EXCLUSIVE
Disturbing photos of Australian music icon Molly Meldrum can be revealed as the 81-year-old continues to battle health issues.
Meldrum appears frail in several recent images obtained by Daily Mail Australia of the music industry identity with her boyfriend, Thai businessman Yan Wongngam.
They contrast sharply with his more energetic appearance at the Australian Open in January.
In one photograph, the bald TV legend appears to be sleeping on a sofa at the couple’s Melbourne home, without one of his trademark hats and with his mouth open.
In another image, Meldrum appears bearded and lying on the terrace with a thin hand on his chest for what appears to be a daytime nap.
Meldrum has been “struggling” with his health and has largely withdrawn from public life, a close source revealed last week.
Next month will mark 50 years since Countdown, the long-running ABC music show that propelled Meldrum to stardom, debuted on Australian television screens.
Meldrum, who has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years, failed to show up at a Royal Australian Mint event in Melbourne last Wednesday to launch a commemorative Countdown coin.
The show’s host, Gavin Wood, revealed that his long-term partner had been struggling with his health since a fall from a ladder in December 2011 almost killed him.
Disturbing photos of Australian music icon Molly Meldrum have emerged as the 81-year-old continues to struggle with his health. Meldrum appears in the photo with her boyfriend Yan Wongngam
In one photograph, the bald TV legend appears to be sleeping on a sofa in his Melbourne home, without one of his trademark hats and with his mouth open.
“The fall, it’s all because of the fall, it was a horrible thing to have happened,” Wood said. the Herald of the Sun.
‘He will be 82 years old in January. He’s been a public figure his whole life and I think he’s just enjoying a quieter life.
“He’s still Molly, he’s still interested in music and he’s still 11. He’s still mischievous, he still has that spark that we love, but I think he’s enjoying life being a normal person.”
Although Meldrum did not attend the coin toss, he did release a statement and introduced his famous catchphrase whenever he recommended an artist on the show.
“Do yourself a favor and get one,” he said. ‘The iconic countdown lives on.
‘I am left with very good memories of those days and a show that I will never forget.
“We made a difference to the music industry in Australia and that’s why I’m delighted to see the commemorative coins being made.”
Wood said his former colleague would be “pleased” to see something “as beautiful and imaginative” as the coins commemorating the show that made him a household name.
Meldrum looks fragile while posing for a picture with her boyfriend
In another image, Meldrum is bearded and lying on a padded backside on the terrace with a thin hand on his chest for what appears to be a daytime nap.
Meldrum’s recent photos contrast with her appearance at the Australian Open with her boyfriend, Thai businessman Yan Wongngam, in January (above).
Wood said Countdown, which ran from November 8, 1974 to July 19, 1987, was a product of Meldrum’s enthusiasm and foresight.
The show was something Meldrum “lived, breathed, drank, consumed” and was “everything” to him, Wood said.
Meldrum has remained out of the public spotlight since his last controversy 18 months ago.
In March 2023, Meldrum made headlines for exposing himself and appearing to urinate on the floor at a Rod Stewart concert in Melbourne.
A video obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows him exposing his private parts near the end of the pop singer’s show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
He appeared to urinate on the floor while facing the stage and wearing his trademark Stetson cowboy hat.
Meldrum’s boyfriend Yan Wongngam was photographed walking the former Countdown presenter’s dog Ziggy outside the couple’s Melbourne home on October 3.
Meldrum has been “struggling” with his health and has largely withdrawn from public life, a close source revealed.
The alarming incident came after a series of other strange antics by Meldrum in recent years.
In January 2023, Meldrum caused a stir after dropping his pants during his old friend Sir Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
During his final act, the I’m Still Standing hitmaker brought Meldrum on stage for a performance of The B**** Is Back.
Meldrum blamed a wardrobe malfunction, but footage soon resurfaced showing him performing the same antics in front of spectators at the 2022 ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, Victoria.
