Telethon rejects celeb over $25k fee

SEXY SNAPPER: Nigel Barker from America's Next Top Model won't be making a guest appearance at New Zealand's first telethon in 15 years, after he requested a $25,000 appearance fee.

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Nigel Barker, America's Next Top Model celebrity photographer judge, won't be making a guest appearance at New Zealand's first telethon in 15 years, after he requested a $25,000 appearance fee.

TV3 didn't bother to find out whether Barker wanted payment in American or New Zealand dollars. "It's supposed to be about the children," said a network spokeswoman, Nicole Wood.

Attempts to secure international A-listers for the fundraiser are ongoing, but the northern hemisphere's summer filming schedules ruled many out.

Wood said Bones stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz were "really gutted - they both love New Zealand". Actors from the CSI series had also declined.

Kiwi-actor-made-good-overseas, Martin Henderson, will be taking part, along with Home And Away's Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson) and Bernard Curry (Hugo Austin).

Local small-screen talent will be out in force. And on Thursday, everyone from presenter Carly Flynn to Dancing with the Stars' Miriama Smith and Shortland Street's Will Hall - an ambassador for the chosen charity, KidsCan - tested their voices on the new theme song, written by singer- songwriter Donald Reid and OpShop's Jason Kerrison. "I originally turned them down flat," says Kerrison, 36. "I said, 'Sorry, I'm not even going to mess with it'. It's just such a nostalgic and iconic song."

But then, he says, he started mucking around on his computer and, come August 8-9, he hopes his new "Thank you" song will make as many memories as the old one.

"I've heard there's a chemical called oxytocin that's present in massive amounts when you're making love, when a child is breastfeeding, and when a group of people dance and sing together. It certainly feels like the love's present today," he said from the recording studio.

Celebrities last week recorded both the original "Thank you very much for your kind donation" song and the new hyped-up, guitar- backed version that includes the line - "we're grateful for the love". "It's very, very simple," says Kerrison, who grew up in Invercargill and remembers trying to stay awake all night to watch telethons. "By the end, if people are sick of it, I'll know I've done my job."

The 23-hour telethon, dubbed The Big Night In, is New Zealand's first since 1993. Previous telethons have raised $3.5-$6 million. This year's charity recipient is KidsCan, which funds shoes, raincoats and food for disadvantaged children in 111 schools nationwide. Director Julie Helson says more funds are needed to bring 147 waitlisted schools into the programme.

www.bignightin.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News