrs Medlock in The Secret Garden! Maggie was as funny and sharp as it gets. One of the greats."</p> <p>The news of Dame Maggie Smith's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/harry-potter-stars-pay-tribute-to-dame-maggie-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death</a> was confirmed by her family, who announced she has died on September 27th at the age of 89.</p> <p>Smith's sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens wrote in a statement, “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September."</p> <p>“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.” </p> <p><em>Image credits: Daily Mail</em></p>

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Veteran ABC journalist dies at age 72

<p>Veteran ABC journalist Matt Peacock has died at the age of 72. </p> <p>The pioneering reporter had a stellar career with the public broadcaster after first joining in 1973, going on to be the chief political correspondent for current affairs radio in Canberra and foreign correspondent in London, Washington and New York.</p> <p>He also worked for several flagship ABC radio and television shows including AM, <em>The World Today</em> and PM.</p> <p>Peacock died following a battle with pancreatic cancer. </p> <p>ABC chair Kim Williams paid tribute to the journalist, saying, “Since starting at the ABC as a cadet in 1973, he was dedicated to pursuing the health impacts of asbestos in different communities, defending the marginalised and giving a voice to people who needed their story to be told.”</p> <p>“Our audiences trusted him and knew him as a courageous and principled journalist who pursued those who hid from their responsibilities."</p> <p>“He loved the ABC and believed in its integrity and standards and he urged his colleagues to uphold these values without compromise."</p> <p>“We will miss his friendship and advice. Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends.” </p> <p>Other media colleagues also shared their condolences online, including Aussie author, academic and community leader Everald Compton, who wrote on X, “Vale Matt Peacock. Quality journalist. One of the best ABC has had."</p> <p>Journalist, researcher and activist Wendy Bacon also wrote on X. “So sad to see Matt Peacock go."</p> <p>“I knew him for more than 50 years. Very good ABC News reporter but should also be remembered as a fierce anti-censorship campaigner and defender of prisoners’ rights and Indigenous Australian. Generous friend to many. A giant of journalism."</p> <p>During his time at the ABC, Peacock specialised in reporting on politics, the environment and science, and was best known for exposing how global materials giant James Hardie Industries covered up the deaths of thousands of Australians from asbestos. </p> <p>He also campaigned against censorship and defended the First Nations rights and those of the incarcerated.</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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Cleo Smith’s abductor learns fate

<p>Terence Kelly has learned his fate after his lawyers attempted to have his sentence reduced. </p> <p>Kelly abducted Cleo Smith from her parents' tent at a remote West Australian campsite north of Carnarvon in late 2021, sparking a massive manhunt before she was found at his home by police 18 days later.</p> <p>The 37-year-old appealed to have his 13 year and six months sentence shortened, with the decision handed down in court on Monday that the sentence would stand. </p> <p>After being jailed in April 2023 following his admission that he kidnapped Cleo, his lawyers argued his mental impairments, including severe personality dysfunction, contributed to his decision to snatch the young girl. </p> <p>His lawyers also maintained the sentencing judge erred in finding Kelly's use of methamphetamine had a "significant and causal role in the offending".</p> <p>They also say the judge didn't give enough consideration to Kelly's childhood disadvantage and trauma.</p> <p>In sentencing, WA District Court Chief Judge Julie Wager said Kelly's actions were at the "highest level of seriousness" and that Cleo and her family would be "permanently impacted".</p> <p>In the court's ruling on Monday, the court accepted the sentence was "severe" but found it reflected the seriousness of the crime.</p> <p>"On any view, the appellant's abduction of such a young and highly vulnerable child from her parents, at night, and then holding her captive in his house for 18 days was extraordinarily serious," Justices Robert Mazza and Stephen Hall found.</p> <p>"As tragic as the appellant's background is, the sad fact remains that his risk of reoffending required that the sentence imposed upon him have regard to the sentencing objective of public protection."</p> <p>Kelly had faced a maximum of 20 years in jail but he got a 25 per cent discount of five years for his early guilty plea.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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Harry Potter stars pay tribute to Dame Maggie Smith

