POSTCODE 3000

HISTORY will be made at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards before the gongs are handed out on Saturday. Derryn Hinch is the first nominee to miss the night because he's been sentenced to home detention (an excuse to beat all others), but wife Chanel will be there in case his name is announced. The silenced Human Headline is up against 3AW colleague Neil Mitchell as best talk presenter and best current affairs presenter. Colleagues who have spoken to the benched drive host say he is doing well and remarkably healthy for someone who's had a liver transplant, but he's bored without his microphone and 140-word Twitter outpourings. The radio industry's night of nights on the Gold Coast will be co-hosted by Kelsey Grammer, the actor who played radio psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane in hit US comedy Frasier. Grammer and fourth wife Kayte Walsh will add some Hollywood pizazz to a red carpet usually dominated by cranky Sydney shock jocks. In the absence of quotable Hinch, Grammer made a quip to remember when chatting with Mitchell on radio yesterday. When asked why he doesn't talk about himself in the media, Grammer said: "It's like getting into a stinking match with a skunk. Why bother?"

Killing time on the red carpet

ANDREW Fraser's invitation to Killing Time, the Foxtel series about his cocaine-sniffing downfall from lawyer to jailbird, must have said "plus many". For tonight's premiere at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Fraser is bringing partner Lindy Allen his ex-wife Denise and her partner his children Olivia and Lachlan and their partners his mother, Sheila his sister Sally and her partner his manager, Victor Susman and others. Actor David Wenham plays Fraser in the miniseries, which was meant to premiere last year but was delayed for legal reasons. Wenham can't attend the premiere but has recorded a video message. The best minds at Foxtel got together to decide the dress code and it's dress to kill.

Odds were high to be a bookie

WHEN your great-grandfather, grandfather and father followed tradition by becoming bookmakers, the odds are high you'll end up in the betting ring. Tom Waterhouse has his name on a bookie's bag but didn't set out to. "I had no plans to be a bookie," Tom said. "I went out to the track one day and loved it." Tom's grandfather Bill, who turns 90 in January, came out of retirement to teach him the trade when he was studying commerce at university. Tonight, Tom is hosting a spring carnival launch at 28, a Crown Metropol venue. Supporting him will be parents Gai and Robbie Waterhouse and sister Kate. Sydney-born Tom moved to Melbourne for work and commutes to the harbour city to see wife Hoda and alternately, she flies here to see him. Tom lives at Crown Towers, saying: "I planned to stay three weeks but have lived there for three years." For punters, he has some advice and it's not just about picking the best horse, jockey and trainer. Or setting a betting limit. "Make sure you get the best price off your bookie!"

Cohabiting and happily divorced

JOHN and Coral Knowles are the happiest divorced couple around. The property developer and cowboy hat-wearing socialite split 15 years ago but live blissfully together in their Brighton mansion. John proposed to Coral last week, even getting down on one knee, but he sounded despondent when telling me: "I didn't get an answer." This is where relationship guru Dr Phil is needed because Coral still considers herself married. "We've been married 45 years and don't mention we were divorced." Even anniversaries are celebrated. Confused? You're not the only one. Coral said: "It's very confusing." As for the proposal, she's contemplating it. "I haven't accepted yet. I'm playing hard to get." There is hope for John because after 10 seconds of thinking music, Coral said: "Sooner or later I'm going to have to say yes or no. It would be lovely to have another wedding." Start looking for a huge rock, John.