Fed: Rove puts wife's death behind him with TV return

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2007
Fed: Rove puts wife's death behind him with TV return

By Michael Gadd, National Entertainment Writer

MELBOURNE, April 1 AAP - Rove McManus put the tragic death of his wife Belinda Emmett
less than six months ago behind him as he returned to live television tonight.

The three-time Gold Logie winner opened the first episode of Rove, on Network Ten,
with a pre-recorded address to thank family, friends, the media and his fans for their
support in recent months, before proclaiming he was ready for his return.

"I guess all there's left to say is I'm doing well, everything is fine, you don't have
to worry about me any more," McManus said.

"Without forgetting the past, today is about moving forward and I'm really looking
forward to tonight and I hope you are as well."

Then it was business as usual as he recommenced his trademark on-air banter with celebrity
guests, actress/singer Toni Collette and comedian Ross Noble.

He also introduced new regulars to the variety show - Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, Carrie
Bickmore and Dave Hughes - joining long-time sidekick Peter Helliar.

McManus proved cheeky as ever, dissecting current issues and even sending a camera
crew to sneak into the FINA World Swimming Championships, which is being shown on rival
network Nine.

More celebrity was to come, with Newcastle rockers Silverchair closing the show with
their number one single Straight Lines, as frontman Daniel Johns's wife Natalie Imbruglia
danced at the side of the stage.

McManus was upbeat throughout the show's newly tightened one-hour format, even during
ad breaks as he joked with the audience.

Rove, which dropped the Live from its name, returned to Network Ten in one of the week's
most hotly contested timeslots, Sunday at 8.30pm.

Rove had a chance to ease into its Sunday slot, starting during a break in the ratings
battle over Easter.

Rove's competition from Seven was a Grey's Anatomy repeat, and the Sam Neill movie
Merlin next week, while Nine is airing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation repeats this week
and next.

It has been less than six months since McManus' actress wife of 18 months succumbed
to cancer, aged 32.

AAP mdg/mn/jm/mn

KEYWORD: ROVE

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