Australia's Got Talent judge Geri Halliwell (aka Ginger Spice) reveals what she wants in a man

Geri Halliwell is heading Down Under for Australia's Got Talent. Source: Supplied

Holly Byrnes, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Wanted: a nice local bloke for Ginger Spice and Australia's Got Talent judge, Geri Halliwell - and the Sydney Swans, she has her sights set on you.

After signing up to replace Mel B on Channel 9's upcoming re-boot of the star search franchise, the sassy Brit has revealed what she'll be looking for when it comes to available talent of the bachelor kind.

True to her self-deprecating form, the unlucky-in-love pop star quipped her perfect man should have ''a pulse for a start,'' before launching into a list of what characteristics would win this single mum's heart.

''I do like funny and a beautiful heart. I quite like a bit of height. Hair, I like hair. I like hair on the head. A little bit on the chest, but not too much,'' she said, adding ''but it's not a deal breaker for me.''

Men with ''good eyes'' and ''healthy rather than vain'' types will also get the nod from Halliwell, who will fly to Australia to begin filming the FremantleMedia series later this month.

Already madly researching her ''chance of a lifetime'' working holiday, the 41-year-old confirmed she will bring daughter Bluebell, 8, with her with the two busy plotting their Aussie adventure together.

''She is so excited. We're both into nature and the outdoors, so I want to go mono-skiing (water-skiing with a single ski) on the Nepean River (in NSW). Taronga Zoo's also on the list and I wouldn't mind going to a football match, if you lot will teach me.''

Briefed on her choice of footy codes, the Sydney Swans met with Halliwell's approval (''I like that, it sounds masculine with a little touch of femininity, that's nice'').

Googling the team while continuing the phone interview, from her London home, what she discovered clearly impressed, with Halliwell exclaiming: ''oh yes, you have to introduce me to them.''

The frisky singer said while the opportunity to take up her latest TV role came after Mel B was forced to honour her contract with Channel 7's The X Factor, their friendship has been strengthened by it.

''I just need to tell Australia and the whole world that Melanie Janine Brown Belafonte is a wonderful person. Obviously she would have loved to do it, she's great. Super funny, super talented but for business reasons she was unable to do it. Instead of moping about it, she picked up the phone to me and said 'Geri, I can't do it but I would love you to do it. In fact, I've spoken to the producers and put in a good word for you.' Isn't that a beautiful, lovely, gorgeous thing to do? She is a real sista, who's really got my back . . . I was overwhelmed by that.''

Halliwell said she was a fan of the Got Talent format which gave ''people with raw talent a chance.''

She admired the daring of those who audition and said ''I must be Australian because my favourite expression is 'just have a go'. Go for it, we'll all root for you, brilliant.''

Channel 9 is yet to announce a start date for the show, but it's likely to follow The Voice and go up against Channel 7's X Factor.

Melissa Doyle is the surprise X Factor in court case

Melissa Doyle. Source: Supplied

The Daily Telegraph reports

She’s the sweetness and light of Seven's breakfast team, but Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle today found herself embroiled in the ugly court fight between Scary Spice Mel Brown and the network the pair once shared.

Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle today found herself embroiled in the ugly court fight between Scary Spice Mel Brown and the network the pair once shared.

As the Spice Girl's manager husband Stephen Belafonte gave evidence via video link from Los Angeles, it was alleged by lawyers acting for Mel B and Channel Nine that Doyle had been mooted as a possible replacement for Brown on Dancing With The Stars.

Belafonte alleged in contract discussions with Seven executive Brad Lyons, for her return to The X Factor, that the network was happy for Brown to drop her Dancing With The Stars duties, as Belafonte believed that the future of that series was "up in the air".

Her role on X Factor came to an end in January after the showbiz couple could not overcome visa issues relating to her children.

The movie and TV producer denied Brown's decision to decline an offer to return to Seven was about getting ''more money'' as the UK celebrity was already set to earn her full 2012 contract under the proposed option renewal without having to do two shows for the one price.

Belafonte testified he told Seven in December to halt their plans to use Mel B when immigration lawyers confirmed the couple would need to gain the consent for her two eldest daughters to travel to Australia for filming from their respective fathers, Dutch-born back-up dancer Jimmy Gulzar and US actor Eddie Murphy.

