Beloved Australian actor Ian Smith, who is best known for playing Harold Bishop on Neighbours, has revealed that he has cancer.
In an emotional interview with Channel 10, the 86-year-old announced he’s been diagnosed with a rare and “non-fixable” form of lung cancer, pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.
During the interview, the Neighbours actor explained the diagnosis has led him to step away from acting, marking the end of his extraordinary career.
“It isn’t just my last day in Neighbours;it’s my last day of work,” Ian told Channel 10 as the network joined the actor on his last day on Ramsay Street.
Ian Smith as Harold on Neighbours (right). Image: Ten.
Ian Smith’s time on Neighbours
First appearing on Neighbours in 1987 as a love interest for character Madge Mitchell (Anne Charleston), the much-loved Harold Bishop went on to become one of the show’s most enduring characters.
Ian had five stints on the program, including one for 12 years from 1996—one of the longest character runs in the show’s history. His most recent return came in May of this year, which was intended as a permanent comeback.
“I’ve had the most privileged life,” Ian continued.
“And I know a lot of actors boo-hoo Soap, well, to tell you what. We didn’t just make Soap, we made the best bloody Soap there was to make. I have met the most beautiful people.”
A throwback photo of Harold and Madge on Neighbours. Image: Ten.
Ian Smith’s last day on Neighbours
Ian’s last day on set was filled with touching moments, including a poignant reunion with Anne, who Channel 10 have confirmed will film goodbye scenes with him.
Ian described being deeply moved by the overwhelming response of his fellow castmates.
“It knocked me out a bit,” he said. “It made me stop, look at myself and say, ‘Okay, old cynical Smith,’ rethink your outlook on life.”
The actor who plays Harold on Neighbours revealed he has undergone three treatments for his cancer so far, including the “reasonably new” immunotherapy.
“I’ve really put my hand up, just to be a guinea pig. Plus the fact I don’t want to die,” he reflected.
“I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can. If they can do that [then] I’m very happy.”
It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally seen the arrival of Chrishell Stause on the streets of Neighbours,and fans are frothing over the change.
Folks have been expecting the Selling Sunset star to arrive on the set of Neighbours for some time now, but now that she’s here, social media is lighting up.
Who is Chrishell playing in Neighbours?
Chrishell has arrived on Neighbours. Image: Paramount+
Those who are familiar with Chrishell will know that she has a history of working on soap operas. Her acting career kicked off when she played Amanda Dillon on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children and later on joined the cast of Days of Our Lives.
In more recent years, she joined Selling Sunset, which skyrocketed her popularity with fans.
The actor is joining the cast of a revamped Neighbours as a businesswoman – Yasmine ‘Yaz’ Shields. Apparently, Yaz’s brother, Heath Royce (Ethan Panizza), was killed when pushed into a creek by Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong-Hall)… so we can expect some drama to follow this character’s arrival.
In a recent interview with The Project, Chrishell shared that her character has a “secret motive” – naturally.
How are fans reacting to Chrishell’s Neighbours debut?
Audiences are flocking to social media, commenting on a recent Facebook video shared by the soap opera about the new character’s arrival.
“Congratulations on the Neighours (sic) role,” shared one commenter.
“Definitely looks like trouble. Bring it on,” said another excited fan.
Over on Instagram, one fan shared they felt the scene was the “Best character intro ever! Chrishell is iconic.” This was followed by another audience member saying, “YAY! Excited for this!”
Neighbours: A New Chapter is available to watch now on 10Play or Paramount+.
Jade Phalen is about to enter the Love Island Australia 2024 villa, and we can’t wait to see whose head she will turn.
The 21-year-old Bombshell from Brisbane is late for entry to the villa, but luckily for her, not everyone is currently coupled up.
Here’s everything we know about Love Island 2024’s Jade.
Jade Phalen’s Love Island promo shot. Image: Nine.
What does Love Island’s Jade do for work?
Jade works as a retail Store Manager in Queensland.
What is Jade looking for in the villa?
According to Jade’s Love Island bio, she’s never been in love and is hoping to find just that inside the villa. She’s made it clear that she’s looking for a man who can give her their undivided attention.
Jade Phalen. Image: Instagram.
Who could Jade Phalen couple up with?
As Love Island fans know, being a late addition to the villa often means that most of the Islanders are already in solid couples.
However, this year is a little different. While there currently aren’t any Islanders who are technically single, Zane Prophet broke things off with Kaylah Holmes — who he’s technically coupled up with — after he got back from Hotel Amor.
At Hotel Amor, Zane was partnered with Sophie Mills, who he’d been hooked up with before the show. During the challenge, Zane and Sophie made out and got “handsy”. And, Mimi Paranihi told Chattr in an interview that the new couples had a lot of time off camera during Hotel Amor.
The rest of the villa is partnered up. However, Taylor is in a new couple with Hannah. Will he stray for Jade? We can’t wait to find out.
Stream Love Island Australia Mondays to Thursdays on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Every season, Bombs are dropped into the villa in the form of hot, sexy singles who are looking for love — and who usually aren’t afraid to step on some toes on their quest to find it.
