Bert Newton’s incredible secret revealed as tributes flow for the TV legend

Bert Newton’s incredible secret finally revealed as tributes flow

Words: Nick Bond & Bella Fowler Producer: Issey Gogoll

A secret Bert Newton insisted could only be revealed after his death has finally been aired, 31 years after it happened.

The TV legend once gifted one of his Gold Logies to a man dying of AIDS – but insisted the kind gesture be kept secret until after his own death.

Australian showbiz reporter Peter Ford, who was a longtime friend of Newton’s, told the previously unheard story during a recent radio interview.

Source: Gawndy and Maz for Breakfast

Bert Newton had just one request: “Don’t report that until after I’ve carked it, because I’ve probably broken some Logie law by giving one of them away.”

The 83-year-old’s death comes after a long health battle, with Newton having his leg amputated earlier this year due to a life threatening infection.

Patti Newton, Bert’s beloved wife of 47 years, asked journalist Peter Ford to confirm the sad news on his family’s behalf.

Social media has been flooded with tributes for the legendary Aussie following the sad news.

Australia loved Bert. There will never be another like him. Bert came into our homes and made himself very welcome. He was a regular guest and we always looked forward to his next visit... Bert Newton was the best.Years ago when my friend & comedy colleague Lynda Gibson was dying of cancer we had a fundraising comedy ‘roast’ for her. Bert turned up @ HiFi bar in Melb & paid homage by removing his ‘rumoured’ toupee & revealing his total baldness. It meant the world to us What a loss. There was no one quite like the great Bert Newton. To have lost him at 83 is still too soon, because he’s truly irreplaceable. Brilliant, cheeky, generous, kind...

The veteran Aussie performer, affectionately called Moonface, was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie-winning entertainer and a radio, theatre and television personality and presenter.

I don’t know that I’m ready to accept this yet. Today I lost a mentor and friend, our country lost an icon, but most importantly a family has lost their hero and soul mate... The end of an era... We all grew up with him. He loved this industry and supported so many of us... Thank you Bert. I was just a young singer and he always had me on his show. It was an absolute honour. Bert was an icon. He lived his life on the silver screen and we welcomed his wit and humour into our homes for decades... Vale Bert Newton.

Newton’s “outrageous and unpredictable character” earned him fans of all ages.

The Aussie entertainment legend will be honoured at a state funeral in Melbourne.

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Bert Newton’s incredible secret finally revealed as tributes flow

Bert Newton 1938 - 2021

Bert Newton 1938 - 2021

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