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Flu shots play an important role in protecting against bird flu. But not for the reason you might think

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/allen-cheng-94997">Allen Cheng</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p>A current strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has become a global problem. The virus has affected <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html">many millions</a> of birds, some other <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html">animal species</a>, and a <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/influenza/avian-and-other-zoonotic-influenza/joint-fao-oie-who-preliminary-risk-assessment-associated-with-avian-influenza-a(h5n1)-virus.pdf?sfvrsn=faa6e47e_28&amp;download=true">small number of people</a>.</p> <p>Last week, the Australian government <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australians-issued-new-health-risks-travel-warning-for-europe-asia-and-the-americas/gmh1hk9py">issued a warning</a> to residents travelling to Europe, North America, South America and Asia about the risk of bird flu.</p> <p>The alert, published on the <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-outbreak">Smartraveller website</a>, included advice to ensure your flu vaccine is up to date. If you are about to go travelling, this generally means if you’ve had a flu jab this year, although if it has been 3–6 months since your vaccine you should discuss this with your doctor.</p> <p>But the seasonal flu vaccine we get each year doesn’t actually prevent bird flu in humans. So why is it being recommended in this context?</p> <h2>Some bird flu background</h2> <p>Smartraveller notes <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-outbreak">several strains</a> of bird flu are currently circulating.</p> <p>The most concerning strain, called the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38415-7">2.3.4.4b clade</a>, emerged a few years ago from a type of influenza A (H5, or A/H5) that has been circulating for several decades.</p> <p>Clade 2.3.4.4b primarily affects birds, including wild birds and poultry. It has had <a href="https://theconversation.com/uk-poultry-can-roam-free-outside-again-but-bird-flu-risk-hasnt-gone-away-203361">devastating effects</a> on bird populations, as well as farmers and others involved in the poultry industry.</p> <p>In recent years, clade 2.3.4.4b has adapted to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44298-024-00039-z">infect some mammals</a>. Unfortunately it seems to cause severe disease in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11083745/">certain animals</a>. Some marine mammals have been hit particularly hard, with mass mortality events <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/08/mass-deaths-elephant-seals-penguins-bird-flu-antarctic-ecological-disaster-aoe">reported</a> in elephant seals and sea lions. In the United States, bird flu has also spread <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html">among dairy cows</a>.</p> <p>Compared to the huge number of animal cases, there have been a relatively small number of <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/joint-fao-who-woah-preliminary-assessment-of-recent-influenza-a(h5n1)-viruses">humans infected with bird flu</a>. Since 2003, <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/cumulative-number-of-confirmed-human-cases-for-avian-influenza-a(h5n1)-reported-to-who--2003-2023--3-october-2023">878 cases</a> of A/H5N1 influenza have been reported in humans, with a small proportion of these reported since 2020 when <a href="https://www.outbreak.gov.au/emerging-risks/high-pathogenicity-avian-influenza">clade 2.3.4.4b first emerged</a>. The reported cases have been people who have had close contact with infected animals. It does not appear to spread from person to person.</p> <p>As such, the <a href="https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/infectious-disease-topics/z-disease-list/avian-influenza/threats-and-outbreaks/risk-assessment-h5">risk to travellers is low</a>. There are some situations where the risk may be greater, such as for people visiting live markets, or those who are travelling specifically to work with wildlife or animals in food production.</p> <p><a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/joint-fao-who-woah-preliminary-assessment-of-recent-influenza-a(h5n1)-viruses">Infections in humans</a> with H5 influenza can vary significantly in severity, from mild conjunctivitis up to fatal pneumonia. H5 influenza strains appear to be <a href="https://asm.org/articles/2024/june/what-you-should-know-about-avian-influenza-a-h5n1">sensitive to antivirals</a> (oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu) and they are generally <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/hcp/novel-av-treatment-guidance/">recommended</a> as treatment for human infection, but it’s <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01307-2/fulltext">not clear</a> whether they reduce the risk of death in those with severe disease.</p> <p>To date, one case of A/H5 influenza (not 2.3.4.4b) has been <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-22/bird-flu-avian-influenza-human-detection/103879886">reported in Australia</a>, in a child who had recently returned from overseas.</p> <p>While <a href="https://www.fao.org/animal-health/situation-updates/global-aiv-with-zoonotic-potential/en">clade 2.3.4.4b has been detected</a> in all continents <a href="https://www.outbreak.gov.au/emerging-risks/high-pathogenicity-avian-influenza">except Australia</a>, other avian influenza strains (A/H7) <a href="https://www.outbreak.gov.au/current-outbreaks/avian-influenza">have been reported here</a> earlier this year.</p> <h2>Seasonal flu vaccines are not effective against bird flu</h2> <p>Seasonal influenza refers to the flu strains that circulate each year. Since the COVID pandemic, three different strains have circulated in various proportions – influenza A H1N1 (descended from the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08182">2009 swine flu strain</a>), influenza A H3N2 (which has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6149781/">circulated since 1968</a>) and an influenza B strain. Interestingly, a second influenza B strain (the Yamagata lineage) <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2314801">appears to have vanished</a> during the COVID pandemic.</p> <p>Seasonal influenza vaccines contain up-to-date variants of these types (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B) that are recommended by the World Health Organization each year. They are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5912669/">moderately effective</a>, reducing the risk of hospitalisation by about 40–60%.</p> <p>Influenza vaccines are quite specific in the protection that they provide. For seasonal vaccines, even the very small changes that occur in the virus from year to year are enough to allow them to “escape” vaccine-induced immunity. Therefore seasonal flu vaccines <a href="https://www.cdc.gov.au/topics/avian-influenza-bird-flu">do not provide any protection</a> against A/H5 influenza.</p> <h2>Preventing a hybrid bird-human strain</h2> <p>The rationale for recommending travellers have a flu shot in the context of the current bird flu outbreak is that seasonal flu vaccines may help reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with both A/H5 and a seasonal influenza strain.</p> <p>When this occurs, there is potential for a “recombination” of the genetic code from both viral strains. This could have the transmissibility of a seasonal human virus with the severity of an avian influenza virus. The 2009 swine flu strain <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra0904322">arose from the recombination</a> of several strains over years to become more transmissible in humans.</p> <p>Obviously a more effective vaccine would include a H5 strain, to generate immune responses specific to the H5 flu strain. Vaccine manufacturers have <a href="https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/celldemic">developed H5 vaccines</a> over the years, but to date <a href="https://thl.fi/en/-/avian-influenza-vaccinations-begin-vaccine-to-be-offered-to-persons-at-increased-risk-of-infection">only Finland</a> has deployed a H5 vaccine in a small group of people who work closely with potentially infected animals.</p> <p>Currently the <a href="https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/infectious-disease-topics/z-disease-list/avian-influenza/threats-and-outbreaks/risk-assessment-h5">level of risk</a> posed by H5 to humans is not thought to be sufficient to require a specific vaccine program, as the potential benefits are small compared to the costs and the potential risks associated with any new vaccine program.</p> <h2>The value of a flu shot for travellers</h2> <p>Seasonal flu vaccines protect against influenza infection, and may also reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and bird flu strains. Bird flu aside, for most travellers who haven’t received a flu shot this year, reducing the risk of illness disrupting travel plans should be enough of a reason to get one.</p> <p>For those who have already received a flu shot this season, similar to COVID jabs, protection after vaccination appears to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8499703/">wane over time</a>. So if you’re travelling to the northern hemisphere during the winter months, and it’s been more than 3–6 months since you received a flu vaccine, your doctor may recommend you have another.</p> <p>Bird flu is only a small risk to most travellers, but people may want to take sensible precautions, such as avoiding close contact with birds at markets.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237859/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/allen-cheng-94997">Allen Cheng</a>, Professor of Infectious Diseases, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/flu-shots-play-an-important-role-in-protecting-against-bird-flu-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think-237859">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Robert Irwin's exciting new role