As always, Love Island Australia 2024 started off with five OG guys and five OG girls, but the first bombshell entered in the very first episode.
Throughout the season, we’ll update this page with every Bombshell who’s entered Love Island Australia 2024 so you can keep up.
Bombshell Sophie posing with Em and Mimi in the Love Island villa. Image: Nine.
Eric Garcia, Episode 20
Eric Garcia’s entrance into the villa was teased at the end of Episode 20. Eric loves working out and looking for someone with similar interests to him. Could Kaylah Holmes be the one?
Jade Phalen, Episode 20
During the episode’s promo on November 28, it was announced that Jade Phalen would join the Love Island Australia 2024 villa.
Jade will be entering alongside Eric and confidently stated that she doesn’t have a problem picking up men outside of the villa.
“Boys like the light eyes, dark hair combo — it works every time,” she said in her intro clip.
Mia Dalkos, Episode 15
MiaDalkos, 23, is a fashion professional from Adelaide with a Greek background she describes herself in her intro video as “very loud and dramatic.” The Bombshell says her best features are her eyes and, of course, her booty.
She’s made it clear she’s not here to play and won’t hesitate to “step on any toes.”
This Greek Goddess says she’s looking for her “Greek God.” Could Niko be the one?
Mercedes Knox, Episode 12
Mercedes Knox was introduced to viewers during the preview for episode 12. It’s not his first time on reality TV; he actually won FBoy Island USA in 2022 as, yep, you guessed it, an FBoy.
Fortunately for his leading lady, Louise Barnard, Mercedes (apparently) repented from his FBoy ways and split the $100,000 prize money with her after his status was revealed. The couple split up shortly after filming the finale.
Krissy Bertone, Episode 10
Krissy Bertone was one of two Bombshells to enter the villa during episode 10, and she surprised the Islanders alongside Kaylah.
Krissy’s ex is former Big Brother house and TikTok star Jaycee Edwards. The swimwear designer actually applied for Love Island last year, and while shortlisted, she didn’t make it into the villa until 2024.
Love Island’sTommyArmour was the third Bombshell to catapult into the villa, and he instantly caught Sydney’s attention.
Outside of the villa, Tommy is known for going viral on TikTok for being the “Egg Man” due to videos he’s uploaded that… show him swallowing whole eggs. Yup, shell and all.
Sophie Mills was the first female Bombshell on Love Island Australia 2024, and she entered during episode four.
She made quite the splash when she kissed all the male Islanders before whispering, “Remember me” to Zane. Turns out, Sophie and Zane had “relations” before heading to the villa.
During an interview with Chattr, Sophie revealed that she was heavily bullied in high school.
“I was bullied in high school. I actually didn’t even get to graduate because I was so badly bullied. I left after year 11,” she said.
“There were a lot of mean girls, jealousy, and things like that. I’ve built my way back up, being outside of school.”
Another bomb has exploded in the Love Island Australia 2024 villa, and this one’s name is Eric Garcia.
Eric’s entrance was teased in the promo clip at the end of the episode that aired on November 28, and he’ll be entering alongside female Love Island BombshellJade Phalen.
Below is everything we know about Eric, including who we *think* he will couple up with.
Warning: Love Island Australia 2024 spoilers ahead.
Eric Garcia. Image: Instagram.
Eric Garcia has some reality TV connections
Eric already has a few reality TV veterans following him on Instagram, among them is Love Island 2023’s Georgia Murray, FBoy Island 2023’sMolly O’Halloran, Nick Brown and Josh Allen.
Nick and Molly (couple of left) with Josh (second from right) at the FBoy Island 2023 finale. Image: Binge.
Eric Garcia’s Instagram account
You can have a snoop at Eric’s life outside the villa on his Instagram account, which is @eric_garcia. His TikTok is Ericccgarcia.
Eric Garcia loves working out (like, really loves)
Eric works as a PT and fitness coach at Plus Fitness in NSW, and he regularly uploads clips and photos of himself working out to social media.
On top of that, he competed in the Iron Man competition in May 2024 in Port Macquarie.
Interestingly, gym bunny Kaylah Holmes was recently dumped by Zane Prophet, meaning that she’s wound up single and is still on the hunt for her special someone in the villa. Could Kaylah and Eric be a perfect match?
Eric Garcia and Kaylah Holmes may be dating outside the Love Island villa
This season’s first promo video showed clips of Eric in the villa wayyyy before it was revealed that he was entering.
One screenshot from the clip shows Eric and Kaylah standing very close during a boat party, Hannah Steinfeld, Taylor Reid and DylanTowolawi.
Kaylah and Eric (left) on a Love Island boat. Image: Nine.
Kaylah and Eric look very cosy in the Love Island promo. On top of that, when she was asked at a White Fox event how life was outside the villa, Kaylah revealed that she was dating the person that she met in the villa.
“I’m with my partner that I met in the villa still currently, so we are loved u,p and it’s such a vibe and we are here together tonight,” she said.