Before the parties could flesh out another offer Lyons made to keep Mel B involved in The X Factor from her home base in LA, the court heard he wrote to Belafonte asking Mel to sign a release assuring them she would not jump ship elsewhere.

In an email sent on February 26 and tendered to the court, Lyons wrote: ''We want to be clear that should Mel become available to work in Australia during the relevant period, it is with the Seven Network''.

But Mr Belafonte told the court he was confused by that email and the ensuing phone conversation he had with Lyons.

''I said, 'How are we being released if we're not doing a deal?','' noting the mood of correspondence had ''changed drastically''.

Mr Belafonte also denied Lyons claims he had told them he and Mel B were ''Seven through and through''.

''I would never say that. That sounds like a Seven slogan,'' he said.

He will return to the witness box on Monday.

It was during the cross-examination of another witness, Channel 7 production and rights manager Therese Hegarty that the option of using Doyle was raised in court, but email evidence confirmed that Lyons had deemed the show did not fit Doyle's schedule.

It is thought Doyle could be still under consideration for Dancing, but the celebrity series remains off air as Seven rolls out its new reality program, Celebrity Splash.

In other replacement revelations, Belafonte told the NSW Supreme Court injunction hearing brought by Seven to stop Mel B from joining Nine's Australia's Got Talent, he had suggested Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath and jailbird rapper Lil Kim as international stars to approach when it was clear Mel B would not be returning.

He said Seven had been desperate to keep news of her departure from the show a secret as rival Nine had gained positive publicity of its signing of The Voice coach, Ricky Martin.

Scary Mel B has talent for courts

Melanie Brown at one of her court-related visits last year. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

The current battle in the Australian courts involving former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (Mel B) may leave her last stoush with uber-pap Jamie Fawcett in the dust.

As recently reported, the Seven Network has taken the singer to court, alleging that she has broken a contract stipulating she will not appear on another Australian television network in 2013.

This was allegedly why Brown was allowed to go back to the US to take up a role on America's Got Talent, which is currently shooting.

She had also allegedly made it clear to Seven, where she appeared on The X Factor and Dancing With The Stars, that she needed to return to the US for personal reasons: Eddie Murphy wanted more access to the child he had with her.

Seven's executives were understandably gobsmacked when it was recently revealed that Mel B had signed on as a judge on the rebooted Australia's Got Talent on Channel 9, which will film later this year.

Last week, a NSW Supreme Court judge granted an injunction preventing her from appearing on any Australian TV network other than Seven until January 31 next year.

This is where it gets interesting because, according to a well placed source, if Brown contests the injunction, her producer husband Stephen Belafonte may be called to testify.

It's understood that Belafonte is claiming there was a verbal agreement to release Brown from her contract, while Seven are contesting this.

Unfortunately for Belafonte, being called to the stand may give Seven's lawyers the opportunity to examine his record with the American courts under his birth name of Stephen Stansbury.

This pesky and well-documented past stood in the way of the couple being granted permanent residency in Australia under the stringent guidelines from the Department of Immigration, which does not look kindly on anyone with a criminal record.

According to a departmental spokesman, it is not something that is automatically ruled out but there are lengthy further investigations.

Exactly where all this leaves Mel B's position on the AGT judging panel is unclear but if Belafonte is called to testify in the Supreme Court, it could potentially be more riveting than Jersey Shore.

Channel Seven wins legal injunction to stop Mel B moving to Nine Network for new Australia's Got Talent series

Source: news.com.au

 

Holly Byrnes and Amy Dale, The Daily Telegraph, report

An ugly TV court battle has erupted over Channel Nine's new signing Mel B after her former employer Channel 7 won an injunction against the Spice Girl appearing on another network before next year.

Still smarting after being side-swiped by the defection to Nine’s reboot of Australia’s Got Talent, Seven took the celebrity judge to the NSW Supreme Court, crying foul over the pop star's poaching by Nine just weeks after she gave her notice.

In Seven’s successful claim today, it was alleged Scary Spice, aka Melanie Brown, was under a conditional contract preventing her from signing with any person or company other than Seven until January 31, 2014.

