Wicked! Bert Newton's back on stage

Bert Newton speaks to a Channel 9 TV crew after he was discharged from a hospital in Singapore. Picture: Joseph Nair Source: Herald Sun

Alice Coster, The Herald Sun, reports

Bert Newton is out of hospital, with Moonface back to his smiling self.

The hard-working Australian TV legend will return to the Wicked! stage in Singapore tomorrow, after being admitted to hospital last week with a health scare.

Wicked! spokeswoman Amanda Osborne yesterday said the 73-year-old was back to his old self and keen to return to work.

"He is absolutely back on track," she said.

Speculation was rife the TV stalwart had suffered a heart malfunction, with devoted wife Patti making a mad dash from the Celebrity Apprentice set to be by his side in Singapore on Friday.

It is understood Newton was suffering from a "heavy cold", which hit many of the stage production's cast and crew, and had surgery to clear fluid from his lungs.

"Bert Newton has not had a heart attack or emergency heart surgery in Singapore," Ms Osborne said.

"He has had a very heavy cold, which caused him some minor complications and a short stint in hospital.

She said Newton was admitted to hospital last week and was rested from performing as a precaution after a bout of pneumonia last June.

"Due to a bout of debilitating pneumonia last year, Newton has to be extra cautious."

The Hoff sticks up for Patti

David Hasselhoff turns businessman for Celebrity Apprentice. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: Herald Sun

Luke Dennehy, The Sunday Herald Sun, reports

David Hasselhoff and Patti Newton formed an unlikely bond on the set of The Celebrity Apprentice.

Hasselhoff told the Sunday Herald Sun he had a huge amount of respect for Newton, and he could relate to her situation regarding the intense scrutiny on son Matthew's problems.

Newton was on set filming The Celebrity Apprentice on the same day her son was in the headlines again after his assault case against a taxi driver was adjourned in court.

"She is like a sponge pincushion," The Hoff said of Newton.

"She has a lot of people trying to stick things into her because of whatever is going on in the press with her family and she's very sensitive about it.

"It's something we've had a long talk about and some things in her family is something I can relate to, and we've bonded in that way."

Newton has been well received on the set of The Celebrity Apprentice and she has won the admiration not only of her fellow contestants, but the crew behind the scenes.

Hasselhoff last week left the show to return to the United States for work commitments.

Speaking on set after one boardroom session, he said he had an amazing time on the show, and was full of praise for many of the contestants, including Melbourne's Jason Akermanis (inset, left).

"He's a great guy, very compassionate," he said.

"Even though he sounds like a big mouth he really isn't. The thing with Aker is that he answers questions, when everyone else walks away he just answers them and says what we are all thinking.

"To me that is a man of real honour -- he's a great guy and probably a long-lasting friend."

Without giving too much away, it looks as if the one celebrity causing some friction is Tania Zaetta.

Let's just say there were fireworks on set during the week when I visited.

Patti signs up for boardroom battles in Celebrity Apprentice

Patti Newton is set to appear on the second series of Celebrity Apprentice. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

Kate McMahon, The Herald Sun, reports

PATTI Newton is set to make a stunning return to prime time television after a year of personal turmoil, signing up to compete alongside David Hasselhoff on the second series of Nine's Celebrity Apprentice.

Newton, 66, will face off in the boardroom against stars including former footballer Jason Akermanis, champion waterskier Lauryn Eagle, MasterChef favourite Marion Grasby, comedian Fiona O'Loughlin and ex-Can of Worms host Ian Dickson as well as Baywatch actor Hasselhoff.

The move back into the spotlight comes after a tumultuous 2011 for Patti and her showbiz family.

Her husband Bert was taken to hospital with pneumonia in July, spending a week at Epworth hospital.

Meanwhile, son Matthew was not far from headlines throughout the year as he was treated for manic depression and mental illness, labelling himself a "walking time bomb" in an interview.

In December, he was charged with two counts of assault on a 66-year-old cabbie, which will be heard in court on January 21.

In perhaps a tribute to her daughter Lauren's children, Newton will be supporting Sids and Kids as her charity on the Mark Bouris-fronted show.

Filming will start today in Sydney.