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Kathy LETTE

PHOTOGRAPHY by WILL HORNER STYLING“Head by MAYA WYSZYNSKI over heels

When recently single Kathy Lette met guitarist Brian O’Doherty” shein just had to “carpe thelove hell out of diem”. In a candid interview the couple talks to Juliet Rieden about finding love and laughter.

athy Lette has a flick in her 2017 the high-profile Aussie couple I just had to learn to fly solo, socially. tail and whether it’s down was in the first throes of separation, I got so used to being a one-woman to the unquenchable passion unsure of what lay ahead but gingerly band that in the end we started of new love or the wonders working their way towards divorce, ‘individuating’, as therapists say. of HRT I have yet to which came through in 2019. That’s where you live under the same Kdiscover, but there’s no question “I adored him passionately and roof but you lead your individual she’s awash with pheromones. It’s he was the great love of my life, lives. A lot of people just carry on, true, the comedic author and national but we grew apart,” explains Kathy. but I didn’t want to live like that.” glitter ball is always upbeat, but “A lot of this was to do with the Kathy and Geoff shared a family behind the smiles and pun-tastic fact that he’s a workaholic, mostly home in north London and unpicking quips, the past few years have been working pro bono. Geoff would be their marriage has proved logistically undeniably tough. the first to agree with that! Basically, and emotionally gruelling. “It was horrible,” Kathy admits. I suffered from subpoena-envy,” “I instigated it and I think it takes After 28 years of marriage to human she smiles, cracking one of her a lot of courage for anyone to do that rights lawyer , trademark jokes. because dismantling our marriage was Kathy found herself navigating single “He’s on the side of the angels but like turning a giant cruise ship. It’s a

life in her 60s. When we last spoke in was so busy saving the world that massive, huge, traumatic, harrowing → ALLISON BOYLE. HAIR AND MAKE-UP BY

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undertaking, but I also knew it was are divorcing to remember what you quietly basking in the glory. He “I would say the right thing to do.” loved about them in the first place. actually is a great cook and the pair As she talks, Kathy’s intense love That huge bond, especially if you’ve immediately start jabbering about having been for Geoff is obvious, but she’s also had children, is still there and it’s his culinary triumphs, dinner parties pragmatic about life and love’s journey. really important that you cling to that. around at Kathy’s London place with married to two Geoff was Kathy’s second husband. Geoff and I definitely have. I love him. the likes of former Monty Python Eric She was married to media executive I love talking to him. I ring him often. Idle dropping round. The one they’re brilliant, alpha Kim Williams for six years from 1983 We discuss the political scenario. We reliving was supposed to be for and though a passionate and fiercely take the kids out. We’re probably eight but ended up with 26 people men, I’ve now loyal partner, Kathy is wise enough to getting on better now.” at the gathering. Brian made lasagne sense when it’s time to move on. and an amazing fish curry and lots got a beta male “I don’t see divorce as a failure; New love more besides and then afterwards I just see it as a change, because we We’re sitting in a restaurant a stone’s “everyone got the guitars out and live so long now. From honeymoon throw from Kathy’s apartment. started jamming … It went until and beta is to tomb can be 80 or so years. Geoff Over the past years she has spent 3am,” chirps Kathy proudly. and I had grown out of each other more and more time in Australia, Brian is one of nine (including three better.” and we wanted different things. We’d partly to be close to her octogenarian sets of twins), raised in a two-up, been together a long time and I think mum and three sisters, and partly two-down terrace in a close-knit I changed … I think women do change. because this is still very much where Catholic family in Derry. He grew up “Of course, I left school at 16. she feels at home. She always comes with “extraordinary women” who I always joke that the only over for an extended period during protected their family during the examination I’ve ever passed is my the Aussie summer, usually with son Troubles in Northern Ireland. It was cervical smear test,” she giggles. “But Jules, and those trips have become a terrible time that has left deep it’s true. I was always looking for longer and longer. This year she’s here scars and also claimed the life of his Henry Higgins [the erudite phonetics with another significant other – the brother, who died in a fire in London. teacher in George Bernard Shaw’s new man in her life, Brian O’Doherty. With bombs and fighting going on classic play Pygmalion]. I was always Kathy wasn’t expecting to find love outside, Brian retreated into music. looking for a man who was like a again, and from her dancing eyes and His father was a jazz pianist, and all teacher. A walking encyclopaedia. And constant smile it’s obvious she believes the family were innately musical, their of course, in Kim Williams I had that; she’s hit the jackpot. Brian has just childhood cloaked in music. Brian with Geoffrey I had that. But you joined us, and like Kathy he’s walking taught himself guitar and spent hours know, I’m 61 now. I don’t need their on air. He’s handsome, funny, charming picking out tunes in his own little intellectual nurturing in that way. and his Northern Irish lilt germinates world. His talent was prodigious and Hell, I’ve got three honorary its own romance. He’s also a million organic and he quickly developed into doctorates! I kind of outgrew that miles from Kathy’s previous partners. a brilliant classical guitarist. He won role of being Eliza Doolittle. Even at “I would say having been married a Belfast music festival competition the end of Pygmalion, Eliza Doolittle to two brilliant alpha men, I’ve now and then went to the Royal Academy outgrows Henry.” got a beta male and beta is better of Music in London. It’s an interesting analogy because because they love to shop and mop, Brian’s career has taken him all over with her early literary success with her cook and clean. Brian adores me. the world, from Brazil to the US and debut – now iconic – novel Puberty He doesn’t bore me and he does all Britain, and today he writes music for Blues (Kathy was just 20 when it was my chores for me but is secure enough theatre productions. He has never published) and subsequent career as in his masculinity not to find that married – “I just keep galloping,” an incisive, best-selling comic author, threatening,” says Kathy, breaking jokes the 54-year-old – but he does Kathy is no slouch in the intellect into a rhyming patter, which is part have a 20-year-old son who now lives stakes. Indeed, her sharp-witted, bawdy comedy but also based firmly in in Ireland and who Brian is close to. and fiercely feminist one-woman stage reality. “He’s a man’s man, good at It seems fitting that it was music shows are packed from London to DIY and hitting the cat burglar over that brought Brian and Kathy Basingstoke; Canberra to Wollongong. the head with the bread board, but together, although their chance And career aside, I would posit that then whipping up a sonnet, a soufflé meeting was the stuff of soap opera. it is Kathy who has proved to be the and a prelude. Men are always asking “It was almost like a Richard Curtis smart one in matters of the heart. me what women want in bed. The rom-com. For someone like me She says the most important thing answer is BREAKFAST! Is there who’s an investigative satirist, when you split is to salvage friendship anything more aphrodisiacal than it’s so mawkish and clingingly which she has always achieved, a man in a cooking apron?” embarrassing,” Kathy winces. “He staying close to both of her exes. Brian is already used to Kathy’s was playing Bach in the park, sitting