<p>Robert Irwin has reportedly landed a high-profile hosting role on Channel Ten.</p> <p>After Dr Chris Brown's departure from <em>I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here</em>, rumours have swirled over who would replace the veteran host. </p> <p>Many believed comedian Joel Creasey would be stepping into the hosting role, but reports have emerged from <a href="https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2023/09/15/exclusive-the-new-co-host-of-im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-is/?feed_id=146232" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>TV Blackbox</em></a> that the 19-year-old wildlife warrior will be heading to the South African jungle to host alongside Julia Morris. </p> <p>The rumours have yet to be confirmed by Channel Ten, who said in a statement, “Any announcements regarding our program schedule for 2024 will be made at our intimate Upfronts presentations.”</p> <p>Despite being a relatively inexperienced host, Irwin has previously stepped in for hosting duties to replace <em>Sunrise</em> weatherman Sam Mac on occasion, and has certainly spent a lot of time in front of the camera. </p> <p>Robert’s expertise with dangerous creatures is also likely to come in handy on the jungle set for <em>I’m A Celeb</em>.</p> <p>Earlier this year, Julia Morris began teasing details about the new <em>I'm a Celeb</em> host, saying Dr Chris's replacement would have the show going "a completely different way". </p> <p>“I’m going to have to leave everything of the past behind,” she told <a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/julia-morris-spills-on-new-im-a-celebrity-co-host-completely-different-012241033.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo Lifestyle</em></a>, explaining that she was doing “chemistry” tests with six potential candidates.</p> <p>“Whoever comes in is going to want to build that together. So there’s plenty of space for that person, we’re just looking forward to finding out who that’s going to be.”</p> <p>Morris also outlined the pressure that was on her and the successful candidate after many successful years of the show. </p> <p>“Whoever that person is going to have a huge effect on whether I’m working over the next few years, so I want it to work,” she said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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How Bert Newton inspired Patti's new role on the stage

<p>Patti Newton has shared how her late husband Bert inspired her new role on the stage. </p> <p>The 78-year-old, who has had a long career in showbiz, has joined the cast of <em>Mary Poppins</em> as the bird lady, but held her reservations before accepting the role. </p> <p>Speaking candidly with Perth's 6PR radio station, Patti admitted she had a bittersweet feeling about returning to the stage without Bert. </p> <p>"I love a lot of musical theatre and Bert's done some fabulous shows, he and I did a couple together and musical theatre is something that gets in your blood," she told 6PR's Perth <em>Live with Oliver Peterson</em>.</p> <p>"When I was offered this role, it wasn't long after Bert passed and I was very lost and didn't quite know what I was going to do."</p> <p>"Then this came and I thought to myself, 'I think Bert sent this to me' because it's come straight from heaven, it's a beautiful role."</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/CvO8noRtRsp/?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/CvO8noRtRsp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mary Poppins Musical Australia (@marypoppinsmusicalau)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In August, Patti was awarded with a Walk of Fame star at Adelaide Festival Centre, 22 years after Bert was presented with the same honour. </p> <p>Patti told Oliver Peterson that the accolade meant they would "always be together", as she reflected on the highlights of her career. </p> <p>"I was absolutely thrilled, it was probably for me going to Vietnam many years ago in the '60s entertaining the troops - and probably the fact that I'm Mrs Bert Newton," she said.</p> <p>"Now I think it doesn't matter what happens, now we'll always be together on that Walk of Fame and we've both got a star there." </p> <p>"I was really thrilled about that, I thought that was very, very moving for me."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Eddie McGuire's new hosting role revealed

<p>Eddie McGuire's new hosting role has been revealed, after it was announced that <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> will go on hiatus at the end of the year. </p> <p>After 15 seasons on the air, the popular quiz show was axed earlier in August, with the last episode set to air in December. </p> <p>Now, Eddie McGuire has his sights set on a new hosting role with the comeback of <em>The Footy Show</em>. </p> <p>To celebrate the show's 30th anniversary, a special episode is set to air ahead of the AFL grand final in September. </p> <p>According to reports from the <em>Herald Sun</em>, the special episode will feature some of the show's signature highlights and performances. </p> <p>Other veteran hosts such as Sam Newman have also been approached to take part in the episode. </p> <p>The first <em>Footy Show Grand Final Spectacular</em> aired in 1993, before the midweek <em>Footy Show</em> was launched in 1994.</p> <p>Fans were left shocked when it was announced that <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> had been axed earlier this month, with Eddie announcing the news and sharing the impact the show has had. </p> <p>"It's with great pride and joy and also sadness that I announce this morning <em>Millionaire Hot Seat</em> will go into hiatus at the end of January next year," Eddie said on 3AW this month. </p> <p>"There will be a replacement show at 5pm on the Nine Network after we will hit our 25th anniversary as we go into 2024."</p> <p>"I love the fact so many people would come and say, I sat there with my grandparents and we did these things together [watched the show]."</p> <p>"There were four millionaires in total, two from each show, while many people won $250,000 and $500,000," Eddie added. </p> <p>Eddie said he loved being the host of the show because he got to meet people from all walks of life across Australia.</p> <p>"What I love about it is I've seen multicultural Australia, people who have come out in their sexuality, coming on the show and feeling really free to do so. I've seen a snapshot of Australia," he said.</p> <p>"Every person's got a story, they've got battles in their life, they don't want big a handout, they just want a bit of sunshine come their way."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

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Harrison Ford is back as an 80-year-old Indiana Jones – and a 40-something Indy. The highs (and lows) of returning to iconic roles