<p>The stars of the <em>Harry Potter</em> franchise have paid tribute to Dame Maggie Smith, after the Oscar-winning actress passed away on Friday at the age of 89. </p> <p>Smith, who played the role of Professor McGonagall throughout the eight movies, was honoured by dozens of her co-stars, including Harry Potter himself: Daniel Radcliffe. </p> <p>Radcliffe shared a statement to Entertainment Weekly, writing, "She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny."</p> <p>"I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie."</p> <p>Emma Watson also shared a tribute on Instagram alongside the two actresses working together, reflecting on Smith's impact on set. </p> <p>She said, "When I was younger I had no idea of Maggie's legend — the woman I was fortunate to share space with. It is only as I've become an adult that I've come to appreciate that I shared the screen with a true definition of greatness."</p> <p>"She was real, honest, funny and self-honouring. Maggie, there were a lot of male professors and by God you held your own. Thank you for all of your kindness. I'll miss you."</p> <p>Rupert Grint also shared a photo of the pair together, referencing a particular fan favourite scene from the fourth <em>Harry Potter</em> film, writing, "Heartbroken to hear about Maggie. She was so special, always hilarious and always kind. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance. I'll miss you, Maggie. Sending all my love to her family."</p> <p>Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black in the franchise, shared a statement with Entertainment Weekly on Maggie's passing, praising her acting talents, saying,  "Maggie Smith, one of the true Greats along with [Laurence] Olivier and [John] Gielgud… those who saw her dazzling talent on the stage say they can never forget her. Her magnificent film performances remain for all to see and enjoy. Such an artist comes along about every other generation. If one is lucky."</p> <p>The news of Maggie Smith's passing was confirmed by her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens who said in a statement, “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September."</p> <p>“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Warner Brothers/Paul Marriott/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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TikTok couple slammed for leaving toddlers unattended in cruise cabin

<p>TikTok Influencers Matt and Abby Howard have been slammed online for their controversial parenting choice while on a family vacation. </p> <p>In a now deleted video, the couple explained that they had brought their sons Griffin, 2, and August, 1 on a family cruise, and they went to dinner without the boys, but monitored the room through FaceTime. </p> <p>"So we ended up taking them for 5 nights and it became apparent that they weren't enjoying it and therefore we weren't either," they said in the caption. </p> <p>"So THEN we switched our dinner time to AFTER their bedtime and FaceTimed the monitors while we ate."</p> <p>Abby noted that baby monitors "don't work on board unless you're only like 10 feet away", adding that their dinnertime solution worked out "much better for everyone" </p> <p>Social media users were quick to respond to their decision, with many highlighting the safety concerns. </p> <p>"They literally could not have gotten to them fast enough if anything had happened and I cannot stop thinking about that. It’s sickening," one wrote on Reddit. </p> <p>"It's literally common sense that you do not leave a baby alone unsupervised," another added. </p> <p>"The fact that they would so willingly leave their children in an unfamiliar environment completely alone is shocking," another added. </p> <p>"Are they seriously that f****** dumb? Do they not watch the news, have they not seen what happened to Madeline McCann?" a fourth wrote.  </p> <p>Following the controversy, the couple released a video claiming that a family member was always with the children while they were at dinner, although they didn't clarify who. </p> <p>"We take our roles as parents extremely seriously and we love our children more than anything in the entire world, and we're very protective of our kids," Matt said in the video. </p> <p>"We had someone with our children at all times on this boat," he continued adding that the speculation surrounding them is "completely untrue". </p> <p>"I do want to clarify that we have not, would not, will not ever leave our children unattended. We would would never, ever want to put them in harms way in anyway," Abby added. </p> <p>She explained that her family would "tag team" to help the couple out with watching their children. </p> <p>Viewers were quick to speculate whether they were telling the truth, while others were glad they clarified. </p> <p>"Thanks for the clarification because it did come off like the boys were alone- context is everything," one wrote. </p> <p>"I hope this is the truth," another added. </p> <p>"For them to post about it like it's some genius parenting hack is just wild," a third wrote. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Cleo Smith's parents share heartwarming update

