Divorce gets dirty for TV stars

TVNZ presenter Simon Dallow reportedly spoke up about celebrating his divorce to friends while ex-wife Ali Mau preferred not to comment. Photo / Supplied

While TVNZ anchor Simon Dallow told friends at a Grey Lynn party recently he would be celebrating his divorce next month from ex-wife Ali Mau by holidaying around Europe with friends, his former flame is keeping a dignified silence.

"Yes, the divorce will be finalised in June," the Fair Go star told me. "But as you know, out of respect for our children's feelings I prefer not to comment on things like this, so while I'm a little surprised he'd say what he's reported to have said, I don't want to respond to it in any way."

The couple separated in 2009 after 13 years of marriage. Mau has found love with dance instructor Karleen Edmonds; and Dallow has been romancing radio executive Louise Colenbrander.

Mike's memoirs

High-profile TV star Mike McRoberts is penning his story and told me he has signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish "what I've done in the last 10 years".

No title has been decided yet, but the TV3 anchor emphasised it was not really an autobiography - "I hope I'm a long way off the end of my career," he said.

The Independent's award-winning Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk will write the foreword to the book. McRoberts said the publishers had spoken to Fisk. "I've met him a couple of times. He knows my work. He's interested in doing it."

McRoberts said HarperCollins had asked him to write the book and wanted the manuscript next month for likely publication in October.

Also penning his story is TV3 newbie Paul Henry, whose memoirs with Random House will be launched on June 1. A special 60 Minutes episode on Henry, partly filmed at his Napier bach, is likely to screen on June 5 as part of the book's promotional campaign.

Reversal of fortune for Watson and Hotchin

As Mark Hotchin fought last week to overturn a court ruling freezing his assets, his longtime friend and partner in failed Hanover Finance, Eric Watson, was celebrating his rise in riches as acknowledged in the UK Sunday Times' Rich List.

The Warriors owner saw his wealth soar by a further £10m ($20m) last year, according to the 2011 Rich List. He has climbed 13 spots and is estimated to be worth a whopping £120m. Watson sits at number 583 on the list - ahead of Earl Spencer, Ridley Scott and John Taylor of Duran Duran fame.

As he recovered from a back operation last year after a fall during a lavish Swiss ski holiday, his partner Hotchin bore the brunt of public criticism over their finance company's failure when it froze some $554m of funds in 2008 and left investors out of pocket. Watson's reputation has been largely unscathed.

Eric hobnobbed with the moneyed Knightsbridge set, while Hotchin received death threats and moved his family to a rented beachfront home in Queensland.

Also up on Britain's Rich List is Sir Douglas Myers with a staggering fortune of £387m, making him richer than Sir Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger. David Richwhite is now estimated to be worth £363m; while Alan Gibbs' reported wealth is listed at £199m and Colin Giltrap at £136m.

Hobbits, a Hollywood hunk and a hangi

Rachel Hunter may have jetted in on Friday morning with her kids and her sister to be the star attraction at the Rise Up Christchurch Telethon to be screened from Canterbury on Maori Television on Sunday, but it's Sir Peter Jackson's commitment to help that has everyone buzzing. He is showing his support by enlisting Sir Ian McKellen and some of the hobbits for an exciting surprise appearance.

Meanwhile, LA-based Martin Henderson will be hosting a hangi at a location in Hollywood yet to be selected. A-Paqs may be there, possibly with LA Kiwis Melanie Lynskey and Boh Runga.

Media news

TV3 journalist and anchor Alistair Wilkinson quit the network on Friday morning and told his boss, Mark Jennings, he would be taking the position of news director at Sky News NZ - up against him. It is the same role Jennings was offered earlier this year but turned down, as did others. Wilkinson will work out his three-month contract with TV3 before moving to Sky.