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-mccann-398197">Ben McCann</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em></p> <p>Saddle up, don the fedora and crack that whip: Harrison Ford is back as the intrepid archaeologist in <em>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</em>. The film premiered at Cannes, where Ford was <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/harrison-ford-honorary-palme-dor-cannes-1235495463/">awarded</a> an Honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of his life’s work.</p> <p>Reviews for the fifth film in the franchise <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/indiana-jones-5-review-roundup-1235495961/">have been mixed</a>, and it is the first Indy film not to be directed by Steven Spielberg (this time, it’s James Mangold, best known for his motor-racing drama Ford v Ferrari).</p> <p>But this is “event” cinema that combines nostalgia, old-school special effects and John Williams’ <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-jaws-to-star-wars-to-harry-potter-john-williams-90-today-is-our-greatest-living-composer-176245">iconic score</a>.</p> <p>So, Ford is back, aged 80. What draws actors back after all this time?</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eQfMbSe7F2g?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Role returns</h2> <p>Ford first played Indy in 1981 and last played him in 2008. That is a full 15 years since the most recent film in the series, and 42 years since his first outing in <em>Raiders of the Lost Ark</em>.</p> <p>Ford has form in returning to celebrated characters. One of the great pleasures of watching <em>The Force Awakens</em> back in 2015 was seeing Ford play Han Solo again for the <a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3j2j09">first time in over 30 years</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xQSIdSRlAk?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Actors return to roles for numerous reasons:</p> <ul> <li>financial (Ford was reportedly paid <a href="https://okmagazine.com/exclusives/harrison-ford-paid-indiana-jones-5-plagued-with-problems/">US$25 million</a> for <em>Dial of Destiny</em>)</li> <li>protection of their brand, image and star persona (Michael Keaton <a href="https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/the-flash-movies-biggest-hero-how-michael-keaton-saved-the-film/">returning to play Batman</a> after three decades and three other actors who have embodied the role)</li> <li>professional (Tom Cruise admitted over the 36 years between <em>Top Gun</em> films he wanted to make sure the sequel <a href="https://screenrant.com/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-return-how-explained/">could live up to the original</a>)</li> <li>personal (once-huge stars are working less and less, and only feel the need to return to a built-in fan base every few years – Bill Murray in the 2021 <em>Ghostbusters</em> sequel springs to mind).</li> </ul> <p>It’s not always a successful endeavour.</p> <p>Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone – two of the biggest action stars of the 1980s off the back of iconic roles as <em>The Terminator</em>, Rocky Balboa and John Rambo – have repeatedly returned to those roles, and critics have been <a href="https://screenrant.com/terminator-dark-fate-undermined-john-connor-storyline-franchise-bad/">particularly harsh</a>.</p> <p>It did not work for Sigourney Weaver in <em><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-resurrection-1997">Alien: Resurrection</a></em> in 1997, 18 years after her first time as Ripley; nor for Keanu Reeves in <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/dec/21/the-matrix-resurrections-review-keanu-reeves">The Matrix Resurrections</a></em> in 2021, 23 years after the original.</p> <p>And still, I’m intrigued to see what Michael Mann could do with his long-rumoured sequel to <em>Heat</em>, his definitive 1995 crime film. Ever since Mann published his novel Heat 2 last year – a kind of origin story for <em>Heat’s</em> key protagonists – fans have been hoping a de-aged Al Pacino (now aged 83) <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/04/michael-mann-heat-2-warner-bros-adam-driver-young-neil-mccauley-1235316777/">might return</a> as LA cop Vincent Hanna.</p> <h2>Undoing time</h2> <p>“Digital de-ageing” first entered the Hollywood mainstream in 2019 with <em>The Irishman</em> and <em>Captain Marvel</em>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/de-aging-actors-history-benjamin-button-dial-of-destiny-harrison-ford-1234863938/">Via this process</a>, older actors (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Samuel L. Jackson have all been subject to the technology) move back and forwards in time without younger actors having to play them.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OF-lElIlZM0?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Films still tend to cast two actors to play older and younger versions of the same character, a choice that dates back at least to 1974’s <em>The Godfather Part II</em>, in which a young Robert de Niro plays Vito Corleone, portrayed by the much older Marlon Brando in the first film.</p> <p>In 1989, <em>Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade</em> features a delightful opening scene where River Phoenix plays the young version of Indiana Jones, before Ford takes over for the rest of the film.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AwH6-Yh7_SM?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Actors used to just play characters of their own age when reprising earlier roles. Paul Newman finally won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as “Fast Eddie” Felson in <em>The Color of Money</em> (1986), a quarter of a century after first playing him in The Hustler.</p> <p>The sequel plays on Newman’s age, and his role as a mentor to an upcoming Tom Cruise, and bathes viewers in nostalgia and memories of <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/paul-newman-schooled-tom-cruise-the-color-of-money/">a younger Newman</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7gmrKAFshE?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>But actors no longer have to exclusively play their age.</p> <p>The first part of <em>Dial of Destiny</em> is an extended flashback, set in 1944, in which Ford has been digitally de-aged to appear in his 40s. This process used an AI system that scanned used and unused reels of footage of Ford from <a href="https://www.cbr.com/harrison-ford-de-aging-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny/">the first three Indy films</a> to match his present-day performance.</p> <p>Here, it is as if we are getting two Fords for the price of one: the “younger”, fitter Indy and the older, more world-weary version. It makes for a powerfully emotional connection on screen.</p> <p>Yet there are some <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/awards/indiana-jones-5-harrison-ford-de-aging-not-working-1235618698/">pitfalls to de-ageing</a>. Some viewers complain that the whole process is distracting and that the hyper-real visual look of de-aged scenes resembles a video game.</p> <p>Even so, de-ageing in Hollywood cinema is here to stay. Tom Hanks’s <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/tom-hanks-robin-wright-digitally-deaged-robert-zemeckis-movie-1235507766/">next film</a> is using AI-based generative technology to digitally de-age him.</p> <p>Given its reduced cost, speed and reduced human input, AI-driven innovation might have <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/new-ai-driven-de-ageing-tools-to-be-used-in-tom-hanks-project/">industry-changing ramifications</a>.</p> <h2>The star of Ford</h2> <p>Harrison Ford remains a bona fide “movie star” in an industry profoundly buffeted by COVID, the rise of streaming platforms, the demise of the monoculture, and the changing nature of who constitutes a star.</p> <p>In the midst of all this industry uncertainty, it seems there is no longer a statute of limitations on actors returning to much-loved characters.</p> <p>The next big ethical issue for the film industry as it further embraces AI is whether to <a href="https://collider.com/james-dean-digital-cgi-performance-in-new-movie/">resurrect deceased actors</a> and cast them in new movies.</p> <p>Still, I’m looking forward to seeing more actors de-aged as the technology improves and audiences acclimatise to watching older actors “playing” younger versions of themselves. We are only at the start of Hollywood’s next big adventure.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/202357/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-mccann-398197">Ben McCann</a>, Associate Professor of French Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/harrison-ford-is-back-as-an-80-year-old-indiana-jones-and-a-40-something-indy-the-highs-and-lows-of-returning-to-iconic-roles-202357">original article</a>.</em></p>

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“I was wrong”: Dominic Perrottet admits Catholic faith played a role in gambling reform


