Current affairs battle heats up with defection in the ranks

Speculation is rife that TV3 reporter Kate Lynch (C), pictured at the Stella Artois Cup with Renee Wright (L) and Toni Street (R), is defecting to rival TVNZ. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Speculation has been rife for months: Is TV3 reporter Kate Lynch defecting to rival TVNZ?

She certainly wasn't dampening down the rumour when we called on Friday to ask if it's true she's applied for a role in current affairs at TVNZ.

"Your sources are good," Lynch said, but wouldn't comment further.

Spy understands Anthony Flannery and Mike Valintine are in search of a hard-nosed reporter for Close Up and have been in discussions with Lynch. It is understood she is keen and has officially applied for the role, alongside half a dozen other serious contenders.

Her TV3 boss Mark Jennings is not surprised TVNZ are interested in Lynch.

"I understand why they'd be interested in her. Close Up is in real trouble. Campbell Live has made real growth. It's winning the 18 to 49 age-group."

Adam's new garden of paradise

Who were the gorgeous women swarming around newly single Adam Parore at the Longroom last Thursday night?

We hear the former cricketer, who's called it quits on his relationship with Sally Ridge, was enjoying a few quiet bevvies with Matthew Ridge and Berridge Spencer, until the ladies arrived. It appears he'll have no trouble finding love again.

Parore was Spy-ed at Prego on Monday night playing dad and dining with his two children.

When news first broke of the split, Sally told me she was worried about being a 39-year-old mum with four kids and back on the single market.

The couple are still living apart and are in talks about splitting the assets.

I'm told Parore's lucrative Small Business Accounting company pays the mortgage on the couple's Ponsonby house, but Ridge could walk away with a large financial package, while Parore will keep his money-making firms.

This week, King's girl Jaime Ridge, who ironically was romantically linked to Eric Watson's son Sam over the summer, has been Spy-ed driving around town in a new Mini Cooper.

Her dad dated Sam's former step-mum Nicky who is now her mother's lookalike confidante. How's that for six degrees of separation?

Detention house up for sale

Brent Todd has been back in town and evidently catching up on some rays, if his lobster face was anything to go.

He was Spy-ed enjoying a drink at Soul bar last Monday with Julie Christie, whose former Dragon's Den buddy Paul Webb is Toddy's boss at the Honk Group.

Meanwhile, Toddy's former landlord and flattie, Matthew Ridge, was in negotiations to sell his Ponsonby pile on Friday but it's unclear whether the transaction went ahead.

The Wood St address was Toddy's base during his home detention days in 2008 but now Ridge and his gorgeous partner Carly Binding are apparently planning to temporarily rent in the area and use the money from the sale to pay off their commercial properties.

The couple are trying for a baby and sadly experienced their second miscarriage in November.

Ridgey wants to retire in eight years when he hits fifty and the couple have plans to build their own sprawling family house.