Tim Campbell
Star of Home And Away and Shout! The Musical, Tim Campbell, talks about his latest role as host of Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, and about his Logies outing with Anthony Callea. By Resli Buchel
New game show king Tim Campbell and his hostest with the mostest Kelly Landry
Did you ever imagine you'd end up hosting a game show? No... if you look at my track record the last 18 months you wouldn't know where I was going in life. I guess I'm one of those performers that - as you can probably tell by the CV - likes to mix it up and do different things. But, I wouldn't mind sticking to this for a while because it's a lot of fun and it's only a half-hour each episode, but because of the way the schedule works, we'll get ten episodes done over two days and I've got all this time to do other stuff as well. I don't know what I've done right but it's all come together at the moment.
Is it exciting to be a part of the great television institution that is Wheel Of Fortune? It's actually really good. I feel like it should be daunting but it's kind of not. I've only seen the set the last couple of days and that's come together, and the letter-board's been there, so it's all been coming together. Kelly Landry, who's the co-host, she's got control of the board, but there's no letter spinning any more... I mean, she controls the screens there, but behind the board there's like eight computers controlling the whole thing. But the old basic physics still work the wheel so that three flippers slow it down. It's funny, I guess it's cause it's so iconic, everyone wants to have a go. It's like the chocolate wheel at the fete or something. It's great.
Do you think worry that with a role like this that you could become a stereotypical super-slick game-show host? Well yeah, and I think that's why they've asked me because I'm kind of not your classic game show host. As much as I've watched Burgo and Larry Emdur and Andrew O'Keefe, and all these great hosts over the years - and I think they do a great job - I just don't want to pre-plan, I just want to get in there and do it. I mean, I've been doing variety for years as well, so I trust myself with it, it's just whether people like my flavour and my style... and we will shoot it as if it's a live show. There won't be much interruption to the taping. So, if I muck up, I hope that we kick it to air and that I can laugh at myself, and that Kelly will take the mickey out of me as well.
What was it like to be ‘out' with your boyfriend, Anthony Callea at the Logies? It was fine. I mean, the Logies... obviously Million Dollar Wheel was coming up and Kel [Kelly Landry] was just on board with the show, so I did the red carpet with Kelly, and Anthony did his own thing. Anthony sat on my table for most of the night... I don't know, maybe I walked out with him as well... but, the thing about the Logies is you don't get to bring partners anyway. Anthony was invited by TV Week, and he sat on the Sony table, and I was on the Channel Nine table, so the fact that we could be in the same room is good because he came down and sat on our table, really.
Is it annoying to be asked questions about your sexuality when you've already been asked many times before? It's not annoying. But, the only thing I don't want to do - and it's ironic that I'll say this - is keep talking about it because I kind of want the focus to be about my work and that kind of thing. My relationship with Anthony and my sexuality is only one part of my life, and I don't want that to kind of interfere with people's perceptions of what I do, and it's the same with him... but the thing is, I'm not ashamed about it. There's no real issue there and I don't think audiences really care either... you just want to go, "yeah, I'm the host of Million Dollar Wheel and that's it".
Well you handle it very diplomatically, Tim. No, well, I'm not trying to... I'm not trying to do anything, I'm just trying to... when I read an article that [talks] about [my sexuality], I go "Ooooow", because if I wasn't me reading I'd say, "just shut up mate and get on with your life." Because that's how I feel, you know what I mean?
Million Dollar Wheel screens at 5.30pm weeknights on Channel Nine.