<p>Dominic Perrottet has changed his tune. After reflecting on his decision to implement a new gambling policy, he admits his Catholic faith played a role.</p> <p>Last week ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis made a comment claiming the premier’s “conservative Catholic gut” was linked to his decision to implement cashless poker machines across all venues in NSW. As a result, the ClubsNSW board decided to fire Landis.<br />Perrottet responded to the comment and claimed his views were “not informed by the fact that I’m Catholic.”</p> <p>Since then, Perrottet has changed his mind. He admitted that the decision was influenced by his Catholic faith. “Certainly my upbringing and my faith has had an impact,” the premier said.<br />“I don’t think that is something I should be ashamed of.”</p> <p>When asked why this policy is such a priority for him, he reflected on his time as NSW treasurer, “We were receiving revenue and profit from people’s misery.”</p> <p>Perrottet has been the state’s premier since October 2021, dealing with the state opening up after COVID and the Omnicron wave. “I haven't got everything right in the time I've been in politics, but you learn from it,” he said.</p> <p>“Politics is not easy. It's difficult and there will always be the external events and mistakes get made.”</p> <p>If Perrottet is re-elected this year, the gambling law overhaul will begin early next year with the roll-out of cashless poker machines.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

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6 movie stars who turned down Oscar-winning roles

<p>The Academy Awards is unarguably the most prestigious and sought after award in the movie industry. Actors must carefully select the scripts that will advance their careers and highlight their acting skills. Although the movie stars below have had successful careers in Hollywood, here are the times the roles they walked away from ended up receiving the prestigious golden statuette.</p> <p><strong>1. Julia Roberts</strong></p> <p>Julia Roberts was offered the role of Viola de Lesseps in <em>Shakespeare in Love</em> which took Best Picture in the Academy Awards in 1998. <em>People</em> reported that Julia was one contract away from starring in the film when she found out that Daniel Day-Lewis turned down the role. Julia wanted Daniel to play the role of Bard of Avon so when he turned down the role, she decided to pull out. Gwyneth Paltrow was then given the role and ended up winning an Oscar for Best Actress for the film.</p> <p><strong>2. Harrison Ford</strong></p> <p>Harrison Ford has made a great name for himself in Hollywood. He won an Oscar for his role in <em>The Fugitive</em> and has played two of the greatest action heroes of all time, Hans Solo and Indiana Jones. Harrison could have had one more Oscar on his shelf had he not turned down the offer to act in <em>Syriana</em>. Harrison was offered the role of CIA Agent Robert Barnes but declined the role as he “didn’t feel strongly enough about the truth of the material.” George Clooney ended up with the role and won Best Supporting Actor in 2006. After watching the film, Harrison changed his mind on the film as the issues he had with the material were rectified.</p> <p><strong>3. Gregory Peck</strong></p> <p>Gregory Peck had been nominated for an Oscar four times before he took home Best Actor in 1963 for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em>. Gregory might have taken home an Oscar sooner had he not passed on the offer to star in <em>High Noon</em>. Gregory passed on the role as he had just starred in a western <em>The Gunfighter</em> and wanted to avoid typecasting. The role was then offered to Gary Cooper who won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance. Gregory later said, "I don't think I would have been as good as Gary Cooper but I still think it would have been a good film with me in it."</p> <p><strong>4. Gwyneth Paltrow</strong></p> <p>In 2016, <em>The Danish Girl</em> received three nominations and one win at the Academy Awards. The film, however, had been stuck in the development stages for years as actors and directors continually abandoned the project. The role of Gerda Wegner, Lili’s wife, moved from Charlize Theron to Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth was ready to star in the film when a last-minute shooting location changed the actress’ mind. As she didn’t want to spend too much time away from her kids, Gwyneth decided to walk away from the role. Tom Hooper, Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander came on board with the project years later. Alicia played Gerda and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.</p> <p><strong>5. Anne Hathaway</strong></p> <p>In 2013, Jennifer Lawrence won her first Oscar for Best Actress for playing Tiffany Maxwell in <em>Silver Linings Playbook</em>. Even though Jennifer was outstanding in the film, she wasn’t the first pick for the role. Film executive Harvey Weinstein admitted that Anne Hathaway was slated for the lead female role and Bradley Cooper’s role was meant for Mark Wahlberg. Both actors were ready to star in the film until Anne had some “creative differences” with director David O. Russell. The differences couldn’t be resolved so Anne left the project and Mark Wahlberg followed her. Anne Hathaway did end up winning an Oscar that year for Best Supporting Actress in <em>Les Miserables.</em></p> <p><strong>6. Paul Bettany</strong></p> <p>The portrayal of George Vi in <em>The King’s Speech</em> was not originally intended for Colin Firth. Screenwriter David Seidler believed Paul Bettany was perfect for the role and Paul was offered the part but declined as he didn’t want to be separated from his family for a long period of time. Paul had been working for five months so decided to go home to his family instead of working on a new film in Buckingham Palace. Reflecting on his decision to walk away from the role Paul said, “I regret not working with such amazing, amazing actors and directors and writers. But no, I have to do the right by my family every time.” Colin Firth was chosen for the role and in 2011, he won Best Actor in this film.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Ever feel like your life is a performance? Everyone does – and this 1959 book explains roles, scripts and hiding backstage