Hannah walked through the villa doors during the recoupling ceremony as Taylor Reid was deciding whether he wanted to stick with his Hotel Amor date Krissy Bertone. It was then that host Sophie Monk announced that Taylor had the option to choose Krissy or Hannah, and whoever he didn’t choose would be dumped.
Mimi was one of the many Islanders who looked perplexed about Hannah’s emotional speech at the firepit. In an exclusive interview with Chattr, she admitted that she didn’t believe Hannah’s feelings for Taylor were genuine.
“Because Hannah said from the start she’s wanted to be on Love Island and that she’s a Love Island fan, I thought she was playing a game,” Mimi explained.
“The fact that she said she maybe found love with Taylor really confused me, because I’m like,’ What do you mean?’
“She found love that quickly? That just doesn’t really seem genuine to me. It just seems like you’re trying to play a game,” she said.
Mimi and Steph during Love Island Hannah’s speech. Image: Nine.
Who is Mimi friends with from the Love Island cast?
While there appears to be no love lost between Mimi and Hannah, she told Chattr that she and EmMiguel Leigh have maintained a strong friendship outside the villa.
“Em is my girl!” She said. “We live literally five minutes from each other, which is crazy because we’d never seen each other before [the show].”
“We have a very close bond,” she added. “We check on each other every day and she is definitely someone that I see a lifelong future with.”
Mimi and Em posing by the pool. Image: Nine.
Mimi ominously added: “I’m extremely grateful to Love Island for bringing our friendship together; that’s one thing I can take from the show.”
Does that mean that Mimi and Steph aren’t together anymore?! One thing is for sure, it looks like there’s more drama to come.
Love Island Australia airs Mondays to Thursdays on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Dexter Morgan is back—well, as his younger self—in the upcoming prequel, Dexter: Original Sin, and a brand new trailer has us giddy with anticipation!
Over 12 years after the OG crime drama concluded and two years after its short-lived spin-off Dexter: New Blood, fans are set to be transported back to 1991, when a young Dexter shifts from an everyday man to, well, a murderer.
Here is everything we know about the upcomingDexter: Original Sin series.
Watch the new Dexter: Original Sin trailer
Watch the new trailer for Dexter: Original Sin, below!
Showtime and Paramount+ announced their plans for a prequel in February 2023.
Who is starring in Dexter: Original Sin?
Michael C. Hall—the original Dexter—will return for the prequel’s inner voice and as the show’s narrator. Again, what an amazing way to bring about a new energy while still honouring as young Dexter, the very specific vibe of the original.
But who else will be in this new series?
Christian Slaterwill star as Harry Morgan, Patrick Gibson will play the young Dexter Morgan, and Molly Brown will play Debra Morgan.
Other stars include Patrick Dempsey as Aaron Spencer, James Martinez as Angel Batista, Christina Milian as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka, Reno Wilson as Bobby Watt and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Tanya Martin.
As viewers of the OG Dexter will know, Dexter kills those who take the lives of others, but these others are bad, well according to Dexter anyway.
Dexter: Original Sin starts in 1991, which is 15 years before we first met Dexter in the original series.
It will follow a young Dexter beginning his forensics internship at Miami Metro Police Department as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer.
In the prequel, Dexter’s father, Harry Morgan, helps his son manage his urges and goes back to the time period in which he made his first human kill at 20 years old.
When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness.
With the guidance of his father, Harry, he adopts a code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcements’ radar.
The Dexter prequel makes a whole lot of sense considering how much of the original series reflected on the past.
How to watch Dexter: Original Sin in Australia
The new series will be available to watch in Australia on Paramount+. Plans start at $6.99 a month.
When can I watch the show?
It will premiere on December 13 and will consist of 10 episodes.
Dexter: Original Sin will be available to stream on Paramount+ from December 13.
Things are heating up in theLove Island Australia villa, with couples growing closer as relationships progress. However, a clever system in the villa ensures that consent is always at the forefront. Since 2022, Love Island Australia has implemented an innovative “consent button” system to prioritise safety and comfort for Islanders during intimate moments.
How the consent buttons work on Love Island Australia
Love Island Australia uses consent buttons for intimate moments. Image: TikTok, Georgia Murray
Unlike other reality TV shows that require participants to verbally state “I consent” before engaging in sexual activity, Love Island Australia offers a subtler approach. Former contestant Georgia Murray recently shared in a video how the system operates.
Georgia started, “OK, guys, I’m gonna tell you something about Love Island that you probably don’t know… You see these little buttons on the side of the bed? Those are called consent buttons, and there is one on each side.”
She continued, “Basically, you press them before you go to bed to consent to anything that happens during the night.”
Adding to her explanation, Georgia said, “As viewers, we can see who’s pressed it because we can look at the little love heart at the top of their bed. If it’s glowing, then they’ve consented.”
If both halves of the love heart glow, it means both Islanders are on board. If one or both halves remain unlit, it signals that someone has chosen not to proceed.
This innovative approach ensures that everyone’s boundaries are respected while maintaining a discreet and seamless process. It removes the need for producers to interrupt intimate moments to confirm verbal consent, offering Islanders both privacy and security.