<p>Three years after her kidnapping, Cleo Smith is adjusting well to her normal life, with her parents sharing a heartwarming update. </p> <p>On Sunday, her parents shared the now seven-year-old's latest achievement - winning her first gymnastics competition. </p> <p>The snaps posted by <em>60 Minutes</em> on Facebook, showed Cleo smiling as she proudly held up a medal and certificate with all her ribbons on it after a routine on the balance beam. </p> <p>“Such a beautiful brave girl who Australia got to know. Glad she is doing so well and you should be so proud of your gymnastics achievement,” one commenter said on the post. </p> <p>“I love seeing an update on how she is going.”</p> <p>"Bless her little heart! Her whole family are the epitome of resilience," another added. </p> <p>"I think the whole of Australia is behind you Cleo! Well done," a third wrote. </p> <p>The update was shared just two months after the family shared a collection of photos of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/new-photos-of-cleo-smith-show-insight-into-her-life-after-kidnapping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleo enjoying life</a> with her family. </p> <p>The snaps included Cleo celebrating her seventh birthday, a family fishing trip, and her playing with her little sister Isla, and their first day of school. </p> <p>Cleo was just four-years-old when she was kidnapped from her tent while camping with her family in Western Australia's Gascoyne region, around 10 hours north of Perth, on October 16, 2021. </p> <p>Police and rescue personnel spent nearly three weeks looking for her, and 18 days later she was found in Terrence Kelly's home in Carnarvon, just minutes away from her own family home. </p> <p>Kelly was arrested near the home and has been in custody in Perth since. He is appealing the 13-year and six-month prison sentence he received for the abduction. </p> <p>At an appeal hearing in February, the court was told Kelly has various mental impairments, including a severe personality dysfunction, which they say was a significant factor in the crime. </p> <p><em>Images: 60 Minutes Facebook</em></p>

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Grief-stricken father breaks silence after sons found dead

<p>The devastated father of the two young boys who were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/mother-arrested-after-two-boys-found-dead-in-blue-mountains-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found dead</a> in their home in the Blue Mountains has spoken out about the "unimaginable" tragedy. </p> <p>Nick Smith found the bodies of his sons, Russell, 11, and Ben, 9, in their home in Faulconbridge on Tuesday afternoon. </p> <p>The children's mother and Nick's estranged ex-wife Trish Smith was arrested and spent Tuesday night under police guard in hospital, where she arrived in a stable condition but with self-inflicted wounds. </p> <p>Nick said the loss of their “beautiful boys” had caused “unimaginable pain and distress”.</p> <p>“Russell and Ben were happy, funny, outgoing boys, and were very much loved by their family and friends,” he said in a statement on Thursday.</p> <p>“Like other boys their age, they loved sports, soccer, the Penrith Panthers, fishing, books, music, spending time with their friends and Max their pup."</p> <p>“We cannot understand how our boys have been taken this way and we appreciate the kindness and compassion shown by the community.”</p> <p>Nick added they were requesting privacy at this time.</p> <p>Police are continuing their investigation into the tragedy and have refused to speculate on the events leading up to the deaths of the two boys, however, they confirmed hey are not looking for any other parties who could be involved. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill expressed the community’s grief in a statement over the tragedy, writing, "Our community has lost two precious souls in the most awful circumstances. Now is a time to come together and remember these two beautiful children."</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb acknowledged the profound emotional toll the incident has had on law enforcement officers. "I think the older and more experience you get in this job, things like this still cut to the core. It’s a tragic situation," she said.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </em></strong></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</em></strong></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</em></strong></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</em></strong></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Image credits: NSW Police</em></p> <p> </p>

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Mother arrested after two boys found dead in Blue Mountains home

