The Scoop: How close the Magic Millions came to securing Robbie Williams
British superstar Robbie Williams was nearly the headline act for a major Queensland event but the audience didn’t mind who the backup act was. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
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Robbie Williams was very nearly the headline act at the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions carnival.
Carnival organisers were involved in intense negotiations to lure the Brit superstar to the Glitter Strip for last weekend’s first Magic Millions twilight race meeting.
The meeting had to be moved to the Sunshine Coast after the Gold Coast Turf Club track was mysteriously poisoned in a suspected sabotage being investigated by police.
Hospitality and entertainment stayed put on the Coast as organisers, led by the indomitable Katie Page-Harvey, scrambled to ensure a respectable crowd for the phantom meeting.
Sunday Scoop hears they went very close to securing Williams, who performed a New Year’s Eve concert in Sydney and did a free show in Melbourne’s CBD last week.
A deal didn’t quite come off but organisers still managed to snare Gold Coast star Amy Shark, while Daryl Braithwaite arguably stole the show with a set that included his iconic race day anthem, The Horses.
Page-Harvey and her team pulled off another coup when they landed Irish superstar Ronan Keating and Aussie rock god Jimmy Barnes for yesterday’s main Magic Millions race day.
DJ PROVES HE’S A BIG FISH
Gold Coast-based international DJ Paul ‘The Fish’ Fisher was almost a bigger hit with fight fans than the boxers themselves when he made a surprise appearance at the Jai Opetaia world title bout at Broadbeach on Wednesday night.
Fisher was ringside as a guest of Glitter Strip entertainment King Billy Cross on a table hosted by prominent lawyers Ron Behlau and Jason Murakami.
In between bouts, the multi-millionaire Losing It star spent much of the night posing for pics with excited fans.
After a gruelling 126-show 2024, he’s back on the Coast for a short break with wife Chloe and baby daughter Bobbi before hitting the road again for gigs including the LIV golf tournament in Adelaide.
SPREADING THE BROOKI LOVE
Ever the queen of leaking her own business secrets on social media, Brooke Bellamy of Brooki Bakehouse seems to have announced a new store on Brisbane’s Northside.
Taking to the bakehouse’s Instagram stories, Bellamy shared the news that they were looking to hire a store manager, assistant manager and casual staff for a new location.
This news followed the opening of Brooki’s second Brisbane store in September at the Domestic Terminal next to Gate 25, as well as a pop-up store in Abu Dhabi in November.
After the success of the Fortitude Valley flagship and the Brisbane Domestic Airport store — where sales doubled those of the flagship — Brooki brought its treats to Abu Dhabi in December as part of the Mother of the Nation (MOTN) festival.
MADONNA’S TICK OF APPROVAL FOR BRISBANE DANCER
Former child star Jal Joshua, who first captured national attention as a 12-year-old singing sensation on Australia’s Got Talent in 2009, has made a triumphant return to the spotlight, this time on a global stage as one of Madonna’s lead dancers.
Joshua, who also competed on The X Factor Australia in 2014 at age 17, has since transformed into one of the entertainment industry’s most sought-after dancers and choreographers.
Now 28, the Brisbane performer recently completed a six-month stint on Madonna’s The Celebration Tour, performing in front of more than one million fans.
To mark the end of the tour, Joshua shared striking photos on Instagram, seductively embracing the pop icon and dancing around, strutting in heels and dominatrix-style costumes.
Having transitioned seven years ago, Joshua has continued to push boundaries, performing alongside global superstar Dua Lipa and solidifying their status as a trailblazer in the entertainment world.
TV PRESENTER’S SURREAL LA EXPERIENCE
As the devastating Los Angeles wildfires rage on, claiming the homes of stars like Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson, Brisbane-born TV presenter Scott Tweedie has stepped up in a big way.
The 36-year-old Venice Beach resident, whose own home has been spared, has opened his doors to a dozen evacuees, earning him the nickname “real-life Mother Teresa” among his fans.
Speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday, Tweedie shared his harrowing experience of watching the destruction unfold.
“It’s been such a wild experience on so many levels, but I’m 100 per cent OK here in Venice Beach,” he said, explaining that while his neighbourhood remains untouched, nearby areas like Santa Monica have been hit hard.
“A lot of my friends live up there, and they’ve all been evacuated. I’ve got about 12 people in my place at the moment, popping in and staying here. A handful of my friends have just lost everything — they had no time; it happened so quickly.”
COPS’ COFFEE CATCH UP
The state’s top police officer and his predecessor were spotted catching up over a coffee in Brisbane earlier this week.
Scoop sleuths spotted Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and former commissioner Katarina Carroll having a brew together on Thursday at popular Woolloongabba cafe, Paw Paw.
Mr Gollschewski took over the top job from Ms Carroll in March last year after she resigned following a turbulent few weeks of internal pressure.
We’re sure they had a lot to chat about.
FRESH FACE FOR ABC NEWS
Lexy Hamilton-Smith will officially join the ABC Queensland 7pm News team as the anchor for Friday and Saturday bulletins, starting Friday, February 14.
Her appointment completes the all-female line-up, alongside Jessica van Vonderen, who presents Sundays to Thursdays.
Hamilton-Smith, a journalist with over 35 years of experience in television, has been a longstanding presence at the ABC.
Previously, she presented the ABC’s Australia Television News into Asia and has worked as both a reporter and presenter for the Brisbane state newsroom.
Queensland State News Editor Michelle Mayman described Hamilton-Smith as delivering news “with authority, warmth, and compassion,” adding that she has a “strong connection with the audience.”
Hamilton-Smith’s career highlights include a Queensland Mental Health Media Award and extensive reporting on issues such as aged care, homelessness, and mental health.
Her appointment comes after a period of reshuffling at ABC Queensland, following the 2023 departure of award-winning journalist Matt Wordsworth, who previously anchored Monday to Thursday bulletins. Since then, van Vonderen has shifted to the weekday role, with Hamilton-Smith temporarily filling in over the summer.
Originally published as The Scoop: How close the Magic Millions came to securing Robbie Williams
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