Richard Wilkins shares heartwarming stories about Olivia Newton-John

Richard Wilkins shared some heartwarming stories about his friendship with the late Olivia Newton-John ahead of her memorial service.

In conversation with Ben Fordham on 2 GB breakfastthe entertainment reporter, 68, revealed that the Physical singer never said no to a fan when it came to taking pictures or stopping for a chat.

“She was the real thing,” he said. “Just a sincere, sweet person. I’ve never heard her say a bad word about anyone.’

Wilkins also said he had never heard anyone in the industry say a bad word about Newton-John either.

“She just attracted goodness because that’s what she put out there,” he said.

The Today show report even revealed that Olivia would sometimes babysit his son Christian, now 27, when he was a kid.

The state commemoration for the beloved entertainer will take place on February 26.

The memorial celebrates the Grease star’s 60 years as a recording artist and actress, as well as her achievements as an advocate for cancer research.

Olivia was diagnosed with cancer three times in 1992, 2013 and most recently in 2017.

She passed away in August after a courageous and public decades-long battle with the disease.

An emotional Wilkins was reduced to tears on the Today show and had to be comforted by host Karl Stefanovic after Olivia’s death in August

After her death, Wilkins burst into tears on the Today show as clips of his last interview with her aired.

Today, host Karl Stefanovic left his seat on the panel to comfort his colleague as he wiped away his tears.

“I didn’t want to do this,” Wilkins cried, wiping away his tears.

“It’s okay,” Stefanovic said, hugging the presenter. “This woman was extraordinary.”

“Dickie, I’m so sorry for your loss,” Stefanovic added.

“It’s our loss,” Wilkins replied. “The world has lost a beautiful person today.”

“She was the real deal,” Wilkins said of the late star. “Just a sincere, sweet person. I’ve never heard her say a bad word about anyone’