You did a great job on Dancing with the Stars recently – fourth place behind the winner, Celia Pacquola. How was that?
I know what you’re going to ask – is it rigged? Yes, it is. It’s deeply rigged [laughs]. Celia is a great friend of mine; I’m happy for her. She was really good! Well, she was scored well. There’s a difference. I think if you were to look at it objectively, I was the best dancer and Travis Cloke was the worst. They weren’t my words, they were Todd McKenney’s – he was texting me a lot during the show.
What were the other contestants like?
One of the things I loved about the show was meeting and hanging out with people who I normally wouldn’t spend too much time with. In my dressing room, it was me, Christian Wilkins, Travis and Beau Ryan, and that’s just not a foursome you’d probably put together – but we had a great time. I think the most clothes Beau ever wore were socks and jocks, because normally it’s just jocks.
Despite everyone being in different locations, HYBPA is still running flawlessly. How do you manage it?
Far be it from me to praise him, and I’ll deny it if these comments are in print, but Tom doesn’t get nearly enough credit for being such a fantastic host. He’s so funny himself, but he’s so generous and he pulls you out of rabbit holes. He’s such a pro, so having him in such an unassuming way is why it works.
Who’s your favourite guest to have on the show?
Celia’s ability to do a long-winded pun is second to none. But then someone like Glenn Robbins, he has so many different ways of making a joke, and at his own expense – he’s so skilled at that. And then Kitty Flanagan seems like she doesn’t have a clue what’s going on, but then she must be bunging it on a bit because she can fire a shot that’s going to take out a target from 1000m away with the wind in her face and the snow in her eyes.
Any idea when HYBPA will return to its normal format?
No. I know Sam’s got a trip booked on the Ruby Princess and he says he can do it from his cabin. We’re discouraging him, but he told us it’s already been booked, so we’re going to have to wear it.
It must be good to spend time with Arnold while working from home …
He does this thing when I’m going upstairs into my studio and he wants an Eskimo kiss where we rub our noses together. A week ago, he asked for an Eskimo kiss and I had to say, “No, sweetheart. I’ve got makeup on to do my show with Tom.” Now, every time I go into the studio, he asks if I’ve got makeup on. I don’t know who he thinks Tom is, but he knows that once a week Daddy goes to see a guy called Tom with makeup on.
Your wife, Tiffiny, who Australia knows originally as one of The Biggest Loser trainers, is pretty funny herself …
You get funnier when you’re around me, only because if you make a joke around me that’s not funny, I just won’t laugh, and you’re forced to improve. Tiff is a naturally funny person who gets the joke. And, she’s a radio spouse, so if you’re going to marry or hook-up with a radio person, you need to be prepared to have your whole life aired on the radio.
Who is Arnold most like, you or Tiff?
He’s very specific, so sadly, I think that might be me. He was playing the other day with his little toy Qantas jumbo jet. The plane has wheels on the bottom. The person playing with him said: “Oh, the plane has wheels”, and Arnold, who’s 2½ years old said: “No, that’s the landing gear.” That annoying commentary is me all over.
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