The terms of Brown’s X Factor deal were thought to have expired after Nine inked its new contract with the singer to join its new panel of judges, alongside British comedian Dawn French and Sydney radio host Kyle Sandilands, on a revamped version of the talent search series the network had secured after it was shelved by Seven.

Seven were clearly taken by surprise by Nine’s announcement this week that it had secured Brown’s services, after she told them she would not be returning to this year’s series of The X Factor for family reasons.

She has since left Sydney and taken up a role as a judge on the US reality series, America’s Got Talent, but now faces a fight to join the Aussie version of the global TV franchise.

The court ruled Brown was “restrained from entering into or performing any agreement with any person other than (Channel 7) for her to appear on television in Australia at any time before 31 January 2014.”

It also ordered her husband Stephen Belafonte against "assisting, inducing or otherwise procuring (Brown)” to enter into a deal with any network other than Channel 7.

The court heard the Nine Network will be added as a defendant alongside Brown in the case, when it returns for further hearings on March 25.

A spokeswoman for Channel 7 was tight-lipped, telling News Limited: “The court needs time to explore the facts and we await its decision.”

Her opposite at Nine publicity was more optimistic, stating: “We’re really excited to be working with Mel B on the bigger and better Australia’s Got Talent. We’re surprised Seven has taken this action.”

No warm welcome for Mel B in the US

Spice Girl and X Factor judge Melanie Brown (Mel B) arrives at Waverly Court today. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: The Daily Telegraph

Annette Sharp, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Oh dear.

Two weeks ago this columnist penned a frosty farewell to Melanie Brown, aka Mel B, aka Scary Spice, aka part-time resident of Sydney.

She had taken off to the US of A as fast as her calf-crushing calves could carry her to plant herself in Sharon Osbourne's vacant seat on America's Got Talent.

This week comes word that American audiences may not have exactly warmed to Brit-born Brown, who has joined US TV host Howie Mandel, shock jock Howard Stern and fellow AGT newbie Heidi Klum for the opening round of auditions on the show.

In New Orleans this week Brown was reportedly booed and jeered on her first day on set after she told a popular local brass band she didn't like their style of music.

"Go home," the audience reportedly shouted - perhaps an AGT stunt, sure, but still begging the question: where is home for Brown and her brood these days?

She hasn't lived in the UK for years and sold her LA home late last year amid talk she might buy property in Sydney, which she did not.

Now there is buzz that X Factor boss Simon Cowell may make a spot for her on the program in the UK, which would at least give producers of that program in this country some hope there will be an injection of new talent on the judging desk locally.

Guy Sebastian ready to bail out of the X Factor

Guy Sebastian / Pic: Ian Currie Source: The Daily Telegraph

Joel Christie, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Guy Sebastian is unlikely to return to The X Factor this year, according to widespread TV industry speak.

As the Battlescars superstar prepares for his biggest tour to date, performing more than 40 concerts across the country, well-placed sources say his priorities no longer lie with the Channel 7 talent search.

"He's the best artist (Australia) has - that's clear as day," a TV heavy told Confidential. "He's got this massive tour, the album is still new and then there's America. At the moment he definitely isn't on board (with X Factor). He's done three years and that's plenty."

The rumours follow confirmation that fellow judge Mel B has taken a seat at the panel on America’s Got Talent in LA, throwing in to doubt her return and sparking speculation she will join Nine's local version Australia's Got Talent.

As we reported this week, Mel has packed up her Sydney home and moved to the US.

She is replacing Sharon Osbourne, who is thought to be locked and loaded for AGT here with Chris Isaak.

The other half of The X Factor Australia panel, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Ronan Keating, are expected to reprise their roles on the series, which is in the auditioning stages.

Both Seven and Sebastian's management did not return calls yesterday.

The inaugural Australian Idol winner is the most successful judge on The X Factor and arguably the most popular, having won the last two years with his charges Reece Mastin and Samantha Jade.

Battlescars has brought him some much-wanted attention in America, where the single shot to No.1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Chart.

Sing no sad songs for departing Mel B

Adios Australia ... Mel B / Pic: Channel 7 Source: The Daily Telegraph

Annette Sharp, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Did you spot the photographs of all Mel B's fans thronging to the international airport last week to weep as Scary Spice left our country? No?

