Channel 7 star Andrew O’Keefe arrested in Sydney, faces domestic violence charge

The rumoured partner of game show host and former White Ribbon chairman Andrew O’Keefe, charged over an alleged domestic assault has spoken out.

TV presenter and game show host Andrew O’Keefe has been charged by police over an alleged domestic assault on his partner in Sydney’s east ­yesterday.

Mr O’Keefe, 49, is due to face Waverley Local Court on Thursday after being arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police will allege the former Weekend Sunrise and current The Chase host assaulted his rumoured partner Orly Lavee at an apartment in Randwick just before 1am.

A tearful Ms Lavee said from her home in Randwick today, “It’s been difficult, it’s been a horrible few days, I don’t want to go into it, I’m not feeling good about what’s happened.”

Andrew O'Keefe as host of The Chase. Picture: Channel 7

He was arrested on a nearby street at about 3.30am before being taken to Maroubra police station and charged with common assault.

Police granted the performer bail on the condition he not contact or approach Ms Lavee unless through a lawyer.

An interim apprehended violence order has also been granted on behalf of Ms Lavee, 41, which will be heard in court on Thursday alongside the assault charge.

Under the terms of the court order the performer is not to contact, threaten, ­assault or intimidate his partner or go to her house.

The 49-year-old performer is due to face court this week. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Just before 1am, officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended a Randwick unit, after reports a 41-year-old woman had allegedly been assaulted in a domestic violence related incident,” police said in a statement.

Mr O’Keefe, a former lawyer and son of ex-NSW Supreme Court justice Barry O’Keefe, is a former chairman of the domestic violence charity the White Ribbon Foundation.

The charge brought against Mr O’Keefe yesterday coincides with growing speculation his charmed run at the Seven Network could be coming to an end, with network bosses in talks to potentially replace the troubled presenter.

Andrew O'Keefe. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Potential replacement hosts being considered for the role are understood to include Rove McManus.

Mr O’Keefe’s contract with the television network is understood to have lapsed at the end of 2020.

The star is understood to have been battling mental health issues for a decade along with repeated admissions to rehabilitation clinics.

His extended absences have forced Seven and ITV Studios Australia, producer of The Chase, to put the show into untimely production hiatuses during the past two years.

Originally published as Channel 7 star Andrew O’Keefe arrested in Sydney, faces domestic violence charge