Vanessa Amarosi Sings For Richard Wilkins

Richard Wilkins & Vanessa Amarosi

 Plenty of network heavies and stars from NINE TV clambered up the steep stairs to the second floor in the Kings Cross nightclub Kit & Kaboodle last night to pay homage to Richard Wilkins.

Ben Fordham & David Gyngell

The TV celebrity interviewer was launching his first book :Black Ties, Red Carpets, Green Rooms. It's a series of his interviews with some of the world's most famous stars plus heaps of back stage gossip with an insight into the sometimes strange world of celebrity ego.

However you won't find much in the book about his many love affairs including with the fashion designer Collette Dinnigan or Tottie Goldsmith although there are some tales about Tottie's famous aunt Olivia Newton John. Since arriving on these shores from New Zealand some 25 years ago Wilkins has been working non-stop, first in his own band Wilde and Reckless, then as an MTV  presenter and for the last 15 years as the Nine network's top interviewer of celebrities including on-camera stints from the red carpet at the Oscars.

Among those at the party-his Today Show co-hosts Cameron Williams, Georgie Gardner, Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic (who launched the book), Nine network supremo David Gyngell and Sony boss Denis Handlin.

Lots of Richard's interview subjects sent their best wishes- Prince, Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman but one, Vanessa Amarosi presented her fondness by attending the party and singing. The video is below:

model agency supremo Peter Chadwick & Deborah Hutton

a night of hugs and kisses.....

Georgie Gardner & Lisa Wilkinson

even The Wiggles turned up!

George Michael Blows In- Festival Kicks Off

Slipping quietly into town, George Michael has taken up residence in a Whale Beach house for summer. Although one report has him actually buying the house, our mole disguised as a potted palm in a realtor's office says Michael has rented the house for 3 months along with an apartment in the luxury Icon building in Kings Cross where he stayed earlier this year. His neighbours at the Icon-the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan who own a magnificent penthouse there  but are yet to stay in it.

George was last year's special guest at the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and spent 2 months holidaying on the Oxford Street Golden Gay Mile drinking in numerous bars. He seems to have fallen in love with the local lads.

Meanwhile Emmy Lou Harris has arrived for the Sydney Festival that opened on Saturday. She sang at last night's Hyde Park concert and will be at the State Theatre with her Red Dirt Boys tonight and Monday.

John Malkovich will be here next Wednesday to prepare for his appearance in  the Giacomo Variations at the Sydney Opera House while Arrested Development have taken up residence in the Beck's Festival Bar at the Hyde Park Barracks and one not to be missed-Mac Con Lomaire and his band will be appearing in the sensational Spiegeltent in Hyde Park. If you have never been inside the Spiegeltent you haven't lived !

There is heaps more on. Some notables- Los Lobos will be at the Enmore Theatre on 14th January, 5 international dance troupes including the Trocodero Dance Palace-they were at the opening party last night with some brilliant and energetic 50's dance routines. 8 art shows and installations at various venues, a program of rare films at Sydney University, heaps of free music shows all over the place and a series of talks not to be missed including John Malkovich at the Town Hall in conversation with Rocky Horror legendary director Jim Sharman, Phillip Glass (left) with Paul Grabolsky and singer Paul Kelly with Richard Kingsmill.

Phew-and that's just a few of the great local and international entertainment which lasts until the 30th of January and then of course, it starts all over again with the Mardi Gras festival which means you may run into George Michael on his nightly pub crawl up Oxford Street Darlinghurst (his favourite bar- the Midnight Shift!)