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Paul Holmes bounces back

Beloved New Zealand broadcaster Paul Holmes underwent surgery recently, related to the prostate cancer he suffered more than a decade ago. But the irrepressible TV host and author tells New Zealand Woman’s Weekly that reports of his demise are “greatly exaggerated”.

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A Sunday newspaper report that Paul had been taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital after a suffering a health scare sparked concern and fear from his many fans and friends.

But the 61-year-old presenter of TVNZ’s Q+A show was last week recuperating at his country estate in Hawke’s Bay after what he says was a scheduled hospital stay for surgery to “correct some old stuff” after the cancer treatment and radiotherapy, which “tends to churn things up inside.

“I came home and that night a little complication set in that was a bit alarming, but a couple of days later it was sorted,” Paul says.  “So I’m fine. Simply and categorically, I’m fine.”

His wife, Deborah Hamilton- Holmes, tells him he’s ”onto life number 14”. Over the years Paul has had a number of brushes with death, including a helicopter crash which killed Kiwi cameraman Joe Von Dinklage in 1989. In 2004, Paul – a qualified pilot – survived two crash landings at Turangi and in Hastings.

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He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999. Paul says he was moved by the large number of people who contacted him over the past week. “I thank them all. I was very appreciative.”

While continuing his media work, his past year was consumed by the publication of his book, Daughters of Erebus – a critical and commercial success. “I’ve got a couple of ideas for another book,” he says.

“My favourite idea, which I ran past friends on the holidays, received a universal thumbs down. Deborah said she wouldn’t even pick it up in a bookshop, let alone buy it. So that, probably, is that.

I still believe in it, though. “ Paul says writing a book is a big commitment and he should take it easy for a while. “And stay in bed until 8.30 – because I can. Shocking, eh? I know. It appals me.”

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