A merry good time
David Campbell is back to host the annual Carols By Candlelight and tells DANIELLE MCGRANE how he feels about hosting the massive festive event.
When he steps up in front of thousands of people to host one of the biggest live events of the year, David Campbell doesn’t expect to feel nervous.
For the fifth year in a row, the Today Extra host, will host Carols By Candlelight in Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl – an event that will be broadcast on TV around the country – but all he will feel is relief and joy.
“I love this time of year and it’s great to be back hosting Carols. It’s just a nice ending to everything. We can all breathe out on Christmas Eve. Everyone has had full years, by the time you get to Christmas Eve and Carols is on you just say, ‘Phew, we made it to Christmas’ with a big sigh of relief,” Camp- bell said. “I can sigh because mostly everyone else is singing. It’s a real relief. I can sit there, have a great time and relax into watching all the acts and knowing that Santa is on his way.”
Campbell’s relief is due partly to the phenomenally busy year he’s had.
He kicked off in Melbourne in January playing Bobby Darin in the live stage show Dream Lover which had a three-month run in the city.
The Sydney-sider had to live away from his wife Lisa, and three children Leo, Betty and Billy once the school year started in January, and survived the long-distance separation with as many trips as he could fit in.
It helped that the show was particularly successful. “The season of Dream Lov
er was amazing, it felt like Melbourne really embraced it,” he said.
“It broke box-office records, it did great and I won the Helpmann (for Best Male Actor in a Musical).”
But from there, Campbell hasn’t stopped. He’s still hosting Today Ex
tra on weekdays alongside Sonia Kruger, he’s a handson dad, he supported his own father Jimmy Barnes as he put out his documentary
Working Class Boy and he’s also released a Christmas album.
“I’ve had a really epic, big, full, year with everything,” he said,
“2019 will be the ‘put your feet up’ year... but probably not.”
One of his highlights over the past 12 months was his last time in front of the crowd for the last Carols by Candlelight.
“We had a really great night. My son Leo, who was seven at the time, came up and was stage managing on the night,” he said.
“He got to meet Hugh Jackman who was in Australia for the premiere of his musical The Greatest Showman which was really great for him.”
One of the stars from the film, Keala Settle, was one of the night’s illustrious performers.
This year, Marina Prior, Silvie Paladino, David Hobson and Denis Walter have already been lined up to perform with many more expected stars to make an appearance for the 81st Carols By Candlelight.
Campbell will also be putting on his performer’s hat to sing a song from his new album.
“I am going to sing this year because I have a new Christmas album, Baby it’s
Christmas, so I’m going to sing a song from that on the night,” he said.
“I always wanted to do a Christmas album, especially now that my kids are at the age where they’re all really into Christmas songs.”
Campbell won’t be on his own up on that stage, he’ll be joined by Kruger, who is also taking a relaxed approach to the event.
“We like to be ourselves on the night, that’s the key,” he said.
“We’re not sitting behind desks. Sonia’s not hosting one of those high-powered shows like The Voice. So we can be ourselves on a really happy night of the year.
“It’s about how relaxed Sonia and I can be without looking like we’ve drunk too much eggnog.” n Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight Christmas Eve, 8pm on Nine