The consent button system has been widely praised for blending sensitivity and transparency, prioritising contestant safety without compromising the show’s flow.
Love Island Australia 2024’s explosive Hotel Amor twist meant that this year’s couples were split up and sent for an overnight stay with another Islander that the superfans chose to pair them with.
As host Sophie Monkexplained to the Islanders: “You’ll be away from each other, away from the villa, away from all of these cameras. Just you and your partner, alone, to explore your connection.”
However, as we watched our new couples trot off to their villas, it was clear that a film crew was following them.
This continued on the overnight stay, where the camera caught some couples *cough* Sophie and Zane *cough* getting up to no good.
Sophie and Zane in the hot tub at Hotel Amor. Image: Nine.
While we viewers may have thought we saw everything that happened, Mimi, who was paired with Dylan, told Chattr in an exclusive interview that a good portion of the day wasn’t actually filmed.
What did Mimi and Dylan do during their time at Hotel Amor?
“We did have a lot of time off camera,” she revealed. “We had the best day out together, and we actually went and explored Majorca together for four hours. We walked around, and we went to the markets.
“That was our off-camera action. We were literally giving each other piggybacks and walking around the streets of Spain,” she laughed.
Mimi and Dylan’s overnight stay was one of the friendliest of the bunch, and the new couple even refused to make out during a challenge presented to them by the Superfans.
Mimi and Dylan at Hotel Amor. Image: Nine.
So, it shouldn’t be surprising that Mimi confirmed that nothing happened between the two when the cameras weren’t rolling.
“Did we do anything? Any funny business? No,” she said.
While Mimi and Dylan’s connection didn’t become romantic when the cameras were off them, it has us begging the question of what exactly Sophie and Zane got up to in their film-free time.
Stream Love Island Australia Mondays to Thursdays on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Hannah Steinfeld was booted from the Love Island Australia 2024 villa in episode 17 during a shock dumping that saw bombshell Mia Dalkoschoose Hannah’s former partner, Niko Fotopoulos.
But, is it the last we’ve seen of her?
Maybe not, according to some online sleuths who’ve gathered up some evidence that could prove Hannah comes back to the villa.
Keep in mind that Love Island Australia 2023 sawKale Roberts return to the villa after he was dumped. The same went for Claudia Bonifazi,Love Island 2022, who returned after being dumped in the first episode.
So, we’ve investigated the likelihood of Hannah returning to the Love Island 2024 Australia villa.
Hannah during a challenge. Image: Nine.
The clue that Hannah Steinfeld is returning to the Love Island Australia 2024 villa
There’s one very telling clue that Hannah will be coming back to the villa.
Considering that the scene hasn’t played out on our screens just yet, Reddit fans are convinced that Hannah’s presence on the boat means that she’s bought back into the villa after her elimination.
Kaylah, Hannah, Taylor and Dylan in the promo clip. Image: Nine.
Hannah Steinfeld’s Love Island dumping
Throughout her time on Love Island Australia 2024, Hannah was partnered up with Niko. The pair were coupled up in episode 1, and they stayed together for the first part of the season.
However, Hannah really threw a spanner in the works when she announced that she wanted to break up with Niko and pursue fellow Islander Taylor, who was coupled up with EmMiguel Leigh.
Taylor’s indecisiveness about who he wanted to get to know led to Em calling off their couple. However, when it looked like Taylor was about to pair up with Hannah, Mia was brought into the villa.
Eliot’s stint on the show has already sparked interest, making him a name to watch this season.
So, who is Eliot, and what led to his controversial exit?
Who Is Eliot Donovan?
Eliot Donovan is set to be a groom on the next season of MAFS. Image: Supplied.
Eliot is 35 year old business owner from Queensland. According to his Channel 9 bio, he refers to himself as a “straight shooter” and says that his “number one deal breaker” is authenticity.
This is an interesting concept, considering that The Daily Mail reported that the MAFS groom has a few connections with other reality TV contestants and Aussie influencers. But hey, make of that what you will.
In his bio, Eliot also said that he’s looking for a partnership with a classy woman who will soften his hard edges. The statement could be taken as a bit of a slap in the face to his bride Lauren Hall, who he reportedly bailed on early in the experiment.
Why did Eliot quit MAFS?
This season of MAFS is rumoured to be its most chaotic yet, with claims of six contestants exiting the show. Eliot is said to have been the first to walk away, leaving just hours after marrying Lauren.
According to reports from The Daily Mail, Eliot cited a lack of connection with Lauren as the reason for his departure. However, his story takes a twist: he reportedly returned to the series later, only to discover that Lauren had been matched with another participant.
An insider revealed to the outlet, “He’s back to clear his name but isn’t apologetic about his behaviour. He and Lauren were a complete mismatch, and [he] hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of their romance.”
Eliot on a beach. Image: Supplied.Lauren Hall. Image: LinkedIn.
Eliot’s unexpected exit and reappearance have already set the tone for a dramatic season. While some viewers may sympathise with his decision to leave, others might question his motives for returning. Either way, his journey is shaping up to be one of the key talking points of MAFS 2025.
