I met the ‘laugh of my life’ after Kylie no-show

My personal life changed dramatically in august 1988 when I did an australian TV show on the subject of child abuse. There were to be 2,000 people in the audience for this charity event. Kylie Minogue (right) was due to be present but shortly before the programme, I heard from the producer: ‘Kylie suddenly unavailable. you will have to make do with Kathy lette.’ For three hours, I thought, not 30 years.

I had heard the name, of course. Indeed, my girlfriend at the time, nigella lawson, had told me about a ‘remarkable’ australian novelist soon to be published in the UK.

after the programme, Kathy (far right) and I talked, and did not stop talking. I was 41, Kathy 29: I think we both felt the urgings of our unborn children to get on with it. Kathy quickly checked me out with her friends, but most of them thought I was gay. one rather ungraciously observed that marrying me would be ‘a good career move’.

after Kathy’s arrival in Britain, we repaired to my home in Islington and, after an unpleasant time with certain journalists, who thought I had committed treason by parting with nigella (I was described, with alliterative waspishness, as the ‘legal lothario’), we settled down and married. our marriage came to many as a surprise, although not to an uncle of mine, a Wollongong bus driver who knew my love of comedy. He said: ‘I know why you married her. you will spend the rest of your life laughing.’

at our dinner parties, I played the role of wine waiter, despite my experience at a party thrown by nicole Kidman of taking a glass of champagne proffered by a small chap who I assumed was a hired waiter – I just did not recognise Tom Cruise.

Kathy and I went our separate ways last year but we remain the best of friends.