Channel Nine star Catriona Rowntree has revealed she asked her boss for “permission” to get married.
The veteran getaway host, 52, married her husband James Pettit in 2008 and the couple share two sons, Andrew, 14, and Charles, 12.
But before saying ‘I do’, Catriona admitted she sought advice from her boss, executive producer John Walsh.
The admission came as Catriona shared a touching tribute to John on Instagram this week, as he bids a fond farewell to the long-running series after more than 30 years at the helm.
Sharing a series of photos from John’s Getaway’s farewell party, Catriona added a lengthy tribute to her superior.
“I love my boss and I’m not afraid to show it (his beautiful wife Jenny is completely on board with this),” Catriona began.
Channel Nine star Catriona Rowntree has revealed she asked her boss for ‘permission’ to get married
“It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to the captain of the most incredible ship a television show could ask for.”
He added that John’s tenure as executive producer of Getaway, as well as shows such as Travel Guides and Married At First Sight, had made him “adored by everyone”.
“This gentle giant is our calm in the storm, no doubt helped by the fact that he is teetotal and always has our back,” he said.
Catriona then added that she owes her family to her former boss and admitted that she asked John’s permission to marry.
“In fact, I can thank you for my children (returning to the Legal Department) and the life I have today,” he said.
“When my farmer asked me to marry him, I didn’t say yes, I went to ask John’s permission, I was afraid of losing everything I had built by leaving my house and headquarters.”
She continued: ‘But John said, “Treens, as long as you can get to an airport, I don’t care where you live!”
Their lengthy post continued, with Catriona sharing how grateful she is for John’s professionalism, friendship, and flexibility.
Before saying ‘I do’ to husband James Pettit, Catriona admitted she sought advice from her then-boss, executive producer John Walsh.
“I can actually thank you for my children (returning to the Legal Department) and the life I have today,” she said in a touching Instagram post. Catriona pictured with her husband James Pettit
“He was ready to work from home, long before Covid, he was ahead of his time, knowing that if he wanted to retain the staff he liked, he had to be a little flexible,” she said.
‘With my hand on my heart, I have a lot to thank him for and I adore this man and his family very much. Thanks John Walsh and Merry Christmas from Getaway! #bestbossever #farewell #office party.’
The post was met with an avalanche of comments from fans, colleagues and followers, not least John himself, who stepped in to return Catriona’s kind words.
“Thank you for your beautiful words, Treens,” he wrote.
‘It’s easy to be the boss with a super talented and kind person like you leading the show and the amazing team of people I’ve been lucky enough to work with for the last 30 years. ‘Long live Escape!’
Speaking to 9Entertainment in 2023, Catriona revealed how she met her famous husband James.
“A lot of people ask how you met him, let alone married him,” she told the publication.
“My best friend calls me and says: ‘Catriona, I already know her. “His friend is having a birthday party for him and I want you to come.”
The veteran getaway host, 52, married James Pettit in 2008 and the couple share two sons, Andrew, 14, and Charles, 12.
Catriona added that her heart skipped a beat the first time she saw her boyfriend at the party held in a huge Victorian farmhouse.
“I look amazing,” she said.
“Then a guy comes out onto the terrace with a dirty face and hair everywhere. I had never seen anything like it in my life… and I just nudged my girlfriend and said, “I approve.”
In February, Catriona shared a major health update after her older sister was diagnosed with stage four cancer.
She revealed on Sunday that her sister Lucinda was responding well to chemotherapy and her diagnosis was positive.
‘Lucinda is fine. “She is very tired as she nears the end of her chemotherapy, but the doctors are happy and the results will be available this week,” Catriona told the Herald Sun.
She added that her sister’s family life was going well, which helped her stay in good spirits.
‘Their daughter Katie just got engaged and Blue Illusion asked their other daughter, Georgia, to take part in a photo shoot with my mother to celebrate three generations of women.