BRIAN WEARS SCOTCH & SODA SHIRT AND COUNTRY ROAD CHINOS. CHINOS. ROAD COUNTRY AND SHIRT SODA & SCOTCH WEARS BRIAN “I really encourage my friends who banter. “I leap over it,” he jibes, under a tree. Hello! I heard this →

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to. “I’m very minimal, really. I don’t the pressures on Kathy and is full of to leave their husbands? For whom? “I was in have many material possessions. I’ve admiration for her. “I’ve seen Kathy Or change their husbands. It’s very never been interested in them and under serious, serious stress. But she topical, it speaks to women between the eye of a I don’t care. That might come from just pulls herself up.” 50 and 70 and is about all the issues growing up in the Troubles and we’re facing now: menopause, cyclone,” thinking ‘keep it light so you can Act two ageing, refusing to age gracefully, keep moving’. When I went to Kathy’s For the past year Kathy has been disgracefully. I always say growing laughs house, there’s stuff everywhere.” working on her new book, aptly titled old is compulsory but growing up It’s also a very busy house. Both Husband Replacement Therapy. It’s is optional. You don’t have to grow Brian. Kathy’s children – actor Jules, 29, pure fiction but certainly draws up. I had so much fun writing it.” and Labour party press officer inspiration from her own life and Brian is now a big fan of Kathy’s “There’s Georgie, 27 – are currently living at especially her time of life. “I wanted books but her mother has never read home and friends are always popping to write a book about women’s them. “She’s not allowed to. It started only one round. “We’ve got Jules and his second act because there’s no modern with Puberty Blues because it was so girlfriend and Georgie with all her literature about the menopause, about raunchy and outrageous. I thought, political friends, plus my friends from what comes next, about how women it’s not really for her. So we made a Kathy!” Australia staying.” At first, Brian are feeling at my age, so it was kind pact. The books are all in her house confesses, “I thought, I’m going to of unexplored territory.” but she has promised not to read have to build myself a Lego house out In real life Kathy, her former school them. I always said, ‘Mum, if I think the back”. But now he’s used to it. “It principal mum and her three sisters you’re reading them I’m going to is full on, there’s no doubt about that, are really close, but in her book Kathy censor myself’.” but also Kathy is so colourful and explores an opposite scenario. “I Husband Replacement Therapy is Kathy’s meeting with Brian, who there’s never a dull moment and I do wanted to have sisters who were not vintage Kathy – and not just because beautiful music, like a Pied Piper. I just was playing Bach under a tree, find my own little space.” getting on because of their matriarch. she’s now in her 60s. It’s also proof listened to him for a while and then was like a rom-com scene. Right: Crucial to this new world order was My mother is wonderful so it was fun that you can beat the menopause I got talking to him. You know when Son Jules gets on brilliantly with Kathy’s son, Jules, who has Asperger’s. to write a mother who’s not, who’s blues. “I was always known as the you meet someone and you just feel Brian. Below: Kathy with He’s an extraordinary man with a like your mother-in-law. Just enfant terrible. You can’t really Geoffrey, who she still loves. like you could talk to them forever …” fierce intellect and is well known in manipulative, scheming and cruel. carry that off at 60. But I call it Brian recalls he was deeply the UK as a star of the hospital soap “It starts when it’s [protagonist] sexty because I think for women it’s engrossed in his strumming. It was ridiculous because Holby City. But with his condition Ruby’s 50th birthday and she’s the best time of your life,” she says. a warm day in London and he was you also feel head come significant challenges. “Autistic making her speech. But instead of “I’m a big supporter of HRT because in Regent’s Park, the nearest patch over heels in love. And people hate change,” says Kathy. the usual celebratory words, she tells it’s like hormonal rocket fuel. The of green to his flat, practising for a then there’s the heels “Divorce rates with couples who everyone what she really thinks of idea of slowing down at 60 is insane. performance. “I was playing quite over head bit, which is have a child with disabilities are them, including her mother, sisters, I think women come into their own virtuosic and demanding music at the also good … I don’t she boasts. “I think astronomically high; it does put a lot friends, her husband who she’s just because for the first time ever you’re time, and I think Kathy thought, ‘oh want to shock you!” that’s a good gap. of extra burden on everyday life. found out is having an affair. And then no longer tethered to the kitchen and my God, this isn’t just the normal Kathy didn’t stop to You want someone I adore Jules and I will never cut the at the end she says, ‘oh and by the mostly the kids have left the nest. three chords here’. I was going a bit think about what was who’s got the same umbilical cord. He will be with me way, I’ve got pancreatic cancer, You’ve got at least 15 years to just mad and it’s a wonder the guitar happening, she just cultural references forever, so it’s great that Geoff and terminal’ … Cut to the next morning, put yourself first for a change. didn’t explode.” knew she wanted to as you. And also you I are still really good friends and also she wakes up completely hungover Women never do that.”