<p>A mother has been arrested after the tragic discovery of her two sons, aged nine and 11, dead at their home in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. The boys, Russell and Ben, were found by their father at the family's home in Faulconbridge shortly before 12:40pm.</p> <p>Their mother, Trish Smith, 42, was also found at the scene with several self-inflicted injuries. She has been taken to Westmead Hospital and is in a stable condition. No charges have been laid so far.</p> <p>Superintendent John Nelson of the Blue Mountains police confirmed that Mr Smith, the father, discovered the bodies and contacted authorities. "The father is helping us with inquiries, and he was the one who contacted police... all avenues are open for investigation," Nelson stated. While the police have not confirmed whether a weapon was involved, they are working to understand the sequence of events leading to the boys' deaths.</p> <p>The family, who had no prior history of domestic violence and minimal contact with the police, has left the community in shock. Superintendent Nelson said that the investigation is still in its early stages, and no speculation will be made at this time.</p> <p>The boys had attended school on Monday with no apparent issues, and authorities are now trying to trace their movements on Tuesday to piece together what might have happened.</p> <p>The nearby Springwood High School was involved in the emergency response as its oval was used as a helipad for medical evacuations. Homicide detectives from the State Crime Command have been assigned to the case, and police are continuing to speak with neighbours to uncover any possible motives.</p> <p>Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill expressed the community’s grief in a statement: "Our community has lost two precious souls in the most awful circumstances. Now is a time to come together and remember these two beautiful children."</p> <p>NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb acknowledged the profound emotional toll the incident has had on law enforcement officers. "I think the older and more experience you get in this job, things like this still cut to the core. It’s a tragic situation," she said.</p> <p>Authorities have confirmed that no one else is being sought in connection with the deaths, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.</p> <p>The investigation continues as police work to understand the full circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking incident.</p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

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New photos of Cleo Smith show insight into her life after kidnapping

<p>Almost three years after being abducted from a campsite, heartwarming new photos show how Cleo Smith is living as a happy school girl and big sister. </p> <p>In October 2021, Cleo Smith, who was four years old at the time, made international headlines after she was snatched from a campsite as she slept alongside her mother, stepfather and baby sister at the Blowholes campsite, about 960km north of Perth, Western Australia.</p> <p>A state-wide police operation was launched in search for Cleo, who was four years old at the time, which led to her dramatic rescue 18 days later.</p> <p>Now, almost three years after the horrific abduction and intense media scrutiny, Cleo, who is now seven years old, is adjusting to a normal life. </p> <p>A collection of photos, shared to Instagram by <em>60 Minutes</em>, showed a beaming Cleo enjoying life with her family, as one photo showed Cleo smiling along with her mother, Ellie Smith, stepdad Jake Gliddon, and little sister, Isla.</p> <p>The snapshots revealed happy moments of young Cleo's life, including a family fishing trip, Isla's first birthday, her seventh birthday and the sisters' first day at school in 2024.</p> <p>"Cleo Smith, all grown up. The seven-year-old is enjoying life in Western Australia, loving school and being a big sister to Isla," <em>60 Minutes</em> wrote.</p> <p>The photos received an overwhelming response from social media users all around the world, with many sharing well wishes for the family and for Cleo. </p> <p>"Beautiful to see the family so happy and healthy," one person wrote. </p> <p>"Bless your heart, so glad you are living your best life," another person commented. </p> <p>A third person wrote, "It's so good to see her happy! I followed her story from Argentina. Keep enjoying life Cleo!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: 60 Minutes / Instagram </em></p>

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"Welcome home, Harold": Iconic Neighbours actor returns to Ramsay Street

<p>More than 15 years after his departure, Harold Bishop is returning to Ramsay Street. </p> <p>Ian Smith's character has long been a fan favourite on <em>Neighbours</em>, after originally starring on the soap between 1987 and 1991, before he returned in 1996 until his departure in 2009. </p> <p>Since then, Harold has made multiple guest appearances, including in the 2022 finale.</p> <p>When Amazon picked up the Aussie show, Smith rejoined the cast for a short time but quickly left after a health scare.</p> <p>But now, Harold is making another comeback. </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/p/C5fVoAlvJEJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5fVoAlvJEJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Neighbours (@neighbours)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The official <em>Neighbours</em> Instagram shared the exciting news of his return, writing, “After 15 years of living away, the legendary Harold Bishop is returning to Erinsborough."</p> <p>“We are thrilled to welcome Ian Smith back to the show and the opening titles, where he belongs.”</p> <p>Fan were quick to flood the comment section with excitable messages, rejoicing in the fact that a fan favourite character was returning. </p> <p>“The best news. The show misses an elder character like Harold,” one person wrote.</p> <p>Another commented, “Absolutely amazing news to wake up too. Welcome home, Harold.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / YouTube </em></p>

