Game show host Andrew O’Keefe charged with assault

Game show host Andrew O’Keefe has been charged with allegedly assaulting haematologist Orly Lavee.

Andrew O'Keefe has been charged with common assault

Channel Seven star Andrew O’Keefe has been charged with allegedly assaulting haematologist Orly Lavee on Sunday.

Police also applied for a provisional apprehended violence order to protect Dr Lavee, his rumoured girlfriend, following an alleged incident at a Randwick unit just before 1am.

“Just before 1am Sunday 31 January 2021 officers from Eastern Beaches Area Command attended a Randwick unit after reports a 41-year-old woman had allegedly been assaulted in a domestic violence incident,” a NSW Police spokeswoman told The Australian.

O’Keefe, who hosts Channel 7’s quiz program The Chase, was arrested 2½ hours later and taken to Maroubra police station, where he was charged with common assault (DV).

The former Weekend Sunrise host was released on police bail, with conditions preventing him from contacting Dr Lavee, except through legal representation. He must also not assault, molest, harass or intimidate her.

Conditions of the provisional apprehended violence order also prevent O’Keefe from approaching or contacting Dr Lavee. He is prohibited from attending her workplace and her $2m apartment.

The apprehended violence order also states he must not assault or threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate, and intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage any property that belongs to or is in the possession of Dr Lavee.

The revelations come just hours after it was revealed Seven management were in talks to dump the embattled veteran.

A report in the Sunday Telegraph said Seven Network bosses are in talks to potentially replace the presenter, who is experiencing “ongoing mental health issues and repeated admissions to rehab clinics”.

Seven insiders say it is no secret that Seven News management have been frustrated with O’Keefe, with program directors forced to schedule reruns of The Chase, which airs before the nightly news, because he was in rehab last year.

“It gave us a terrible lead-in and affected the news ratings,” an insider told The Australian.

In 2017 O’Keefe was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in charity and television.

He is a former chairman of White Ribbon Australia, a charity that was set up to combat violence against women before it folded in 2019.

The matter will first be heard in court on Thursday. O’Keefe would not comment when contacted by The Australian. Seven also declined to comment.