Rove McManus plots TV comeback as three-time Gold Logie ‘readies new music show’ winner… after being branded ‘being elitist’ for ‘bullying’

He was once one of the biggest stars on Australian television.

And now industry insiders are suggesting Rove McManus is plotting a comeback.

Rumors are circulating that the 49-year-old former tonight show host is preparing a new music show.

Rove’s company, Roving Enterprises, the team behind Channel 10’s The Project, is keen to produce an MTV-style programme, reports music industry blog Mix down.

According to the report, local networks were impressed with Rove’s company following their hugely successful work producing this year’s ARIA Awards.

The news comes after McManus was criticized for his ‘elitist’ view of the recent Voice referendum.

The comedian revealed to The Project panel that he became ‘angry’ at a meeting last month and said the voice had been ‘manipulated’.

‘What are we doing to ourselves? This is truly a moment where we can be proud and show what a beautiful country this is.’

But One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is among Aussies leading the backlash against his comments, calling it a “last ditch attempt to bully voters”.

“You’d think the Yes campaign would have learned by now that Aussies are fed up with celebrity bullies and are heading to the polls tomorrow to vote ‘No’ to their Voice of Division,” Ms Hanson wrote on X.

Speculation suggests Rove’s company, Roving Enterprises, the team behind Channel 10’s The Project, is keen to produce an MTV-style programme, reports music industry blog Mixdown

Another

“Why would anyone take advice from Rove McManus or the Project panel on how to vote?” wrote another.

“Stop influencing our personal lives,” someone else wrote.

Rove became a huge star on Australian TV in 2000 when he launched his own self-titled TV show Rove Live, which was picked up by Network Ten after a brief stint on Channel Nine.

Rove was only 26 when he started hosting the variety show, and he was destined for big things, with many comparing him to big names like Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien.

According to the report, local networks were impressed with Rove’s company following their hugely successful work producing this year’s ARIA Awards. Pictured

It was around this time that Rove met his first wife, Belinda Emmett, an actress known for her role in Home and Away.

Tragically, Belinda died of breast cancer in November 2006 at the age of 32, just 18 months after her marriage to Rove.

After the death of his wife, Rove chose to take some time away from the public eye, but he returned to TV the following year.

He later married actress Tasma Walton, in 2009, and the couple are parents to an eight-year-old daughter.

It comes after American-born singer Marcia Hines approached local producers to launch a new version of ABC’s landmark music show. Countdown reports Mixdown Pictured: Hines, 70, host of Countdown, which ran on the ABC from 1974 to 1987