Brian had no idea who Kathy was, be with Brian all the don’t want to be lying now that Brian gets on brilliantly with and a letter is popped through the Kathy is living proof that life is despite her media profile. “That’s why time. “We’ve got the naked in bed next to him. He’s just naturally kind and sits letterbox which says ‘Dear Ms Ryan, what you make it, and as I look over it’s probably so organic,” he muses. same tastes in theatre someone who’s 30 with Jules. He has the patience to we’re so sorry we sent you that letter at Brian who has been chuckling away When he found out, he says: “I was and concerts and we years younger and watch the same movie over and over by mistake ...’ She doesn’t have cancer at her monologue, I spot a mistiness in amazed that she was interested in me.” met every day and had coffee and did have to hold your stomach in all night.” with him, which autistic people like and now nobody’s talking to her. his eyes. “She’s a unique sort of genie They swapped numbers and Kathy the crossword, getting faster and to do. Whereas I have the patience of While she was drunk, she booked – she literally loves life and has been says she couldn’t stop thinking about faster at it – we both love words and Moving in a hyperactive bumblebee, always to take her two sisters on a cruise an incredible influence on me … for him. “I’d never met anyone so kind wordplay – and we laughed our lips He moved in a year ago, and so far so buzzing onto the next thing.” to patch up their relationship and the good,” he says. AWW in my life,” she says. “The next day off,” Kathy says. “I threw him in the good. Brian has his music room and When I talk to Brian about Jules she keeps pretending she’s got cancer I found myself wanting to talk to him. deep end because a lot of my life is when he’s not composing, he heads his eyes light up. “He’s a fascinating so they’ll come with her.” I couldn’t believe I was calling straight very public and I was at first nights out to the shops to buy ingredients character. He’s totally original, he’s Kathy has been on cruises with her away but I felt compelled.” and premieres and taking Brian to for whatever he’s cooking that night. quirky, he’s got a fantastic vocabulary sisters and says she sourced some of HUSBAND After so many years out of the meet all my friends.” “I smell these wafting aromas all and a different way of looking at the her material from the women she met REPLACEMENT dating scene Kathy says she felt “really “I was in the eye of a cyclone,” afternoon of what he’s making for world. He’s a colourful guy in real on board. Her fictional sisters are THERAPY BY KATHY weird” but also exhilarated. “It’s like laughs Brian. “There’s only one dinner,” coos Kathy. terms. Of course, you don’t know unhappily married in different ways LETTE, VINTAGE, being a teenager except with wrinkles Kathy!” He is seven years younger For Brian it was, however, an what colour you’re going to get “so it’s about husband replacement IS ON SALE FROM APRIL 28. instead of pimples,” she jokes. “It feels than her. “He’s practically a toy boy,” adjustment that he’s still getting used BY PHOTOGRAPHY TROUSERS. AND SHIRT BAKER TED WEARS BRIAN LANDSBERRY/BAUERSYNDICATION.COM.AU. ALANA IMAGES. GETTY HORNER. WILL SYDNEY. POINT, POTTS BRASSIERE, FRANCA AT LOCATION ON SHOT sometimes.” Brian is also aware of therapy,” she explains. “Are they going

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