That might be because no one did - not one person ... although that's likely because no one knew that Melanie Brown, who does most things with maximum fanfare, was quitting these shores having maximised as many commercial opportunities on these shores as one ageing Spice Girl can.

Weep not for Mel B. She made a lot of money out of Australia through television contracts and weight-loss associations and, like so many international stars before her, she has successfully used our local industry as a launch-pad to re-establish her career.

Thanks to our remote little television industry, Scary is now the second hottest Spice Girl in the world next to Posh, aka Victoria Beckham and her popularity is on the rise again following Thursday's news that she has signed on to replace outgoing judge Sharon Osbourne on America's Got Talent.

It wasn't an earlier guest judging role on the UK version of X Factor that won her the gig, it was the Australian series of the program, pure and simple.

Before coming to Australia, it should be pointed out, Scary was arguably one of the least popular Spice Girls - this was partly due to her crass mouthiness and partly due to her dashing Spice Girls' fans reunion dreams in 1998 by saying of Geri "Ginger" Halliwell's departure: "We are a better group now that she's left, we don't need her anymore."

The messy paternity suit with Eddie Murphy didn't help her any either.

But in 2010 Australia welcomed Scary with open arms just as we welcomed Don Lane in the 1960s, Marcia Hines in the 1970s and more recently Brian McFadden and Leo Sayer.

What is it exactly, that we will miss about Scary?

Will we miss the photos of her lounging in a bikini on a boat on Sydney Harbour with her stay-at-home husband Stephen Belafonte? Probably not, though she may if rumours that Brown cut a deal with a local pap agency to pose up and profit from the pix are to be believed.

Will we miss her bawdy and non-G-rated banter on Dancing With The Stars? Not this mother and viewer who will no longer have to explain Brown's inappropriate comments to her five-year-old.

Will we miss her annual declarations that she is set to snap up a Sydney property and make our city her permanent home? Can't say I will nor likely the real estate agents from whom she attempted to negotiate "celebrity discounts" last year in the belief Sydneysiders would want her as a neighbour.

It's also probably fair to say the Vaucluse neighbours who watched gleefully as Belafonte packed up their rented apartment in Wentworth Ave last week also won't be sorry to see them go.

"You could hear them squabbling with each other while they were exercising," said one.

And so to LA they return and we sincerely hope they are welcomed back with open arms.

Mr Mel B, Stephen Belafonte, in TV talks

Mel B with her husband Stephan Belafonte. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

Could "Mr Mel B", Stephen Belafonte, be headed for the boardroom of Celebrity Apprentice Australia?

That's what Confidential's TV spies are saying after watching the self-proclaimed movie producer walk into a meeting with FremantleMedia, producers of the Channel 9 reality series, on Thursday.

Later that day Belafonte, his missus and their children flew to London for the opening of the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever.

Mel B has been vocal about setting up a permanent life Down Under thanks to her job as co-judge on The X Factor.

'It' Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis couple break cover

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis at dinner in Sydney. With them in the pic are web entrepreneur Brian Chesky and Ruby Rose. Picture: Ruby Rose / Twitter Source: Supplied

Annette Sharp, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Having spent the past few days enjoying the sights of Sydney and keeping under the radar, one of Hollywood's hottest couples - Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis - finally materialised on Thursday night in Sydney's east.

The couple sat down at the Bronte Beach eatery Three Blue Ducks alongside Mel B and husband Stephen Belafonte plus Brian McFadden and new wife Vogue Williams.

The Two And A Half Men star and his squeeze were also seen at Wild Life Sydney Zoo visiting koalas.

Scared Spice Mel B's pap AVO

Mel B and husband Stephen Belafonte. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Jonathan Marshall, The Sunday Telegraph, reports

Spice Girl Mel B has taken out an AVO against a prominent celebrity paparazzo who allegedly threatened to kill her husband during a blow-up on Sydney Harbour.

Mel Brown and her husband Stephen Belafonte complained to Rose Bay police that Sydney photographer Jamie Fawcett used a boat on the city's harbour last Thursday to create "big waves" which endangered the X Factor judge, who was in a kayak.

