KEY POINTS:
I got up early to be on the ZM breakfast show with Polly and Grant this morning. Not that early mornings aren't my thing - they are - but to be fully functioning, yakking and trying to sound remotely sensible, well, that's another thing altogether.
Polly and Grant have ruled the commercial radio airwaves for what has seemed forever. They understand the media game better than most, and aside from one mention in Spy last November where I reported that I saw the celebrity hubby and wife team having a monster tiff at the David Beckham after-party in Wellington, the pair have largely stayed out of the limelight (except, of course, when Grant and his kidney were exposed as Jonah Lomu's closest pals).
So, it was a wee bit surprising they phoned me this morning to ask me how does a celebrity get into the spotlight and make my gossip column?
A lot of people ask me that. Most assume I pay celebs for their stories, and pay sources for gossip tidbits. The truth is I don't. Not a penny changes hands. It's roll-your-sleeves-up-hard-work. I get in to the parties (sometimes invited; sometimes not) and spot the goss myself most of the time. In the manner of David Attenborough, I observe the celebrity in their natural habitat: the party scene.
If it sounds like a strange world, it is. What's stranger, and most people are flabbergasted when I tell them this - Polly and Grant included - is that there are a few celebs who contact me directly to blab about their jobs or to share some secret insights.
Surprised? I was the first time I received a phone message from a high-profile TV star leaking a gossip story about herself. But I figured out pretty quickly, celebs need me as much as I need them. If they have a new project to promote, or a profile to keep up, they need to be talked about. And what better place to get people talking than in the Spy pages?
There are even those celebs who try to offer me bribes and incentives to ensure all publicity is good publicity. Fuggedaboudit, I always say. But it's fun to watch them try. I won't reveal their names - for now.
TV3 denies Holmes relocation rumour
TVNZ's prodigal son, Paul Holmes (who reigned supreme at the network for 15 years before hightailing it to Prime, then back again last year) is being linked with a possible move to TV3.
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive, with reports TV3 might try to lure Holmesy across to help Carly Flynn and James Coleman on the fledgling Sunrise brekkie show. If true, it would be the battle of the Pauls - Holmesy v Henry, with two beautiful strawberry-blondes thrown in for good measure - and a James.
Sounds like a ratings winner to us. So we rang Jennings to get to the bottom of the goss. He told Spy there's no truth to the rumour whatsoever and Holmesy "has never been a consideration".
Bet that was what TVNZ said when Holmes signed off, then look what happened.
TV3 telly babes spitting tacks
The beautiful people at TV3 are a little unhappy their saviour, Clifton Piper, has upped and left to rival TVNZ.
Who will make them beautiful now? Piper, the senior makeup artist for TV3's news and current affairs presenters, has jumped ship to the State-owned network and their state-of-the-art makeup studio.
"Omigod, the room is amazing," Clifton gushed to Spy at Dominic Bowden's bash at Shanghai Lil's on Saturday night.
Bowden's betrothed, Claire Robbie, was not so convinced. "We're just so sad he's leaving us," she pouted.
Clifton did the makeup at Robbie's wedding. He's also responsible for the glamour girl look TV3 has nailed so well - Carol, Claire, Carly, Sacha, Hilary, Petra and Sam. But most worryingly for the stars and the network are the secrets Clifton holds. Everyone knows hairdressers and makeup artists are veritable therapists. What, pray tell, will Clifton be gushing? Watch this space
Sven's steamy Swedish spa party
APN Outdoor Media hosted a fabulous party recently with a steamy Swedish theme. Click here for photos.
Rachel Glucina
Swedish spa party photos / Norrie Montgomery