<p>Shakespeare’s adage — “All the world’s a stage” — suggests human beings are conditioned to perform, and to possess an acute social awareness of how they appear in front of others.</p> <p>It resonates in the age of social media, where we’re all performing ourselves on our screens and watching each other’s performances play out. Increasingly, those screen performances are how we meet people, and how we form relationships: from online dating, to remote work, to staying in touch with family.</p> <p>While the idea of performance as central to social life has been around for centuries, <a href="https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199756384/obo-9780199756384-0228.xml">Erving Goffman</a> was the first to attempt a comprehensive account of society and everyday life using theatre as an analogy.</p> <p>His influential 1959 book <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-9780241547991">The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life</a> is something of a “bible” for scholars interested in questions of how we operate in everyday life. It became a surprise US bestseller on publication, crossing over to a general readership.</p> <p>Goffman wrote about how we perform different versions of ourselves in different social environments, while keeping our “backstage” essential selves private. He called his idea <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003160861-3/dramaturgy-charles-edgley?context=ubx&amp;refId=6e9b71d0-973c-4ebe-b90b-41a372d12623">dramaturgy</a>.</p> <p>Playwright Alan Bennett <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v03/n19/alan-bennett/cold-sweat">wrote admiringly</a> of him, “Individuals knew they behaved in this way, but Goffman knew everybody behaved like this and so did I.”</p> <h2>Goffman as influencer (and suspected spy)</h2> <p>In a <a href="https://www.isa-sociology.org/en/about-isa/history-of-isa/books-of-the-xx-century">poll of professional sociologists</a>, Goffman’s book ranked in the top ten publications of the 20th century.</p> <p>It influenced playwrights such as <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/019027250907200402">Tom Stoppard</a> and, of course, Bennett, who <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Alan-Bennett-A-Critical-Introduction/OMealy/p/book/9780815335405">was interested in</a> depicting and analysing the role-playing of everyday life that Goffman identified.</p> <p>Goffman was <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781444396621.ch24">born in Mannville</a>, Alberta in 1922 to Ukrainian Jewish parents who migrated to Canada. The sister of the man who would become famous for his theatre analogies was an actor, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0062844/">Frances Bay</a>: late in life, she would play quirky, recognisable roles such as the “marble rye” lady on <a href="https://theconversation.com/science-of-seinfeld-131606">Seinfeld</a> and a recurring part on <a href="https://theconversation.com/ill-see-you-again-in-25-years-the-return-to-twin-peaks-32624">Twin Peaks</a> (as Mrs Tremond/Chalfant).</p> <p>The path to Goffman’s book was an unusual one. It didn’t come from directly studying the theatre, or even from asking questions about theatregoers.</p> <p>While completing postgraduate studies at the the University of Chicago, Goffman was given the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in the Shetland Islands, an isolated part of northern Scotland, for his <a href="https://www.mediastudies.press/pub/ns-ccic/release/4">PhD dissertation</a>.</p> <p>Goffman pretended to be there to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470999912.ch3">study agricultural techniques</a>. But his actual reason was to examine the everyday life of the Shetland Islanders. As he observed the everyday practices and rituals of the remote island community, he had to negotiate suspicions he may <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Goffman-Social-Organization-Sociological-Routledge/dp/0415112044">have been a spy</a>.</p> <p>In Goffman’s published book, the ethnography of the Shetland Islands takes a back seat to his dramaturgical theory.</p> <h2>More than a popular how-to manual</h2> <p><a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-9780241547991">The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life</a> quickly became <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Sociological-Bent-InsideMetro-Culture/dp/0170120015">a national bestseller</a>. It was picked up by general readers “as a guide to social manners and on how to be clever and calculating in social intercourse without being obvious”.</p> <p>This fascinating and complex academic work could indeed be read as a “how-to” manual on how to impress others and mitigate negative impressions. But Goffman <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Erving-Goffman/Smith/p/book/9780415355919">didn’t mean</a> “performance” literally. Reading the book as a guide to middle-class etiquette misses some of its nuances.</p> <p>One is the sophisticated understanding of how reality and contrivance relate to each other. A good performance is one that appears “unselfconscious”; a “contrived” performance is one where the fact the social actor is performing a role is “painstakingly evident”.</p> <p>In everyday language, we tend to describe the latter as trying too hard. But Goffman is making a more general point, about the way we all perform ourselves, all the time – whether the effort is visible or not.</p> <p>If “All the world is not, of course, a stage”, then “the crucial ways in which it isn’t are not easy to specify”.</p> <h2>Playing roles and being in character</h2> <p>Today, we regularly use theatrical terms like “role”, “script”, “props”, “audience” and being “in and out of character” to describe how people behave in their everyday social life. But Goffman is the one who introduced these concepts, which have become part of our shared language.</p> <p>Together, they highlight how social life depends on what Goffman terms a shared definition of particular situations.</p> <p>Whether we are performing our work roles, having dinner with someone for whom we have romantic affections, or dealing with strangers in a public setting, we need to produce and maintain the appropriate definition of that reality.</p> <p>These activities are “performances”, according to Goffman, because they involve mutual awareness or attentiveness to the information others emit. This mutual awareness, or attention to others, means humans are constantly performing for audiences in their everyday lives.</p> <h2>Being in and out of character</h2> <p>It matters who the audience is – and what type of audience we have for our performances. When thinking about how people adapt their behaviour for others, Goffman differentiates between “front regions” and “back regions”.</p> <p>Front regions are where we must present what is often referred to as the “best version of ourselves”. In an open-plan office, a worker needs to look busy if their supervisor is about. So, in the front region, they need to look engaged, industrious and generally perform the role of being a worker. In an open-plan office, a worker needs to be constantly “in character”, as Goffman puts it.</p> <p>Back regions are where a social actor can “let their guard down”. In the context of a workplace, the back regions might refer to the bathroom, the lunchroom or anywhere else where the worker can relax their performance and potentially resort to “out of character” behaviour.</p> <p>If the worker takes a diversionary break to gossip with a colleague when their supervisor is no longer in earshot, they could be said to be engaging in back region conduct.</p> <p>Front and back regions are not defined by physical locations. A back region is any situation in which the individual can relax and drop their performance. (Of course, this means regions overlap with physical locations to some extent – people are more likely to be able to relax when they’re in more private settings.)</p> <p>Thus, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/opinion/open-plan-office-awful.html">open-plan offices</a> are often unpopular because workers feel they are constantly under surveillance. Conversely, the work-from-home arrangements that have become more common since the era of COVID lockdowns are popular because they allow people to relax their work personae.</p> <p>Renowned writer Jenny Diski <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v26/n05/jenny-diski/think-of-mrs-darling">reflected</a> in 2004, "reading Goffman now is alarmingly claustrophobic. He presents a world where there is nowhere to run; a perpetual dinner party of status seeking, jockeying for position and saving face. Any idea of an authentic self becomes a nonsense. You may or may not believe in what you are performing; either type of performance is believed in or it is not."</p> <h2>21st-century Goffman</h2> <p>Dramaturgy has survived the onset of our new media environment, where the presentation of the self has migrated to platforms as diverse as <a href="https://theconversation.com/instagram-and-facebook-are-stalking-you-on-websites-accessed-through-their-apps-what-can-you-do-about-it-188645">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-corn-how-the-online-viral-corn-kid-is-on-a-well-worn-path-to-fame-in-the-child-influencer-industry-189974">TikTok</a>. In some ways, it’s more relevant than ever.</p> <p>Goffman’s approach has been applied to <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/no-sense-of-place-9780195042313?cc=au&amp;lang=en&amp;">electronic media</a>, radio and <a href="https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Media_and_Modernity/asB7QgAACAAJ?hl=en">television</a> <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003160861-19/reception-goffman-work-media-studies-peter-lunt">studies</a>, <a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262515047/new-tech-new-ties/">mobile phones</a> – and, more recently, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13548565211036797">social media</a> and even <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0263276419829541">AI studies</a>.</p> <p>The “successful staging” (as Goffman terms it) of our social roles has only become more complex. This is perfectly illustrated by “BBC Dad” Robert Kelly, whose 2017 <a href="https://junkee.com/bbc-dad-pictures-kids-now-marion-james/324165">live television interview</a> from his home study was interrupted when his children wandered into the room. This was before COVID lockdowns, when our home and work lives (and personae) increasingly merged.</p> <p>“Everyone understands that now,” <a href="https://junkee.com/bbc-dad-pictures-kids-now-marion-james/324165">wrote Reena Gupta</a> in 2022. “You or someone in your family or circle of friends has been BBC Dad.”</p> <p>Maintaining and maximising performances still matters. And so does Goffman.</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/ever-feel-like-your-life-is-a-performance-everyone-does-and-this-1959-book-explains-roles-scripts-and-hiding-backstage-195939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Palace confirms Prince George's role at Coronation

