Not only are Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell partners in life, but they’re also collaborators in their careers, currently in the midst of a joint tour across Australia paying tribute to the songs of Elton John and George Michael.
“The music of those two artists has been a big part of our lives for a long time and has inspired us musically – George, in particular, for me. Their music has stood the test of time,” Callea tells WHO during a Bali vacation with husband Campbell before they get back on the road in late February.
Here, the duo chat about their past lives on Australian Idol and Home and Away, their recent marriage milestone and what it’s like working together.
The tour sounds like it could evolve into a Las Vegas residency…
ANTHONY CALLEA Oh, could you talk to someone? That would be great. It has to be a big stage – we’re not doing one of those little casinos!
You need the Céline Dion treatment. Speaking of Céline, you’ve worked with her, haven’t you, Anthony?
AC I had such a beautiful experience on that tour with Céline [in 2008]. A little after that, we were on our way to Vegas and Tim surprised me – he got tickets five rows from the front in Céline’s purpose-built theatre.
Tell us about working together.
TIM CAMPBELL If you want to challenge a marriage… (laughs) It’s nice we’ve been able to use each other’s strengths and talents on and off stage. We’ve been around for 87 years!
AC Collectively! He’s a lot older than me. It’s an interesting and unique dynamic. At times, it can get testing, but I feel as though…
TC (laughs)
AC Shut up, you idiot! (laughs) You navigate and cope with that with respect. The key is also to separate [work and home life] as much as possible.
Who’s the bossiest out of you two?
AC I’m not going to answer that one! I do have a sign on my desk that says Executive Assistant.
TC I was going to say Anthony!
You celebrated your 10th wedding anniversary in November. Did you do anything to mark it?
AC We were working that week. We got some Uber Eats. Isn’t the 10th anniversary tin? So, we got aluminium foil on our meal.
TC This will be our 11th year, but we’ve been together for about 17 years. I know, I know. You can feel our pain! (laughs)
When you started dating, you were both in the public eye due to Home and Away and Australian Idol. How was that to navigate?
TC We talk about Anthony back on Idol and that was the same year I started on Home and Away [playing Dan Baker]. Back then, Chris Hemsworth was on the show and all these great actors that have continued on. It has a huge fan base, which Anthony discovered when we started seeing each other.
AC I’ll tell you a story. Early on in our relationship, we went to a Pink concert and Tim had to go to the bathroom. Next minute, this massive group of girls ran in after him yelling out, “Dan!” I was like, “For starters, it’s not Dan.” And then I had to organise security to go and get Tim out of the bathroom!
TC I was in the male bathroom, by the way.
AC Another time we were on Thai Airways for our honeymoon and the cabin crew were getting all giddy over Tim/Dan. He even had to go into the cockpit to meet the pilot.
These days, what do you do when you’re not working?
AC We watch a lot of Real Housewives. Beverly Hills is our favourite, but we’re very busy so we can only get into so many. And Tim actually turns 50 in September so we’ve got that to organise.
TC I’ve got my therapist standing by!
You don’t look a day over 40, Tim!
AC It’s called Botox.
TC It’s very natural!
Tickets are now on sale for The Songs of Elton & George at songsofeltonandgeorge.com