Prepare yourself for the drama, bestie.
MAFS Australia 2025 premieres on January 27 at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Vanderpump Rules— as you know it — will never be the same again, with the news that all of the cast have been fired ahead of season 12.
Yup, big names like Tom Sandoval, Lala Kent, Scheana Shay and even fan favourite Ariana Maddix won’t be returning for the next instalment of Vanderpump Rules (VPR).
Bravo confirmed in a statement on November 26 that season 12 will feature an entirely new cast, with the exception of SUR restaurant boss Lisa Vanderpump.
The Vanderpump Rules Season 11 cast. Image: Bravo.
The press release stated that Vanderpump Rules Season 12 will see a batch of “close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors.”
“Under Lisa Vanderpump’s watchful eye, the West Hollywood mainstay SUR — and now TomTom — welcomes the next batch of servers, hosts and bartenders rife with plenty of drama, situationships and frenemies,” it continued.
Vanderpump Rules has aired since 2013. At its inception, it was a show about the employees at Lisa’s restaurant, SUR. Tom (Sandoval), Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, Scheana and Ariana all appeared in the first season and have remained on the show ever since.
What have the Vanderpump Rules cast said about being axed?
Ariana Maddix
Ariana is undoubtedly the darling of Vanderpump Rules, and in the past few years has booked a gig as the host of Love Island US, competed on Dancing With The Stars US and booked brand deals with Duracell, Glad and Lays.
During season 10 it was revealed that Ariana’s boyfriend at the time Tom (Sandoval), who she’d been dating for nine years, had been cheating on her with her friend and co-star Racquel Leviss. The pair split after Tom’s affair was uncovered, which is now known as Scandoval.
Speaking of her time on the show ending now that a new cast has been secured, Ariana said she is “forever grateful to have been a part of such an incredible cultural phenomenon.”
Scheana has been one of the most polarising cast members since she joined VPR in Season 1.
“We had one hell of a run! I never could have imagined while shooting the pilot for VPR that it would become what it has, nor go on for as long as it did,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Lala, who joined VPR in Season 4, was the first cast member to break her silence on the rejig.
“I’m unbelievably grateful for Bravo, for NBCU, for our crew, the entire cast, and most importantly all of you. We rocked this bitch until the wheels fell off,” she wrote.
What did Lisa Vanderpump say about the casting change?
Lisa will guide a new group of staff members on Season 12 of the popular reality show. Throughout the first eleven seasons of VPR, Lisa grew very close to some of the cast members.
“The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between. I can’t thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all,” she began in a statement about the new season.
“In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.”
Love Island Australia icon Callum Holehas revealed how much alcohol the Islanders are allowed to drink on the reality TV show.
Unlike some other series, the Love Island Australia cast has seemed relatively, erm, sober over the first five seasons that have aired, and the 2024 instalment is no different.
Now, Callum— who was on Love Island Australia Season 4 and Love Island Games— has dished on the Islander’s alcohol allowance.
“Love Island, your maximum drink allowance is two drinks a night,” he told Chattr in an exclusive interview.
Interestingly, Callum—who came runner-up alongside Madeline Wilcox on his season of Love Island Australia—said that the Islander’s alcohol allowance is upped towards the end of the season, perhaps to encourage extra drama between the settled couples?
“If you get to the final, they allow you to have maybe three [drinks],” he revealed.
Callum and Madeline enjoying a drink in the Love Island villa. Image: Nine.
Samie Elishi, who appeared on Season 9 of Love Island UK, echoed Callum’s sentiment about the limited drinks on her YouTube channel in April 2023.
She said that contestants could only have wine, prosecco or beer — not spirits. She added the UK contestants were allowed one drink per night and, on a “very rare occasion,” could be given two.
“It’s impossible to get drunk on that show,” she said.
Mia and Niko on their first date. Image: Nine.
Is there an alcohol limit on all reality TV shows?
For the most part, yes. All reality TV producers in Australia have a duty of care to participants, which includes protecting their wellbeing.
Among them is Melbourne’s business owner, former footballer, and occasional actor, Jeff Gobbels, who is ready to find one.
Here’s what we know about the groom-to-be so far.
MAFS’ Jeff Gobbels was an actor on Neighbours
Jeff isn’t exactly a stranger to Aussie TV. The groom had a brief stint on the iconic soap Neighbours back in 2017, appearing in three episodes.
His IMDB credits also include minor roles in the TV series Warriors (2017), the psychological thriller Undertow (2018), the Chinese drama The Whistleblower (2019), and the Aussie indie film A Promise Carved in Flesh (2020).
He’s a businessman at heart
These days, it seems Jeff is mostly focused on running his two businesses. He’s the director of Fi Water, a fruit-infused water brand, and Splash Water, a hard seltzer brand.
Image: Instagram
He was a footballer
Before stepping in front of the camera, Jeff played Aussie rules football for the Balwyn Football Club, based in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Balwyn. Go Tigers!