<p>As King Charles' highly-anticipated Coronation ceremony draws closer, the Palace has confirmed a very special role for Prince George. </p> <p>Just one month before the historic event is set to take place at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace has shared that the King's eldest grandson will have a key role at the coronation, acting as one of the four page boys attending to the King throughout the ceremony.</p> <p>In total eight pages will be involved, four assigned to the King and four to the Queen Consort.</p> <p>Joining Prince George, who will be nine at the time of the coronation, assisting the King as pages will be Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Nicholas Barclay and Ralph Tollemache.</p> <p>Camilla will have her grandsons, Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 13, helping her and along with her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot.</p> <p>The news of Prince George's involvement comes as the Palace has released the official coronation portrait, which was taken last month inside the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace by Hugo Burnand.</p> <p>In addition to the official portraits, the Palace shared an image of the elaborately illustrated invitation that will be sent out later this month to 2,000 guests who have secured a much-coveted place at the Coronation. </p> <p>As stated on the invitation, it has been revealed that "Consort" will be dropped from Camilla's official title, as she will be referred to as "Queen Camilla" after the Coronation. </p> <p>The invitation reads, "The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla."</p> <p>When asked about the title, a senior royal aide confirmed, "It made sense to refer to her Majesty as The Queen Consort in the early months of His Majesty’s reign, to distinguish from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."</p> <p>"Queen Camilla is the appropriate title to set against King Charles on the invitation. The Coronation is an appropriate time to start using 'Queen Camilla' in an official capacity."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Buckingham Palace / Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Sam Armytage's major new role

<p dir="ltr">Sam Armytage is making a move back to permanent hosting duties for the first time since leaving <em>Sunrise </em>in 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a massie shake-up for Channel 7, Armytage has been announced as the new host for <em>Farmer Wants a Wife</em>, taking over from long-serving host Natalie Gruzlewski.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gruzlewski has hosted the reality show on and off since it began in 2007, with Armytage occasionally stepping in as the co-host.</p> <p dir="ltr">The two women have essentially swapped roles, with Gruzlewski staying on the team to co-host and mingle with contestants.</p> <p dir="ltr">When Armytage joined the show last year, she would engage with contestants in a more casual setting while Gruzlewski fronted the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a press release issued by Seven on Monday, it casually referred to Armytage as “host” and Gruzlewski as “co-host” in the last line of the statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">The media outlet did not address the major shake-up in their press release, but rather spoke to <em><a href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/02/sam-armytage-new-host-of-farmer-wants-a-wife.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TV Tonight</a></em> about what the host change will mean for the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">Seven’s director of scheduling Brook Hall said, “They’re both in the show still. [Previously] Nat was front and centre and Sam was advising on dates. But if I’m being honest, they’ve kind of slightly flipped.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nat has ‘Nat’s Getaway’ [a segment on <em>Farmer</em>] so she’ll be co-host, she’ll be opening the start. It’s more blended, with one front and one appearing. But yes, Samantha Armytage is taking more centre stage.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Farmer Wants a Wife</em> originally aired on the Nine network from 2007 until 2012, before it was revived for one season in 2016 with Sam McClymont as host.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was cancelled shortly afterwards, before Seven picked up the rights to the show in 2019 and commissioned a new season, with Gruzlewski returning as series host yet again.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Seven</em></p>

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Jamie Lee Curtis looks back on some of her most iconic roles

<p>Whether you know her from her <em>Halloween </em>‘scream queen’ roots or her comedic prowess in the body swap <em>Freaky Friday</em>, Jamie Lee Curtis is an actress who needs no introduction. </p> <p>The star - who had been credited in an astounding 80 projects before her first ever Academy Awards nomination in 2023 for her role in <em>Everything Everywhere All at Once </em>- has seen and done it all. Beginning her career at the age of 19, Curtis has spent the years since adding success after success to her resume, and proving her doubters wrong at almost every turn. </p> <p>And in a candid interview with <em>Yahoo Entertainment</em>, the actress opened up about some of the most memorable roles that have steered her journey in Hollywood. </p> <ul> <li><strong>Laurie Strode, <em>Halloween </em>(1978)</strong></li> </ul> <p>Curtis made her film debut on the set of John Carpenter’s cult classic <em>Halloween</em>, and though the film (and its entire franchise) is considered to be one of the most influential horror films of all time, the then-19-year-old Curtis found nothing to be scared of while filming. </p> <p>The reason? Nick Castle, who played the film’s main antagonist Michael Myers, was too much of a delight to instill real terror in Curtis. </p> <p>“Here's the problem,” she explained. “He's played by Nick Castle, who was one of John's best friends. He had two little kids, his wife was around, and he's this funny guy. And he's also a very talented director and he's a musician. So I cannot lie to you and tell you I was so frightened." </p> <ul> <li><strong>Tess Coleman, <em>Freaky Friday</em> (2003)</strong></li> </ul> <p>Curtis was actually a last minute replacement for Annette Bening in the 2003 body swap comedy <em>Freaky Friday</em>, but that certainly didn’t put a damper on her experience. </p> <p>The actress became fast friends with Lindsay Lohan while playing the mother-daughter duo, and the pair have remained in contact ever since. In a fun friendship anecdote, Curtis shared how she has a test in place to find out whether or not it is Lohan texting her, or some sneaky stranger. </p> <p>"There's a song called 'Like I Love You' by Justin Timberlake. Lindsay and I were doing a scene in a car, and there was a lot of time in between takes, and there's a rap in the middle of that song by Clipse. She and I were trying to learn the words, and we were, like, sitting there with a pad,” she said. </p> <p>“We were writing them down,” Curtis continued. “And then we would do the scene, and then we'd play the song and try to lip-sync the few words that we knew. I'm telling you, we laughed. And that is my secret code with her. 'What was the song we were lip-syncing to in the car?'”</p> <p>She then confessed that while she may have given away their secret code, she wasn’t worried - the two have a second one, just in case. </p> <ul> <li><strong>Helen, <em>True Lies </em>(1994)</strong></li> </ul> <p>Although Curtis has said that the 1994 James Cameron blockbuster tops the list of her favourite filming experiences, featuring everything from a striptease to an intense helicopter stunt scene, she almost didn’t star at all, with co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger hesitant about signing her on to play his wife in the action packed project.</p> <p>When explaining why, Curtis noted that Arnold knew her “as Tony’s daughter”. Her father, Tony Curtis, had starred in the only film Schwarzenegger had directed, the 1992 <em>Christmas in Connecticut</em>. </p> <p>"He only knew me as Tony's daughter,” she said. “He loved Tony Curtis, so I'm sure Arnold just looked at me like it'd be like kissing your niece or something ... I guarantee, in fact, he did not want me to be in that movie. I think he just thought it would be weird. We knew each other a little bit socially. I just don't think he thought of me as his leading lady, I think he thought of me as Tony's little girl. And it was Jim who said, 'no, I've written this for her. She's the one to do this with you’.”</p> <p>Schwarzenegger, of course, eventually came around on the idea. And the rest, as they say, is history. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Movies

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Why Channel 7 is happy that Ally Langdon left her role on The Today Show

