Spy: Could John Campbell team up with his TV bestie Rove?

John Campbell and Rove McManus catch up in Sydney. Photo/Twitter

When John Campbell bid his TV3 viewers adieu a month ago, Aussie TV favourite and funny man Rove McManus sent John Campbell one of the nicest tributes posted on social media.

For their final show, McManus messaged his dear friend and the Campbell Live team, "Much love and respect," calling Campbell a Kiwi legend and class act.

A few weeks later Campbell headed over to Sydney to catch up with his mate for lunch.

McManus, who last November left the panel of nightly show The Project, on Network Ten, wrote on social media: "A true friend is one who requires a passport to come for lunch. Thanks for the catch up John Campbell. I adore you. In fact, after we took this photo we drove off a cliff holding hands, Thelma and Louise-style. It's what we would have wanted."

Could Campbell and Rove be the answer for a TV show in aid of improving trans-Tasman relations? Probably not.

Within media, speculation is rife on the broadcaster's next steps. A week today, in a classy move by Sky TV, Campbell will join the Sky commentary team for the All Blacks vs Samoa game he championed to fruition.

Last week, Campbell told The Hits radio station: "The fact that we never played in Samoa was just wrong, so we just pushed hard for it to happen."

There is a lot of speculation on Campbell's next move: Some have suggested he take over the role being vacated by Simon Wilson, as Editor of Metro Magazine, whilst others would like him to side line Phil Goff and put his hat in the ring for the Auckland Mayoralty.

Campbell replied to the suggestions on Twitter, regarding Metro: "The outgoing editor is too hard an act to follow. Who could do a better job the SiWi? Not me."

Campbell addressed the mayoral suggestion by tweeting : "Yes, after I have been an astronaut. And an All Black. And a Silver Fern. Then ... absolutely.

So what will 51-year-old Campbell's next move be?

On his future, Campbell also told The Hits last week: "I've got dreams for stuff I want to do now, really good important stuff, so I'm going to work on that."

Spy thinks a multi-platform and multi-network approach would suit the independently minded crusader.

On the radio and digital front, speculation is escalating that he will join his friends Carol Hirschfeld and Linda Clark at Radio NZ doing his own online TV type current affairs show, to which Radio NZ spokesman John Barr had no comment.

Could Campbell's foray into the Sky TV fold next week grow? Sky Television CEO John Fellet didn't rule it out telling Spy: "While there are no formal discussions taking place, Sky is always open to working with great Kiwi broadcasters and we would most certainly welcome the opportunity to work with John again in the future, should the chance arise."

Campbell stayed mum when Spy asked him about a multi-network career.

The options are wide for Campbell, and if he gets to work again with McManus, well that would be just marvellous.