Nova presenter Tim Blackwell confirms radio’s worst kept secret after splitting from his wife of fourteen years – and it’s an all too familiar story…
It is a story as old as time.
A middle-aged man separates from his wife of years, starts dating a younger model and suddenly has a new wardrobe, haircut and attitude.
You may think that “nice guys” are the exception to the rule. But as radio host Tim Blackwell proves, even the best men falter around a fawning 20-something who reminds him of what his ex looked like a decade ago..
And so, 11 months after his wife Monique announced the end of their 14-year marriage, trendy and fresh-faced Tim, 43, confirmed the worst-kept secret on radio on Friday when he stepped out with his 28-year-old girlfriend Lizzie. Baxter.
Lizzie – stunning, blonde and 15 years younger than Tim – is a producer for Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with the Kate Ritchie breakfast show.
Along with their Nova colleagues, the couple stayed close as they attended an intimate ‘Red Room’ performance at the Coogee Bay Hotel, hosted by rapper The Kid Laroi.
Confirming the worst kept secret in radioland, Nova radio host Tim Blackwell stepped out in Sydney on Friday with his new girlfriend Lizzie Baxter, a producer for the Fitzy and Wippa show
Lizzie bears a striking resemblance to Tim’s ex-wife Monique (pictured together in March 2018). The former couple, who share three children, announced their divorce almost a year ago
Tim looked like Liam Gallagher’s doppelgänger with a modern haircut, complete with a pinstripe jacket, white T-shirt, black cuffed trousers and Dr. Martens boots.
Lizzie exuded Gen Z cool with a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired blonde blowout and a strapless red minidress, completing her look with heart-patterned lace tights, knee-high boots, a studded crossbody bag and a varsity jacket.
Rumors are swirling that the lovebirds, who started dating after Tim’s marriage ended, may make their first red carpet appearance together at the ARIA Awards.
In a flirty conversation on social media, Tim announced he was hosting the awards show and Lizzie asked in the comments if she could be his date for the evening.
‘Do you happen to need a date? You are hot,” she wrote.
‘I’m going to work. Wouldn’t that be unprofessional?’ Blackwell responded, before quickly adding: “I’ll think about it…”
Baxter teased in response, “Hasn’t stopped you in the past.”
Hmm.
Along with their colleagues from Nova 96.9, the couple stayed close as they arrived at the Coogee Bay Hotel for an intimate ‘Red Room’ performance hosted by rapper The Kid Laroi.
Tim, 43, looked like Liam Gallagher’s doppelgänger with a modern haircut, complete with a pinstripe jacket, white T-shirt, black cuffed trousers and Dr. Martens boots
Lizzie exuded Gen Z cool with a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired blonde blowout and a strapless red minidress, completing her look with heart-patterned lace tights and knee-high boots
A source tells Daily Mail Australia that the pair have been flirtatiously chatting online for “a few months” and that Lizzie’s Instagram account featured photos of them as a couple before she recently made it private.
Another insider added: “Their relationship is well known in the industry. It’s not really a secret.’
Lizzie works as a content producer for Fitzy and Wippa in the same Sydney office as Tim, who is one-third of the national drive show alongside Ricki-Lee Coulter and comedian Joel Creasey.
Tim and Lizzie’s date night comes almost a year after his estranged wife Monique confirmed they had split.
The former couple have three children: Bo, 11, Alfie, eight, and Artie, five.
Monique, entrepreneur and yoga instructor, announced the news on December 10 via Instagram.
“Not all good things come to an end, but this one does,” she wrote alongside a photo gallery of herself with Tim in happier times.
‘Thank you in advance for your messages of love, support and sadness at the news that Tim and I are no longer together.
“Our babes are forever supported by Tim and I’s love for them. And our friendship is always a source of strength for our family, as we raise our children as best friends.”
A source says the couple has been engaging in flirty online banter for “a few months” and that Lizzie’s Instagram account featured photos of them as a couple before she recently made it private. This screenshot shows Lizzie playfully asking Tim to be his date to the ARIAs. He suggests it would be “unprofessional,” but Lizzie responds, “[That] hasn’t stopped you in the past
Tim remained quiet on Instagram for over a week after his wife’s announcement. He wouldn’t directly discuss his marital split until September.
He opened up about his divorce and co-parenting on his podcast, Introducing Tim Blackwell, during a conversation with singer Missy Higgins.
In a heartbreaking confession, Tim admitted he felt like a failure as a parent when his marriage to Monique ended, but insisted their story was not over.
‘Especially as co-parents, we are still in the relationship. It just looks different. “I think we’re working harder on the relationship we don’t have anymore,” he said.
Lizzie (right) works with Kate Ritchie as a content producer for Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa
Tim and Monique first met in 2002 after he moved to Perth to launch Nova 93.7’s drive show.
“It’s the cheesiest radio geek story ever – one of the biggest days for my career and definitely the biggest day of my love life,” he told Stellar Magazine in 2018.
“I had all the big bosses in town, all the news media there. I was shaking and definitely fucking, but excited at the same time.
“Once that was all over, we went downstairs and had a big launch party. Monique was part of the promotional team at the time. She came over and I had the courage to say, ‘I’m new to Perth and I’d love to take you for a coffee or something.’
Tim and Monique first met in 2002 after he moved to Perth to launch Nova 93.7’s drive show. He was an up and coming presenter and she worked in PR. (They are pictured in March 2021)