He’s into horse racing and snowboarding
According to the groom’s Intsa, Jeff is a huge fan of horse racing and has been involved with racehorse Snapdancer.
Image: Instagram
When he’s not at the races, he seems to enjoy snowboarding, with pics showing off his skills on the slopes in Japan.
Image: Instagram
This is his second shot at love
According to Daily Mail Australia, Jeff was previously married from 2019 until 2021. Will MAFS bring him his second chance at marital bliss? Time will tell.
MAFS’ Jeff Gobbels is matched with Rhi Disljenkovic
As we already know, Carina Mirable and Paul Antoine went on a date before they were matched on the show, which raises the question of whether there will be anymore pre-show crossovers between the MAFS 2025 cast.
Married At First Sight 2025 airs Sundays at 7pm and Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Shortly after they left the show, a letter from one of their wedding guests showed that the pair had cancelled their nuptials.
The development—paired with their bitter feuds on the show—had fans wondering if the couple is still together.
Well, do we have an update for you!
Jesse and Paige. Image: Nine.
The Block 2024’s Jesse and Paige got married
Yep, you read correctly—Jesse and Paige shared a single photo on social media of their wedding on November 25.
The pair shared a joint post simply captioned “Husband and Wife.” The image shows Paige wearing a wedding dress and sitting solemnly in a chair while her new hubby Jesse looks down at her.
The Block 2024 cast members Maddy, Kylie and Courtney all took to the comments section to share their well wishes.
“Omg Stop!!!!” Kylie wrote while Maddy commented, “This is absolutely stunning! Congratulations guys! So happy for you both.”
Courtney penned: “Oh my, congratulations. So happy for you two and what a beautiful photo. STUNNNNNING.”
Paige and Jesse’s first relationship updates post-show
Jesse and Paige‘s relationship showed cracks during the first few weeks of the season. They had multiple fights and there was one particular blowout which had fans wondering about the future of their relationship.
“I’m sick of f**king wasting time!” Jesse yelled during week two.
“It’s all we’re doing, wasting time. Can we just like, get on with it, please? I’m sorry we didn’t talk about it more, alright? Sorry for yelling, I’m just frustrated because it’s like we’re just going backwards again.”
“I don’t give a f**k what you are,” Paige replied.
Jesse and Paige. Image: Nine.
However, despite their on-screen fights, Paige and Jesse proved to the world that they were still together IRL at the time.
Paige shared a loved-up photo on Instagram on June 21 to celebrate Jesse’s birthday. Considering that filming for The Block 2024 kicked off in March, the post appears to be published after the couple left the show.
Paige shared another couple photo of her and Jesse in late July which showed them on a European holiday together.
Being on The Block is undoubtedly stressful. A Euro summer vacay is certainly a much more conducive environment for a relationship to thrive.
The Block airs on Sundays at 7pm and Mon – Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Love Island Australia 2024 is proving to be a particularly spicy season for the reality TV show, and fans are lapping up the drama that’s being sent their way. One of the couples we’ve particularly enjoyed watching from home is Zane and Bombshell Kaylah – but are these two still together now?
Let’s take a look at all the updates about this Love Island couple, and see whether or not we can get any clues about their status now.
Zane and Kaylah: Does this couple survive Love Island Australia?
Are Kaylah and Zane still together after Love Island Australia? Image: Nine
It doesn’t look good for Kaylah and Zane. Despite being a strong couple at the start, recent events hint that they may not be going the distance.
A Reddit thread recently surfaced with a video showing Zane and fellow Islanders, including Sophie Mills, partying on the Gold Coast on November 16 – without Kaylah in sight.
Fans have quickly speculated that Zane and Sophie might be one of the “end-game couples” of the season.
The speculation was fuelled further by a clip from the Love Island intro video, which appeared to show Zane locking lips with a blonde, who many believe to be Sophie.
Fans on Reddit are speculating that Zane and Sophie will be paired up for Hotel Amor, which may be the reason things fall apart for Kaylah and her current beau.
Zane and Sophie. Image: Nine
Adding to the plot, another Reddit post suggests that Kaylah may have been spotted with a different mystery Islander, believed to be Eric Garcia, in a leaked promo video.
In an interview with fashion brand White Fox, Kaylah also revealed that she’s “still currently” with the partner she met in the villa – so it seems like things may have moved on from Zane.
What’s Kaylah and Zane’s Love Island Australia story? Image: Nine
If you’re behind on the antics from this season of Love Island Australia, allow us to catch you up.
Kaylah entered the villa as a Bombshell alongside Krissy in episode 10. Rather quickly, Kaylah and Zane connected over a shared love of the gym. This put a spanner in the works for Xanthe, who was coupled up with Zane at the time.
During the next Recoupling ceremony, Kaylah chose to couple up with Zane, and Xanthe left the villa after being dumped.
One thing’s for certain here, there is more drama to come – so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.
Stream Love Island Australia Mondays to Thursdays on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Fresh clues have surfaced aboutThe Block 2024’s most talked-about couple, Brad and KylieBaker. Following the “flirtgate” scandal involving Brad and fellow contestant MimiBelperio, fans were left wondering whether Brad and Kylie were officially over.
