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EXCLUSIVE: Dave Hughes opens up about fatherhood and turning 50

The Aussie comedian reveals why the milestone birthday doesn't bother him.
Dave Hughes is rapidly losing teeth
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Dave Hughes has been making audiences laugh for more than two decades. Born in the Victorian coastal town of Warrnambool, the larrikinโ€™s deadpan Aussie humour has made โ€˜โ€Hughesyโ€, as heโ€™s affectionately known, a household name.

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Moving from the comedy circuit to radio and TV gigs, including The Project and his own show Hughesy, We Have A Problem, the comedian has won over audiences everywhere, except for one important place: at home.

Daveโ€™s kids Rafferty, 10, Sadie, eight, and Tess, six, are proving his toughest critics to date.

โ€œThey have a pretty good sense of humour and they get the jokes โ€“ but theyโ€™re not easily impressed,โ€ Dave, 49, tells TV WEEK.

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But he doesnโ€™t take it to heartโ€ฆmuch. Based in Melbourne with wife Holly, 40, and his kids, Dave recalls a recent dress-up party son Rafferty attended dressed as singer Tones And I. His effort won praise from the ARIA-winning artist herself.

โ€œI showed him sheโ€™d called him โ€˜a little legendโ€™ on Instagram,โ€ Dave says.

โ€œBut he couldnโ€™t care less! So maybe they are impressed [with me] and just donโ€™t want me to know.โ€

Daveโ€™s most recent role as a panellist on the Network 10 hit show The Masked Singer alongside Jackie O, Dannii Minogue and Lindsay Lohan earned him brownie points with the kids.

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โ€œThey actually watched that โ€“ itโ€™s a great family show,โ€ he says. โ€œThey werenโ€™t, however, impressed with my dancing.

I was having a dance, trying to get a laugh, and they said, โ€˜Dad, your dances are stupid.'โ€

To which he quips, in typical droll style, โ€œI know, but my โ€˜stupid dancesโ€™ are paying for your iPad!โ€

Hughesy with fellow Masked Singer judges, host Osher and winner of the competition, Cody Simpson. Supplied

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While Rafferty, Sadie and Tess are good at taking their dad down a peg, Dave says theyโ€™re even better at providing him with comedy anecdotes.

Heโ€™s said he wouldnโ€™t mind a fourth child โ€œbecause theyโ€™re good for material, but my wife says thatโ€™s not a good enough reasonโ€.

Now hosting a third season of Hughesy, We Have A Problem, Dave recalls how his six-year-old daughter appeared on the show.

โ€œShe came on, pointed her Star Wars gun in my face and asked: โ€˜Do you want to see Jesus?'โ€ he says with a laugh.

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There are plenty more problems to solve โ€“ and laughs to be had โ€“ in the showโ€™s new season.

โ€œItโ€™s nuts โ€“ itโ€™s more stuff where I canโ€™t believe we just did that on TV,โ€ Dave explains. โ€œItโ€™s a lot of oversharing and laughing at everyoneโ€™s expense โ€“ and our own โ€“ which is great.โ€

This year is shaping up to be huge for Dave, not just with the return of Hughesy, but also thanks to season two of The Masked Singer, a comedy tour, and a milestone birthday to celebrate: the comedian is turning the big 5-0.

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โ€œI know 50 is a big one โ€“ people keep winding me up about how it makes me old and Iโ€™m like, โ€˜Shut up!'โ€ he says. โ€œAt least Iโ€™ll get jokes out of it. As long as I get jokes out of something, itโ€™s alright.โ€

While Dave is โ€œdealing withโ€ the somewhat daunting notion of turning 50, it seems his career wonโ€™t be slowing down anytime soon.

โ€œRight now, Iโ€™m in holiday mode, thinking, โ€˜I donโ€™t have a stand-up gig tonight โ€“ thatโ€™s annoying,'โ€ he says.

โ€œI love it; I love stand-up comedy and making audiences laugh.โ€

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