<p dir="ltr">Channel 7 is secretly happy at the changes their competition Channel 9 has done to the breakfast show.</p> <p dir="ltr">The broadcaster announced that Ally Langdon will leave her role on <em>The Today Show</em> to replace Tracy Grimshaw as host of <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo will take over Ally’s place next to Karl Stefanovic in the new year.</p> <p dir="ltr">But now insiders are saying that this change will see Channel 7 continue to beat Channel 9 in the breakfast TV show ratings.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’ve weakened their position in the real battleground. Anyone can host A Current Affair, but breakfast TV is a different game,” a Seven insider told Diary.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, this is not the case from Channel 9’s perspective because of veteran <em>Sunrise</em> reporter David “Kochie” Koch limiting his workload in the new year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, it was unclear whether or not Kochie will remain the face of <em>Sunrise</em> alongside Nat Barr.</p> <p dir="ltr">But he was able to successfully negotiate more flexibility to spend more time with his family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After 20 years, I've felt I needed more flexibility in my life with my wife Libby and my business interests,” he told The Australian in October.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So when I mentioned leaving to Seven, (CEO) James (Warburton) very kindly asked me whether we could work together on a plan that I wanted, which also kept my connection to the network and my focus on Sunrise.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His decision is the only comfort that Channel 9 have at winning the breakfast show ratings after a very long time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Kochie leaving marks a huge opportunity for Today - there is no denying that,” a Nine insider said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He is a breakfast TV behemoth. He has underpinned Sunrise's dominance for two decades.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The idea of a breakfast TV landscape without him gives Today clear air for the first time in 20 years and there is a real sense of opportunity here.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It means Karl will now be the most senior presence on either show... and that could resonate with viewers.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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King Charles takes on a new role on his 74th birthday

<p>King Charles has taken on a new role just one day before his 74th birthday.</p> <p>The Palace announced that His Majesty has officially taken the role of The Ranger of Windsor Great Park, a post previously held by his late father, Prince Philip.</p> <p>The Duke of Edinburgh was the longest-serving Ranger of Windsor Great Park, holding the role from 1952 until his passing in 2021.</p> <p>Sharing a new official portrait of the King on the Royal Family's Instagram, the caption explains that The Ranger of The Great Park "offers oversight and guidance to the Deputy Ranger and his team in the day-to-day stewardship of one of the country’s oldest estates."</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/Ck8HT4_slDL/?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/p/Ck8HT4_slDL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The appointment of the new role coincides with the King's 74th birthday, which falls on November 14th.</p> <p>Having spent Sunday leading the nation and the royal family at the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, King Charles celebrated his birthday privately, with no official engagements announced.</p> <p>This is Charles’ first birthday since becoming Britain’s new monarch after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“It’s a massive coup”: Royal’s new TV role

<p dir="ltr">Mike Tindall is reported to be taking part in the new season of Australia’s <em>I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!</em></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/20077486/im-a-celebrity-first-royal-family-member/?utm_source=sharebar_app&amp;utm_medium=sharebar_app&amp;utm_campaign=sharebar_app_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a> reported that the husband of Princess Anne’s daughter Zara, will be heading to Australia to appear on the show. </p> <p dir="ltr">"It's a massive coup. Mike has had a box seat for some of the most important moments in royal history for generations,” a source told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He is sure to be discreet, but his sheer presence means this series will be an absolute must-watch."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!</em> Is due to hit the screens in November and the lineup will be announced closer to the launch date.</p> <p dir="ltr">If rumours are true that Mike will be appearing on the show, it will make him the first royal to sign up for the long-running programme.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others however have compared Mike’s move to Meghan Markle’s previous role in the huge Netflix series <em>Suits</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">This prompted a response from renowned UK journalist Piers Morgan who pointed out that the Tindall’s were never working royals. </p> <p dir="ltr">"There will be some who sneer today that Tindall shouldn’t be degrading himself by taking part in a TV reality show and comparing him to royal renegades Meghan and Harry, who quit Britain and royal duty to ruthlessly exploit their titles for massive commercial gain in America,” Piers wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"But here's the difference: the Tindalls have never been working royals, had any royal titles, or received any public money. They are self-sufficient financially, trading off their mutual huge success in the sporting arena."</p> <p dir="ltr">Mike and Zara married in 2011 and have three children, Mia, eight, Lena, four, and Lucas, one.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

TV

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Kochie stunned at how George Lazenby scored 007 role

<p>George Lazenby, Australia's first and only actor to play the iconic role of James Bond, has shared how he scored the role of 007. </p> <p>The 82-year-old actor is travelling around Australia, revealing secret 007 stories on stage, along with a concert performance featuring all the famous songs from the James Bond movies.</p> <p>During his tour, Lazenby stopped by the <em>Sunrise</em> studios to share how he joined the elite list of Bond actors that include Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery and Daniel Craig.</p> <p>Chatting with Nat Barr and Kochie, he said it's all about who you know. </p> <p>“I started off with a friend of mine who wanted to be an actor and he had a date with a casting director, and he said ‘you’ve got to help me out, my girlfriend has come back into town’,” Lazenby said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The only Aussie to ever play James Bond, George Lazenby, told Sunrise how the infamous Hollywood casting couch resulted in him landing the screen role of a lifetime playing super spy <a href="https://twitter.com/007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@007</a> <a href="https://t.co/hfqCrZbzWz">pic.twitter.com/hfqCrZbzWz</a></p> <p>— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1564855509261242369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>“I went to meet the casting director, Maggie Abbott, who was the biggest agent in London at the time."</p> <p>“Then we went home, I won’t tell you what we did, but you can guess, and she was quite impressed.”</p> <p>“She had a casting couch?” Koch asked, stunned.</p> <p>“Uh, yes,” Lazenby replied.</p> <p>George was working as a model at the time, and said he had no intention of going into acting until Abbott tracked him down. </p> <p>Lazenby also admitted to turning down big money to continue on as Bond after his manager convinced him to follow Clint Eastwood’s path into westerns.</p> <p>The actor is <a href="https://concertworks.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">touring Australia</a> performing songs made famous by the Bond franchise throughout September.</p> <p>He’ll be joined by <em>SAS Australia</em> contestant and <em>Australia’s Got Talent</em> winner Bonnie Anderson, and <em>The Voice Australia’s</em> Luke Kennedy.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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Quaden Bayles' blockbuster new role

<p>A young Indigenous boy with dwarfism, who captured hearts after an emotional plea to his school bullies went viral, has been offered a role in the new Mad Max movie. </p> <p>Quaden Bayles, an 11-year-old Queensland boy with achondroplasia, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/quaden-bayles-puts-vicious-rumours-of-fake-age-to-rest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went viral in 2020</a> after his mother live-streamed a video on Facebook following the latest cruel bullying incident.</p> <p>The heartbreaking video, in which Quaden asks for a knife so he can kill himself, captured the world’s attention and Quaden received support from celebrities like Australia’s A-listers such as Hugh Jackman, Mark Hamill and Jon Bernthal.</p> <p>The boy’s anguish was also seen by Oscar-winning Australian filmmaker George Miller, who invited Quaden to appear in his upcoming film <em>Three Thousand Years of Longing</em>, which is due for release next month.</p> <p>Miller was so impressed with Quaden’s performance in the film, which also stars Hollywood heavyweights Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, that he invited him to appear as an extra in his next film <em>Furiosa.</em></p> <p><em>Furiosa</em> is set to be the fifth instalment in the Mad Max franchise and a prequel to 2015’s smash hit <em>Mad Max: Fury Road</em>.</p> <p>“It was good for us and it was good for him,” Miller told Good Weekend magazine.</p> <p>“And he did such a good job that he’s got a small role in <em>Furiosa</em>.”</p> <p>Due for release in 2024, <em>Furiosa</em> will star Anya Taylor-Joy and Australia’s Chris Hemsworth, and is expected to focus on the origins of Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa character, who was introduced in the six-time Academy Award winning <em>Mad Max: Fury Road</em>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Supplied</em></p>

