On Friday, some of Australia’s most well-known senior television stars reunited in Sydney to film a remarkable new project.
Melissa Bell, 49, Rowena Wallace, 74, and Tony Barber, 82, from Sale of the Century, were sighted getting to work on a mystery TV show in Sydney’s CBD.
Ada Nicodemou, 44, from Home and Away, Ajay Rochester, 53, from The Biggest Loser, and Perfect Match host Greg Evans, 68, were also sighted filming scenes at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel.
Melissa, who rose to popularity on E Street and Neighbours, looked stunning in a Valentino gown with a matching head scarf.
The busty blonde, who is now a real estate agent, completed the ensemble with a Louis Vuitton purse and seemed to be having a great time on set.
‘I’m ready for My Close Up… A very special evening of filming,’ Melissa wrote on Instagram last week.
Melissa’s big break came in 1991, when she was cast as Lucy Robinson on Neighbours.
Since then, she has reprised the role on a sporadic basis.
In the meantime, Prisoner actor Rowena Wallace, 74, appeared to be at ease on set as she smoked a cigarette in between shots.
She looked elegant with a black blouse and chandelier earrings, which she paired with a black and white patterned overcoat.
The blonde is best remembered for her roles as Anne Griffin on the popular soap Prisoner in the early 1980s and as Pat the Rat, or Patricia, on Sons and Daughters.
Rowena was born in Coventry, England, and grew up in Australia, where she pursued her passion for acting, landing jobs in Neighbours and Home and Away over the years.
She has received numerous honours, including a Gold Logie Award for Sons and Daughters in 1984.
Meanwhile, Tony Barber, 82, looked dapper in a suit as he arrived on set in Sydney last week with his veteran co-stars.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the English-born media personality was the king of game shows, anchoring the hit show Sale of the Century from 1980 until 1991.
In the 1970s, the Gold Logie winner presented Family Feud, The Great Temptation, and Jeopardy!
Tony competed on Dancing With The Stars in 2013, and after his late wife Helen died of pancreatic illness, he raised donations for The Forgotten Cancers charity.
He has now remarried, and he and his wife Kristine married in 2011.
‘It’s no good living to be into your 70s, 80s or 90s unless you’re doing something. I’m putting my body where my mouth is,’ he said about hitting the ballroom for the TV show and keeping physically fit.
Greg Evans, the 68-year-old host of Perfect Match, was another familiar face on set.
From 1983 through 1989, Perfect Match was a dating game programme.
For the first three years, Greg presented the show before being replaced by Cameron Daddo.
Ajay Rochester, the former host of The Biggest Loser, donned a long black dress with a gold leaf design across the waist and boots.
After a health scare last year, the mother of one claimed she plans to follow in Rebel Wilson’s footsteps and announce her own ‘year of health.’
‘It’s time to take my health and fitness back! If Rebel Wilson can do it I can too!’ she wrote alongside a selfie of her in hospital.
From 2006 through 2009, the 53-year-old was the host of The Biggest Loser Australia, where he was famed for his dispute with trainer Michelle Bridges.
Their feud erupted after Michelle made the unusual comment that she has “yet to meet someone enormously obese and happy.”
Michelle was invited to ‘kiss my fat happy a!’ Ajay responded by uploading a photo of her naked bottom on Instagram and encouraging Michelle to ‘kiss my fat happy a!’
She also said that Michelle had been tough to work with on in an interview with 2DayFM around this time.
Ada Nicodemou, who starred in Home and Away, was also spotted on the set of the project in Sydney on Friday.
She was dressed elegantly in a black and white gown with a tiered skirt and balloon sleeves.
Ada styled her short hair over her shoulders and wore black Dior slingback shoes that cost roughly $1,490.
Ada is most known for her role in the Australian soap opera Home and Away as Leah Patterson.
In 1994, she made her acting debut as Katerina Ioannou in the teen drama Heartbreak High.
She told Woman’s Day in February 2020 that there was a point when she almost left Home and Away.
She said that in her early twenties, she battled with her role on the famous show.
While the nature of the secret project remains unknown, there are rumours that the celebs gathered to film an episode of Melissa Doyle’s This is Your Life, which is returning for a new season on Channel Seven.
The show was said to be returning to Channel Seven after a 42-year hiatus in January.
Each episode of This Is Your Life, based on the original American concept, displays the life of a guest celebrity, sports star, performer, or high achiever in a certain discipline, with input from family and friends.