Mr Fawcett, who will appear at Waverley Local Court on Thursday to defend allegations contained in the interim AVO, said last night: "I am happy to have the accusations ... tested by a magistrate in due course."

Documents obtained exclusively by The Sunday Telegraph allege Mr Fawcett used a rented boat to harass the couple and their personal assistant Luke Meakins while they were "relaxing" on their 13.5m launch, Time Out, at renowned nudist spot Cobblers Beach.

"Whilst the trio were anchored ... Brown has seen the defendant Fawcett hiding behind a rock on a beach looking over at the trio with a camera in his hand," the application says.

The trio claimed they travelled by boat to three other beaches in a bid to "escape" Mr Fawcett.

At 4pm, the documents allege the group returned to a mooring outside the celebrities' Fitzwilliam Rd, Vaucluse, home. "Fawcett has come up alongside them in his smaller boat at the time."

Mr Fawcett was allegedly two or three metres away at the time. Brown and Mr Meakins then left their boat, using a kayak. Belafonte remained on the luxury vessel.

"Fawcett has started circling (Brown and Mr Meakins) on the kayak, causing medium-sized waves, almost knocking the pair off the kayak."

The documents allege Belafonte saw what Mr Fawcett was doing and yelled out to him: "Why are you making such big waves - what if either of them can't swim?"

Mr Fawcett allegedly responded: "F ... you, I know about you, you duck killer."

"What are you talking about? You're obsessed, are you a psycho (sic)?" Belafonte allegedly asked.

Mr Fawcett is accused of then saying to Belafonte: "You don't know who you are f ... ing with, I will kill you."

The court will be told an offensive dialogue was then exchanged between the two men.

The documents claim Mr Fawcett constantly harasses the family to take images which he sells to magazines and newspapers around the world.

Mr Fawcett said: "I consider the application for the AVO an abuse of process being used to try and control the professional activities of a long-established media photographer."

Photographs of the star pair can fetch tens of thousands of dollars.

Brown and Belafonte told police if they do not get a permanent AVO against Mr Fawcett, which would prohibit him coming within 200 metres of them, he "may cause serious problems and/or injury ... due to his negligent behaviour".

The Sunday Telegraph understands the AVO comes at the end of a long-standing bitter relationship between Brown, Belafonte and Sydney paparazzo.

In September seven police officers attended an altercation outside a cake shop in the seaside suburb of Watsons Bay when Belafonte accused Mr Fawcett of assaulting him.

No charges were laid and Mr Fawcett hired lawyers following the incident to warn Belafonte about making false allegations and defamatory remarks.

X Factor judge Mel B says she is True Blue about becoming and Aussie

Mel B and baby Madison out to lunch in Sydney. Picture: Inf Source: The Sunday Telegraph

J.Mo and Elle, The Sunday Telegraph, report

Mel B says she is fair-dinkum about becoming an Aussie.

The X Factor judge has set up home in Sydney again and is in the midst of sorting out citizenship for herself, husband Stephen Belafonte, and daughters, Phoenix, Angel and Madison.

"We are in the process of doing that," she told Insider over a sushi lunch.

"To get citizenship here does take quite a bit of effort with paperwork, all the legal work and getting the birth certificates but we really want to get residency here so we are not stopping."

Daughters Phoenix and Angel attend schools in the eastern suburbs.

The singer returned to Australia after performing with the Spice Girls at the Olympics closing ceremony a few weeks back and is familiar with visa issues.

Her nanny was sent back to the US because she didn't have the correct paperwork.

She and her husband have managed for now, although may need a new nanny when The X Factor ramps up with live show recordings this month.

"I haven't put it out there fully yet because I haven't been working that much," she says.

"Things are manageable. The two kids are at school and I'm up at five with Madison and she naps throughout the day so between my husband and myself, we can manage for now. I'm the mum but I have to work too because I love to work."

Mel B puts daughter Phoenix in Rose Bay Secondary College and goes mute on Spice Girls reunion

Advocate for Sydney's publioc school but no so about a Spice Girls reunion ... Mel B with her husband Stephan Belafonte. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

Mel B hasn't exactly killed off a rumour that the Spice Girls may appear on the bill at the London Olympics opening ceremony later in the year.

