Jodhi Meares and Jon Stevens became engaged 18 months ago. Photo / Getty Images
Jodhi Meares and Jon Stevens became engaged 18 months ago. Photo / Getty Images
Veteran Kiwi rocker Jon Stevens produced a medical certificate to explain his absence from a Sydney court yesterday where he was due to face assault charges in relation to his Aussie socialite fiancee Jodhi Meares.
The charges arose from a dispute at the couple's exclusive Point Piper home last Monday. Stevens big brother Frankie has rushed to the former Noisework singer's defence saying the incident is out of the ordinary.
"I know all the details, I know what's gone down, but I really can't comment on it. All I can say is it [domestic violence] is not Jon's style whatsoever. It's not him," Frankie told The Diary yesterday.
Rose Bay police were called to the couple's home following a domestic argument and arrested Stevens.
The pair reportedly rowed after Meares found a series of text messages from the rocker's former girlfriend. Stevens agreed to bail conditions imposed by police which included not assaulting, stalking or threatening Meares.
Meares is the 42-year-old ex-wife of billionaire casino magnate James Packer. An interim apprehended violence order against Stevens, whose real name is John Stevenson, will stand until he is due to reappear in court on May 18.
The couple with the eternal tans are the toast of Sydney's social circuit. They became engaged 18 months ago, with Stevens proposing at their Hawaiian holiday home and presenting Meares with a diamond encrusted skull engagement ring.
"They will be fine," Frankie said. "Jon is coping OK.
It's a personal issue between him and his fiancee Jodhi. This is something they will sort out between themselves."
Last year, the model-turned-swimwear designer was in the headlines when she crashed her luxury Range Rover and pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Celebrities step up to the crease
Brendon McCullum (left) was one of the stars who helped kick off the tournament. Stephen Flemming captained the celebrity cricket team. Photos / Jason Oxenham, Greg Bowker
A string of A-list stars took part in a celebrity cricket XI last night captained by former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, as part of the Cricket World Cup opening ceremony.
Richie McCaw, Sir Peter Jackson, Rob Waddell, Mark Hadlow, Maria Tutaia, Dame Trelise Cooper, Sir Richard Hadlee and cricketers Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee and Sri Lankan fast bowler Maseth Malinga were just a few of the names who jumped on board to help kick off the tournament.
Fleming, who was keen to keep the names under wraps yesterday so as not to spoil the surprise, led the celebrity team in a part-live, part-pre-recorded skit which also involved 11 Christchurch school children in a call to arms to play cricket.
"It'll be really fun and will bring the warm fuzzies. It will get the celebrities on stage. I'm sure everyone will enjoy it," Fleming told The Diary yesterday.
The opening ceremony in Hagley Park was a free public event and broadcast live to more than one billion people around the world. That global audience reach is unprecedented for our celebrity brass. Entertainment included a lavish fireworks display and 1000 performers, with a performance by singer Hayley Westenra.
McCaw and Fleming are national heroes. But can the All Black skipper switch codes?
"Richie likes cricket, he's a big fan," said Fleming. "Besides, he has to be in it. He's in everything, he's good at everything. He's got to run for office some day."
X Factor judge has hopeful at home
Lilyella Zender-Blatt (above) is the 16-year-old daughter of Mel Blatt. Photo / NZME.
judge Mel Blatt give advice to her 16-year-old daughter Lilyella Zender-Blatt, who wants to follow her into the music biz?
The Brit teen, understood to have travelled here with her famous mum for the series, told i-D magazine this week she wants "to be a rocker" like her folks. Dad is former Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender.
"I go to school, sing, play video games and write pretentious angst-poetry," Lilyella told the mag.
Poor Blatt. She has to sit through auditions for all those Kiwi teens and motivate her mini-me, too.
Coast team eye up Aotearoa
Phil Smith and Neil Oliver are filming Coast New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
BBC star Neil Oliver and his Kiwi producer Philip Smith are on a roll. This week, their television series
was named as a finalist in the Astra awards in Australia, after record ratings for its second season on Foxtel. The series went on to be broadcast in the UK to over 2.2 million viewers a week in primetime on BBC2, beating other Kiwi-produced shows like
Top of the Lake f
or viewer numbers.
The Scot arrived in New Zealand yesterday with his family to team up with Smith to shoot Coast New Zealand over the next two months for TV One. The Olivers have rented a mansion on Cheltenham Beach.
