Donna Demaio Gossip Sheet: November 11
Quote of the week: ‘I’m a great admirer of her capacity to work,’ Stephen Fry told me once when asked about 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth ? Britain’s longest reigning monarch. The master conversationalist is in Melbourne presenting Telling Tales at Hamer Hall.
Channel seven drama 800 Words has been a massive success with star Erik Thompson confirming that the show will be back for a second season.
It appears the network’s hopes that the show would follow in the successful footsteps of Packed to the Rafters have come to fruition, raking in strong ratings.
Thompson has also been talking up his latest feature film Now Add Honey, which co-stars Portia De Rossi.
He revealed she is so down to earth and didn’t want the chauffeur/driver offered, preferring to organise her own travel.
Sigrid Thornton is having a grand year. Not only has she been nominated for an AACTA award (ceremony to be held in Sydney on December 9) for her incredible portrayal of Judy Garland in the Peter Allen story, she is joining the cast of the universally lauded Foxtel series Wentworth.
Johanna Griggs has never opened up her own home despite having featured so many houses on Better Homes and Gardens on Channel 7.
The likeable presenter will showcase her abode on the series, with the episode to air November 27.
The charming British milliner Stephen Jones has revealed that the late Princess Diana would enjoy listening to ’80s duo Wham on her headphones when she visited him for fittings for new headwear.
Looks like we’ve lost former Miss Universe Scherri-Lee Biggs to sunny Perth. The South African born beauty was enjoying the races in Melbourne for a few days and admitted to missing our fine city but also feeling ‘settled’ in Perth, where she is a weather presenter. She admits to being on a steep learning curve.
Whisper: An unauthorised biography John Farnham: The Untold Story has been published, written by Jane Gazzo. It covers many years including when Farnham was certainly doing it tough, then traces his resurgence to legendary status.
Speaking of biographies, Brian Mannix has put pen to paper to reflect on his life as an 80s rock star (some would suggest he’s still living the life).
He jokingly warned me that there are many words in the book and 20 thousand of them are expletives, including an often used word starting with ‘f’.
Andrea Pejic, designer Jeremy Scott and Caitlyn Jenner
Australian supermodel Andreja Pejic swapped numbers with Caitlin Jenner when they met backstage at the Glamour magazine ‘Women of the Year’ awards in New York last night.
Others at the event included Reese Witherspoon and Victoria Beckham.
Generous Aussies poured $114,000 into the Western Queensland Drought Appeal by jetting from Sydney to the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach on a special one-off Qantas charity flight.
The airline had Leo Sayer sing his heart out ahead of the trip, while Glenn Shorrock belted out Little River Band classics on arrival at the Museum. Farmers and landowners will be assisted by the funds raised, with all cabin and flight crew donating their time.
Charity of the week: Catriona Rowntree knows how to glam it up, and will be draped in 60’s glamour for the annual Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Silvery Style Cocktail Party fundraiser this Thursday at the GPO.
The event is a super stylish and is a means to raising research funds. www.ocrf.com.au
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Competition: The band Moving Pictures with lead singer Alex Smith had a string of hits including the much loved What about Me? in the early 80’s. They have released a new cd Picture This as they embark on a massive national tour with James Reyne (another 80’s favorite). www.moshtix.com.au
You could win a copy of Picture This by emailing ddemaio@3aw.com.au Please include postal address. Thanks!