The Channel 7 personality simply went mute when Eddie McGuire put the question on his Melbourne radio show.

After his colleagues fell about laughing at her silence, B said: "I'm a really crap liar," which only served to reignite speculation. However, her former band mates Victoria Beckham (Posh) and Melanie Chisholm (Mel C) have flatly denied that the Spice Girls was reforming for the Olympic Games or the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Mel B also spoke of her decision to put daughter Phoenix, 13, to Rose Bay Secondary College - a public school.

"The teachers are great, the kids are nice. There's always going to be a few little bad kids, hopefully mine doesn't turn out too bad," she said.

"The public schools are great in Sydney, so that's where they're staying and it's less cash for me."

Mel B's selling up in LA with eye to moving to Sydney

Mel B and Stephen Belafonte may be moving to Sydney. Picture: Getty

 
The Daily Telegraph reports

FIREBRAND celeb Mel B has listed her LA abode for sale as she eyes settling permanently in Sydney.

The loudmouth former Spice Girl -- who was looking to buy in the Harbour City before her X-Factor judging duties finished up last year -- is trying to offload her house in the San Fernando valley (pictured right, with Mel B and husband Stephen Belafonte) for $3.45 million.

She paid $3.2 million for the French country-style five-bedder in 2009.

Sitting on more than 2000sq m, the chateau features eight bathrooms, a gym, movie theatre, pool and recording studio.

It's a far cry from what you would be up for for a place carrying the same price tag in this town.

The curvy singer, her music producer husband and their three kids were renting a sprawling penthouse apartment in Rose Bay, said to be worth more than $8 million, for much of last year.

The New South Head Rd loft had incredible views of the Opera House and Bridge.

Brown's local manager, Sean Anderson, said she was yet to decide where to set down roots.

Yes, they have their LA property on the market," he told Confidential yesterday.

"They are looking at houses in Los Angeles, but are also considering Australia. Mel and her family all fell in love with Australia and the Aussie way of life."

There are rumours she will compete on this year's Dancing With The Stars.

X-Factor judge and former Spice Girl Mel B recently faced deportation

Singer and X-Factor judge Mel B came very close to being kicked out of Australia after a visa bungle. Picture: Nic Gibson Source: The Sunday Telegraph

Article by Richard Clune and Ros Reines, The Sunday Telegraph

X FACTOR judge Mel B has been left red-faced by an embarrassing visa bungle that could have seen the former Spice Girl deported back to Britain.

Immigration officials last week launched an investigation into the British pop star's Australian work commitments after she revealed she had signed on as an ambassador for weightloss firm Jenny Craig in a deal said to be worth up to $150,000.

Brown - also known as Scary Spice - had been sponsored by the Seven Network to come to Australia as a judge for its popular TV talent quest, but her visa conditions prevent her from working for other organisations without securing additional sponsorship.

The guidelines state that international artists who enter the country to work on an Entertainment Visa (subclass 420) must successfully apply for further sponsorship if they undertake secondary work.

While the Department of Immigration would not comment on Brown's specific case for privacy reasons, a source close to the 36-year-old singer confirmed she had been investigated. Her management met with the department and the matter "was now resolved", the source said.

A Jenny Craig spokesman said there was no issue with her contract. At 75 kilograms, Brown is more curvy than flabby, but has declared that she wants to shift 15 kilograms in the next three months - more than Jenny Craig's recommended guideline of one kilogram a week.

The mother-of-three said she wasn't deterred by criticism levelled at her for joining the weightloss program just five weeks after giving birth, saying she liked the structure it provided.

"My husband usually takes care of me, preparing meals for me that are good for me. But he has to keep going backwards and forwards from LA, so he can't look after me all the time," Brown said.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Brown also revealed she had been to a number of Kings Cross strip clubs with husband Stephen Belafonte since arriving in Sydney.

"We live an exciting life and we like to let off a bit of steam," she said.

"It keeps the marriage spiced up and alive."

Brown said she was so impressed with the city, she and her husband were considering buying a house in Sydney's eastern suburbs, close to where she is living with daughters Phoenix, 12, Angel, 4, and newborn Madison - in a rented apartment in Point Piper.