But where do they stand now? Here’s what we know.
Are Brad and Kylie still together?
The latest update from the couple quit the show not once, but twice, comes via astute followers who have noticed a telling change on Kylie’s private Instagram account.
As The Daily Mail has reported, Kylie’s bio still lists her Cairns residency and the four children she shares with Brad (Parker, Bentley, Steele, and Slade), Brad’s name has been noticeably removed, leaving no trace of her husband of seven years.
Could this be the final nail in the coffin for the couple’s relationship?
However, after The Block 2024’s final episode, Brad spoke with Nine producers, sharing that he and Kylie were very much together, and “Definitely stronger after it [The Block]. To walk away with something and it be worth it, 100%”
Let’s revisit where the drama all began, shall we?
What happened between Brad and Mimi?
The TL;DR version of this story is that after a night of drinks, Brad is said to have been flirting with fellow The Block contestant Mimi while his wife Kylie napped nearby.
This led to Kylie leaving the show and returning home to be with her family.
Did Brad and Kylie stay together while on The Block?
Ahead of The Block 2024’s final episode – auction day – folks were speculating about the status of Brad and Kylie’s relationship.
At the time, Yahoo Lifestyle reported that the pair appeared to be together, after attending a Melbourne Cup race day event together with the rest of the contestants of The Block 2024.
However, earlier reports from So Dramatic!, suggested the married couple had possibly parted ways before auction day.
An insider who spoke with the outlet said, “They’ve completely separated. Brad’s moved out of their home, and things aren’t amicable, making things difficult and awkward for the publicity team.”
Turning the rumours on their head again, another contestant, CourtneyMcInnes, spoke with HIT WA’s Allan & Carly before the end of the season and alleged that, no, Brad and Kylie were, in fact, still together.
Kylie and Brad of The Block. Image: Nine
“I have spoken to everyone since, and Mimi and Kristian are in a good place, and Kylie and Brad, I’ve heard, are also in a good place,” Courtney said. “They’re very much still together. We saw them a couple of weeks ago for an event.”
She also confirmed that Mimi and Kylie had spoken since the flirting incident – in which Brad allegedly told Mimi he’d subscribe to her OnlyFans.
According to Courtney, things had calmed down there, too.
“I wouldn’t say they’re really, really close right now, but they’ve spoken. Everything’s fine. So I don’t know if this is going to resurface things. Who knows, but weeks ago, we were all talking,” she said.
Another interesting point to add is that according to an insider who spoke with Yahoo Lifestyle, Kylie had supposedly been leaning on Brad for support since the show started airing.
“At first Kylie was laughing at the silliness of some of her antics on the show, but now she has been questioning everything about herself and, surprisingly, Brad of all people has been the one to comfort her,” the source told the outlet.
This would suggest the couple was working through things together – at that stage, at least.
Why did Kylie and Brad leave The Block?
Kylie leaves The Block. Image: Nine
After flirtgate, Kylie went home to be with family, but fans were surprised to see that she did decide to return to The Block for a short period… Only for her and Brad to leave the show again shortly after.
During a chat with producers and Brad at the time, Kylie shared that she felt Brad “completely annihilated” their relationship.
Although they seemingly repaired things in time for The Block 2024’s auction day, the new reports suggest that, sadly, things may not be entirely smooth sailing just yet.
Many Love Island fans are familiar with Casa Amor, the infamous shake-up that’s a staple of the overseas versions. Typically, one-half of the coupled-up contestants (either the men or women) are taken away to a separate villa, Casa Amor, where they’re introduced to a brand-new lineup of singles ready to stir the pot.
Meanwhile, their partners stay behind, left in the dark about what’s unfolding on the other side.
Sparks fly, and loyalties are tested for three to four days. The segment usuallyling ceremony, during which culminates in a dramatic recoup contestants must decide whether to stick with their original partner or explore a new connection.
The Love Island cast. Image: Nine.
Casa Amor is notorious for creating some of the most jaw-dropping moments in Love Island history, and fans eagerly count down to the chaos it brings.
Although Casa Amor was once part of the Australian spin-off, it was sadly axed after the 2021 season.
But in 2024, the iconic twist is making its long-awaited return with a steamy new upgrade debuting tomorrow night.
Insiders are calling it “X-rated” and promising it’ll take the drama to unprecedented levels. So, what’s the deal with the revamped format? Here’s what we know.
Love Island Australia 2024 Introduces Hotel Amor
Hotel Amor is a new take on the classic Casa Amor. The salacious setup is already making waves, with rumours that international versions of Love Island are considering adopting the format due to its explosive potential.
Hotel Amor gives contestants the chance to spend a night with their new potential love interest completely off-camera. According to host Sophie Monk, this one-night escape without surveillance ramps up the drama to a whole new level.
“We send the [participants] away for a night in a hotel with no cameras for one night,” Sophie revealed to PEDESTRIAN.TV.
Love Island host Sophie Monk. Image: Nine.
