Rove McManus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rove McManus
McManus in January 2018
Born	John Henry Michael McManus (1974-01-21) 21 January 1974 (age 51) Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Comedian television and radio presenter producer media personality writer
Years active	1997–present
Television	Rove
Spouse(s)	Belinda Emmett ​ ​ (m. 2005; died 2006)​ Tasma Walton ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	1

John Henry Michael 'Rove' McManus (born 21 January 1974) is a well-known Australian comedian, TV host, and radio presenter. He has won three Gold Logie awards, which are big awards for Australian TV stars. Rove was the host of his own popular variety show called Rove and a comedy talk show named Rove LA. He also co-owns a company called Roving Enterprises that makes TV shows. From 2017 to 2020, Rove hosted Whovians on the ABC.

Early Life and Nickname

Rove McManus was born in Perth, Western Australia. His parents are John and Coralie McManus. He went to Orana Catholic Primary School and then to Corpus Christi College for high school. He got the nickname 'Rove' from his sister when he was a child, and it stuck with him.

Performing on Stage and Screen

Live Comedy Shows

Rove McManus has performed stand-up comedy in Australia and around the world. He appeared at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2010 and hosted the International Comedy Gala in 2013.

In 2005 and 2008, Rove toured Australian cities, as well as Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand, with his live stand-up comedy shows. Even while touring, he would return to Melbourne every Tuesday to film his TV show, Rove Live.

Television Appearances

Rove has been a guest on many TV shows, including Good Morning Australia, The Living Room, The Project, and Have You Been Paying Attention New Zealand?.

His very first TV appearance was as a child in an ABC series called Kaboodle. He played a character named Marty in an episode.

In 1997, Rove also voiced a character in the animated series Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers. Later that year, he started hosting The Loft Live on Channel 31. This is where he met his long-time friend and co-host, Peter Helliar.

Rove then got a chance to host his own variety show, Rove, on the Nine Network in 1999. It was a short series, but in 2000, Network Ten offered him the chance to create a new version, which became Rove Live. This show became very popular, featuring celebrity guests, comedy acts, and live music.

During the 2004 and 2007 Australian federal elections, Rove tried to get the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, on his show, but it didn't happen. However, other political leaders like Mark Latham and Kevin Rudd did appear.

In 2005, Rove helped host a big TV appeal called "Reach Out" with other presenters. This event raised over $20 million to help people affected by the tsunami in Asia.

After his wife, Belinda Emmett, passed away in November 2006, Rove took a break from TV. He returned in April 2007 with a new version of his show, simply called Rove, which had a huge audience. In September 2007, he also started hosting the Australian version of the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.

Rove also appeared as a guest on the American show The Tonight Show with Jay Leno several times. In 2011, he even hosted a segment called 'Rove Across America' on the show.

On 15 November 2009, Rove announced that Rove would be ending. He said it was his own decision and that the timing felt right to try new things.

In May 2011, Rove moved to Los Angeles, California, and started hosting a new talk show called Rove LA on FOX8. The show was very successful and ran for two years.

Rove has also appeared on the American comedy show @midnight and hosted Lie Detectors on the Game Show Network.

From 2017 to 2020, Rove presented Whovians on the ABC TV Plus. This show was a companion to the popular British science fiction series Doctor Who.

In 2018, Rove returned to Network Ten to host Show Me the Movie!. He also lent his voice to characters like King Tubby in the kids' TV series, Kitty Is Not a Cat.

In 2019, Rove hosted a new show called Saturday Night Rove, but it only ran for two episodes. More recently, in 2024, Rove was a guest voice in the popular animated series Bluey, playing a real estate agent named Bucky Dunstan.

Radio Career

In 1999, Rove was a regular host on Triple J radio. He had a fun quiz segment called Know Your Millennium.

In 2002, Rove and his Rove co-stars Peter Helliar and Corinne Grant started a weekly radio show called Saturday Morning Rove on Fox FM. This show later became Rove Live Radio in 2004.

From 2016, Rove co-hosted the breakfast show Rove and Sam on 2Day FM with Sam Frost.

Movie Voice Work

Rove has also used his voice in movies. He had a small role voicing a crab in Pixar's animated film Finding Nemo in 2003. He also voiced characters in Exchange Student Zero and Norm of the North.

Roving Enterprises Production Company

In 2000, Rove McManus started his own production company called Roving Enterprises. He co-owns it with his business partner, Craig Campbell. This company has helped produce many TV shows, including Rove Live, Before The Game, and The Project. They also produced the ARIA Music Awards from 2000 to 2004.

Awards and Achievements

Rove McManus has won many awards for his work in television. He is a three-time winner of the TV Week Gold Logie, winning in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The Gold Logie is given to the most popular personality on Australian Television.

Overall, he has won 16 Logie Awards and has been nominated for many more for his shows Rove and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.

Charity and Community Work

Rove McManus has also been involved in charity work. From 2008 to 2010, he was a director for the Australian part of Fauna & Flora International, a charity that helps protect animals and plants. He even served as the vice-president for a time.

Personal Life

Rove McManus with his wife Tasma Walton at the 2012 AACTA Awards.

Rove McManus married actress and singer Belinda Emmett in 2005. Sadly, Belinda passed away in November 2006 after battling breast cancer.

Rove later started dating actress Tasma Walton in October 2007. They got married in a private ceremony on a beach in Broome, Western Australia, in June 2009. They have one daughter, who was born in 2013.

Rove is a big fan of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League. His first cousin, Shaun McManus, played many games for the team. Rove also loves professional wrestling and has even interviewed famous wrestlers like Ric Flair and John Cena on his talk show.

In June 2007, Rove had the honor of presenting a discussion for high school students at Rod Laver Arena where the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso was present.

See also

In Spanish: Rove McManus para niños