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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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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>

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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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Cleo Smith's mum shares touching update

<p>In October 2021, Ellie endured a mother's worst nightmare when her then four-year-old daughter, Cleo, was abducted during a family camping trip near Carnarvon, WA.</p> <p>Often these stories end in tragedy, but Cleo was found alive 18 days later, locked inside Terence Kelly's home, just minutes away from her own home.</p> <p>The abduction that had everyone on their toes became a feel good story that captivated the nation, when police released body-cam footage of the little girl saying: "my name's Cleo", as she was rescued. </p> <p>She was found physically unharmed and playing with toys, and Kelly was arrested on a nearby street not long after. </p> <p>Two years after the abduction Cleo Smith's mother Ellie has shared some more happy news. </p> <p>Ellie has reportedly tied the knot with her partner Jake Gliddon in a private ceremony at the Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort. </p> <p>The special day was attended by only 64 of their closest friends and family, and the happy couple basked in sunlight as they posed for photos. </p> <p>Cleo and her little sister Isla were also in attendance as flower girls, and in new photos shared to <em>60 minutes, </em>you never would've guessed the horror Cleo went through just two years ago. </p> <p>Cleo and her sister were twinning in a beautiful white dress with puffy sleeves. </p> <p>The girls had huge smiles on their faces as they posed cheek-to-cheek with their mum, who looked stunning in a beautiful lace and tulle dress. </p> <p>“Cleo was just excited to wear a pretty spinning dress and walk down the aisle with her aunty Krystal,” Ellie told <em>60 Minutes</em>.</p> <p>The couple reportedly don't have any plans for their honeymoon yet. </p> <p><em>Images: 60 Minutes</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"His worst moment as a person": Sean Penn unleashes on Will Smith's Oscar's slap

<p>Sean Penn has become visibly angry as he recalled the infamous moment at the 2022 Oscars ceremony when Will Smith stormed the stage to slap Chris Rock. </p> <p>Penn recalled the award ceremony moment as he reflected on the Academy's decision to not let Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speak at the ceremony. </p> <p>The actor has been a strong advocate for the people of Ukraine in their ongoing war against Russia, and even traveling to the war-torn region to help in their fight. </p> <p>Speaking to <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/features/sean-penn-slams-will-smith-slap-ai-oscars-1235720417/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Variety</em></a>, Penn shared how frustrated he was that Zelenskyy was silenced, while Smith's actions were the real problem. </p> <p>“The Oscars producer thought, ‘Oh, he’s [Zelenskyy] not lighthearted enough.’ Well, guess what you got instead? Will Smith.”</p> <p><em>Variety</em> noted that the actor was visibly infuriated speaking on the subject, even turning red during the interview.</p> <p>“I don’t know Will Smith. I met him once,” Penn said. “He seemed very nice when I met him. He was so f***ing good in <em>King Richard</em>.”</p> <p>“So why the f**k did you just spit on yourself and everybody else with this stupid f***ing thing? Why did I go to f***ing jail for what you just did? And you’re still sitting there? Why are you guys standing and applauding his worst moment as a person?” the 63-year-old said, referencing his 1987 arrest and jail stint for punching a film extra in the face.</p> <p>“This f***ing bulls**t wouldn’t have happened with Zelenskyy,” Penn added. “Will Smith would never have left that chair to be part of stupid violence. It never would have happened.”</p> <p>Penn was so shocked and infuriated by the moment that he chose to destroy his two Oscars. </p> <p>"I thought, ‘Well, f**k, you know? I’ll give them to Ukraine. They can be melted down to bullets they can shoot at the Russians,’” he said.</p> <p>When visiting Zelenskyy in Ukraine last fall, Penn showed his support by giving the leader one of his Oscars.</p> <p>At the 2022 Oscar's ceremony, Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. </p> <p>After returning to his seat, Smith shouted out, “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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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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"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>

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