“We break up their couples so they’re with other people, and it equals so much drama. But it’s very, very entertaining.”
A source told the Daily Mail that the twist has even led Channel Nine to review the Broadcasting Code of Practices.
With no cameras rolling, contestants can lie about their escapades, creating even more intrigue for viewers. Who’s telling the truth, and who’s fabricating their innocence? The uncertainty will keep both the Islanders and the audience guessing.
Hotel Amor “has worked in many ways,” the source added, but mainly it allows fans to “play along too and question what is real and what isn’t.”
Sounds like some serious tea brewing. We’re counting down the hours until tomorrow’s episode!
Stream Love Island Australia Mondays to Thursdays on Channel 9 and 9Now.
While Dessert Masters is known as the sister show of MasterChef, Emelia told Chattr during an exclusive interview that she found competing on each to be a completely different experience.
“I was expecting it to be the same, but just making desserts, but it’s absolutely not,” she revealed in a post-elimination interview.
“In MasterChef, the two-and-a-half-hour challenges were almost always the pressure test, which meant that you never had that type of time to create something [extravagant],” she explained.
Emelia said that while the long time limit allowed the contestants to hone in on the finer details of their desserts, the challenges could be quite draining.
“I didn’t really consider how exhausting doing two and a half hour cooks every day was going to be; it was really physically exhausting,” she said.
“But more than that, it pushed me creatively in a way that I didn’t know that I could be pushed.”
Emelia winning MasterChef 2020. Image: Ten.
Does Emelia Jackson think MasterChef or Dessert Masters was harder?
During the interview, Emelia said that while she found both cooking reality shows very different, if she had to pick one as the hardest, she’d choose Dessert Masters.
“They’ve both got their own challenges. MasterChef is a really long competition, and I think that is the hard element of it—staying focused for such a long period of time is really hard,” she said.
“But, Dessert Masters is really intense, and you’re competing against professional chefs as an untrained chef. So, I think, in my experience, Dessert Masters may have been harder.
Emelia and Darren Purchese on Dessert Masters. Image: Ten.
Who does Emelia want to see on MasterChef Australia 2025: Back to Win?
Emelia first competed on MasterChef Australia in 2014 and placed third. She returned for MasterChef Australia Back To Win in 2020 and won the competition.
MasterChef Australia 2025will see the return of Back To Win, which means past contestants will return to the kitchen and battle it out for another chance at the title.
Emelia told Chattr that she’s looking forward to the season, and she hopes Laura Sharrad—who came runner up to her on MasterChef Australia 2020—will be among the cast.
“I would love to see a few people from my original season six days that I was friends with,” Emelia said.
“I’d really love to see Laura back on there. I think she is so skilled. Competing against her in Back to Win, she was equally a deserving winner. So, it’d be great to see her get on there and hopefully take out the win.”
Emelia and Laura on MasterChef. Image: Ten.
Does Emelia win a prize for coming runner-up on Dessert Masters 2024?
John Demetrios was crowned the winner of Dessert Masters 2024, with a score of 28 out of 30, as compared to Emelia’s 26. Along with the Dessert Masters trophy, he received a $100,000 prize.
So, did Emelia receive a prize for being the runner-up?
“Nothing, damnit!” She laughed.
“No, I’m so happy with John winning that money. I think it’s going to go a long way in achieving his dreams and his career. I don’t feel like I needed a prize. I was just so happy with the entire experience.”
At least she got that $250,000 prize money for her MasterChef Australia 2020 win!
Dessert Masters 2024winner John Demetrios had never been on TV before his stint on the show. However, the reality rookie managed to take out the competition, and pocket $100,000 in prize money.
During an exclusive interview with Chattr, John revealed that he already knows what he’ll be spending the cool sum of cash on.
“I’m going to use this opportunity to open my own little bakery with my wife,” he shared.
Which is lucky for those who are located in Melbourne, because John’s new bakery will be smack bang in the middle of the CBD.
“We’re going to open it soon—hopefully early next year—just as early as we can!” he said.
Like John, his wife Martina is another established chef, and the couple met while working together in Sweden at Oaxen Krog, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant.
John with Dessert Masters finalists Christy Tania and Emelia Jackson. Image: Ten.
John’s turning point in the Dessert Masters competition
Compared to some of the other names in the Dessert Masters competition — like The Great Australian Bake Off judge Darren Purcheseand cooking influencer Katherine Sabbath — John was lesser known in the public eye.
During the interview, John said at the beginning, he “didn’t feel confident” that he’d “make it all the way to the end”. However, he said winning the first challenge helped him prove to himself that he could win.
“Winning the first challenge really blew me away because I was so nervous. I was just looking around the room at all this talent, and then winning that one made me feel like, ‘Yeah, I should be here. I deserve to be here,'” he shared.
John with the pink box after winning the first challenge. Image: Ten.
John told Chattr that it took a while for reality to sink in that he’d actually been crowned the winner of Dessert Masters Australia 2024.
“It was very surreal. I was nervous, and all eyes were on me. So it took a while to sink in, and then I got really happy,” he said.
