australian television information archive

Look at moiye, Shane

HE'S bowled a few maidens over in his colourful cricketing career, and now Shane Warne has managed to bag himself a new bride - just for laughs, that is.

With the sun barely setting on his summer of love with former wife Simone, the spin king has tied the knot for a cameo role on hit Aussie comedy Kath & Kim.

Warnie weds sporting tragic Sharon Strezlecki, played by Magda Szubanski, in the next series and filmed his romantic turn at St Kilda's Luna Park in Melbourne yesterday.

The cricket legend has been referred to as Sharon's "unrequited love'' in previous episodes, but in a plot twist, Strezlecki is forced to wrestle her "dream man" from best friend Kim Craig.

While the happy couple wore matching bridal whites during the hilarious ceremony, Kimmy, aka actor Gina Riley, told The Daily Telegraph the marriage was "a dream come true - for Shane, that is."

"He's really lucky to have met a couple of foxymorons like us,'' she said.

Following in the stilleto footsteps of Kylie Minogue, who walked down the aisle in the last series, Warne bowls Strezlecki over, throwing her an engagement ring instead of a cricket ball.

Producers had teased fans on the show's website with the promise of more wedding bells in the new series ("or was that the callipers from Sharon's clicky hips?''), but had hoped to keep Warne's appearance a secret.

However, as filming began locals were quickly in on the joke and a show spokesman confirmed the happy news.

Warne joins Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams who filmed their own celebrity spots at Fountain Lakes in January, before the self-confessed UK fans began their own national comedy tour earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Kath & Kim's plans to launch a US version have been sidelined, after casting problems forced the delay of a pilot for US TV giant NBC last month.

The show's creators Gina Riley and Jane Turner will continue to consult with network executives on the US series and are preparing to fly over in July when production is expected to begin.

March 27, 2007
The Daily Telegraph