Movies

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"It's been fun": ScoMo joins in on nationwide roasting of himself

<p>As the internet banded together to create memes and art out of Scott Morrison's secret ministerial roles, the former PM thought he would join in the fun.</p> <p>After the news broke of ScoMo secretly appointing himself to at least five ministries without the public's knowledge while he was prime minister, businesses, artists, journalists, and internet fiends alike started rolling out the memes of Morrison working different roles. </p> <p>But the barrage of sarcasm came to a screeching halt on Thursday night, when the opposition backbencher joined in. </p> <p>The Member for Cook's official Facebook page went on a commenting spree, replying to more than a dozen memes from Aussie companies welcoming him to their team.</p> <p>"It's been fun joining in on all the memes. But there are so many now I can't keep up," Morrison said, in a post accompanying his own attempt at a meme.</p> <p>"As Aussies we can always have a chuckle at ourselves. Have a good evening."</p> <p>"This was my own effort with the Sooshi Mango boys. Glad to be also joining their team, along with all the other gigs you guys have given me today."</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fscottmorrisonmp%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02ugv6rDyELJ2DJek9XCdS9bGMH5UUNoLRJXMrRr4pKUL11aL2rzgU2hNqx78aMNoFl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="472" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The former PM gleefully responded to Photoshopped posts showing him tiling, concreting, moving a piano and even modelling a new range of fetching women's sun shirts.</p> <p>Some commenters praised Morrison's tongue in cheek reaction, thanking him for a "few good chuckles" but others were not so complimentary.</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmalidesignsau%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02oEDWSsUV6fAgodQLu7CrudeJmdZoK8suoTLDWL5CPdNjUhgSsxeARiU5PGifEWZ8l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="459" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJeffordtreeservices%2Fposts%2Fpfbid09yc15H4KprM5vD8T7yPexQ44SZyPjCGb7TmU8XaWq41tphsXdAQnGUUNUhxx5nu1l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="658" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsouthportbudgettyres%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02ZvRpAcmCJnwF61KB6tVEK4ieU1EYPT9Q1ZLAsHx1Qaoi3fXXX89E78wPLQeKAwjjl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="432" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frooftilersmind%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02MvegtBhwppWBRqUdNP6aCe7GNuyUKdxckkYFQKvDVoQZjX7z3Zu8zUHd6Rijf7W1l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="608" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>"You think the running of this country is a joke," one user wrote.</p> <p>"Have some humility and say you made a mistake. We don't need US-style gloating about how badly you behaved in office."</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched an investigation into how Morrison was able to take on extra portfolios in secret during his time in the top job, describing the moves as "beyond belief".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Andrew Bolt leads the charge on Scott Morrison tirade

<p>Andrew Bolt has unleashed a scathing tirade against former Prime Minister Scott Morrison for secretly appointing himself to five ministries during his time as PM. </p> <p>The <em>Sky News</em> host said Morrison has "embarrassed" the Liberal party and should "just go" from the government all together. </p> <p>The fired-up conservative commentator also blasted new Liberal leader Peter Dutton for defending Mr Morrison, saying it amounted to a "double disaster".</p> <p>In an almost 10 minute long monologue, Bolt slammed Morrison and his apology. </p> <p>"Former prime minister Scott Morrison has embarrassed, even devastated his party and today the scandal got even more bizarre," Bolt said. </p> <p>"He's finished, quit parliament now, just go."</p> <p>Bolt said Mr Dutton made "exactly the wrong call" when he defended Morrison and should have "cut him loose". </p> <p>He was furious Mr Morrison had gone on 2GB radio on Tuesday to "defend his crazy decision" to make himself the second Minister for Health, Resources and Finance and was asked "was that all, just those three?"</p> <p>Mr Morrison denied there were any more roles, but shortly after it emerged that he had also appointed himself as the second Treasurer and Home Affairs Minister. </p> <p>"What a shocking memory. Morrison had somehow forgotten being secretly sworn in by the Governor-General as minister of not just one more ministry, but two," Bolt said.</p> <p>"It seems that Morrison got a real taste of power when he became the other Health Minister, and over the next 14 months got hungrier and hungrier."</p> <p>Despite Bolt's take on Scott Morrison's wrongdoings, the former PM was defended by former Liberal prime minister, John Howard, who led the country from 1996 to 2007, who said he should not resign from parliament over the scandal. </p> <p>"I don't think it's something that is so reeking with principle as to require an unwanted, expensive, unnecessary by-election," Mr Howard said on ABC's <em>7.30</em>.</p> <p>"There are reasons why he did it. And part of the conservative tradition is to always understand the context."</p> <p>When quizzed for said context, Mr Morrison issued a lengthy explanation on why he secretly appointed himself to these ministries during his time as PM, saying he made the unprecedented decision partly because he feared that ministers at any moment could be struck down with Covid.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Sky News</em></p>

News

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Karl Stefanovic's exciting new role

<p>Just two years after returning to <em>The Today Show</em>, Karl Stefanovic is preparing to step into a new role. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/karl-stefanovic-leave-today-show-71879" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woman's Day</a>, the 47-year-old presenter is rumoured to be swapping the bright lights of morning television for Australia's powerful boardrooms. </p> <p>"He's committed to getting people back into regional Australia – last week he was in country Victoria and NSW with the charity Gotcha4Life's Mateship Miles Roadshow – he's passionate about this sort of stuff," and insider source told the publication. </p> <p>Despite this pivot in his career, Karl will still continue to report on the big stories for <em>Today</em>, much like he did during the recent floods and bushfires.</p> <p>However, his regular co-hosting duties are rumoured wound back so he can spend more time with his beloved family. </p> <p>"After more than two decades at Nine, he remains their number one, and they're doing everything to keep their star recruit happy for at least another 10 years," says the insider.</p> <p>"He'll also be doing a lot more at <em>60 Minutes</em> now travel is back on the cards," said the source, who noted he has impressed Channel Nine executives with his recent sit-downs with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and opposition leader Anthony Albanese.</p> <p>It is also rumoured that the network will heavily rely on Karl and his media connections to work his magic when it comes to negotiating major broadcasting rights like the NRL. </p> <p>"They're already calling him "seal-the-deal Karl", quips the source, who explains it's clear the TV anchor has become Nine's new "secret weapon" when it comes to winning over important advertisers and investors. </p> <p>The change of pace for Karl comes as he wishes to spend more time off screen and invest in valuable family time. </p> <p>"He's reinvented himself and has never been more content. He's loving life with Jas and their little girl Harper, who is a real character, like her dad," says the insider. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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