In the early noughties, Rove McManus was Australia’s top television comedian, but behind the scenes his first wife, actress Belinda Emmett, was battling breast cancer.
Now the beloved 49-year-old comedian has spoken to Jessica Rowe about that time in his life and how he was routinely “turned off” as a coping mechanism when someone asked him a question about his personal life or Belinda’s health.
“I would give you a very short answer,” Rove said on the final episode of Big Talk show The Jess Rowe Show.
Even well-meaning guests on Rove’s show would be warned beforehand not to try to talk to their host about what was going on at home.
“It was difficult back then because you’re trying to juggle what you have to deal with in life with what you have to deal with at work. And again you have to advertise which is part of the job as people want to know what you are doing.
In the early noughties, Rove McManus (pictured) was Australia’s top TV comedian, but behind the scenes his first wife, actress Belinda Emmett, was battling breast cancer
Now the beloved 49-year-old comedian has spoken to Jessica Rowe about that time in his life and how he was routinely “turned off” as a coping mechanism when someone asked him a question about his personal life or Belinda’s health. Pictured: Rove with Belinda Emmett at the 2006 TV Week Logie Awards
“But then people want to know what’s going on at home. It’s none of your business what happens at home!’ he added.
“I’m not here to talk about what’s happening at home. If you want to know, you must be a friend of mine. But if you’re a stranger on the street, you’ll get, “Well, it’s alright.”
In 2000, Rove landed his own self-titled TV show, Rove Live, which was picked up by Network Ten after a brief stint on Channel Nine.
Rove was just 26 when he began hosting the variety show, and he was destined for big things, with many comparing him to big names like Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien.
It was around this time that Rove met his first wife, Belinda Emmett, an actress best known for her role on Home and Away.
It was around this time that Rove met his first wife, Belinda Emmett, an actress best known for her role on Home and Away. Pictured: Rove and Belinda on their wedding anniversary in 2005
Tragically, Belinda died of breast cancer in November 2006 at the age of 32, just 18 months after marrying Rove.
After the death of his wife, Rove decided to take time off from the public eye, but returned to television the following year.
He soon moved on with actress Tasma Walton, whom he married in 2009, and the couple are parents to an eight-year-old daughter.
After his long-running show ended in 2009, Rove and Tasma packed their bags and headed to Los Angeles, where Rove had landed a spot on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
Rove later married actress Tasma Walton in 2009 (pictured with Rove in 2022).
In 2011, Rove landed his own US TV show, Rove LA, which ran for two years before being canned.
He attempted a comeback by hosting Fox’s star-studded variety show Riot in 2014, but the series was canceled after just four episodes.
Rove returned to Australia but he struggled to find the same success he enjoyed before leaving as local audiences seemed to tire of his bubbly personality.
His 2019 TV comeback, Saturday Night Rove, was summarily canceled after just two episodes.
Rove’s 2019 TV comeback, Saturday Night Rove, was canceled after just two episodes (pictured)