Rove McManus announced on-air this evening that his long running talk show, ROVE, would be coming to an end, with tonight’s episode being his last after a record breaking ten year run.

“It was a difficult call to make but after ten years it felt like time to step away from the show and take a break to properly reflect on what I want to do next as a performer.

Rove’s decision came off the back of discussions with TEN over the last couple of weeks.

“The relationship with David Mott and the team at TEN has given us the space to make a show that we are extremely proud of over the last ten years, it is more opportunity than most will ever get. I thank them for their support and hope they have enjoyed the ride as much as I have.”

The strong relationship between Roving Enterprises and TEN will continue to grow with The 7PM Project and Before The Game, both on TEN through 2010.

Network Ten, chief programming office David Mott said, “ROVE has been a big part of the TV landscape and more personally the TEN stable over the years.”

“Our warm thanks and congratulations go to the crew, the cast, executive producer Craig Campbell and of course Rove McManus himself for making a show that’s entertained us and made us laugh week in week out.

“The end of ROVE on TEN does not mark the end of Rove and TEN, a relationship that spans a decade is harder than this to switch off.”

Rove decided to hold off on announcing this decision until tonight so that the audience at home could hear the news from him first. He also wanted to avoid any fuss leading into the finale so that he could focus on the show.

“We only did our tenth anniversary show a few weeks ago, you can only have one flashback episode a year – that’s the law”

"I didn’t want tonight’s episode to feel like the end, I have closed a chapter and after I recover from the wrap party I will work out what’s next. If it is half as rewarding as the last ten years I will be rapt."

September 20 sees a very special episode of Rove hit screens across the country. Join us to catch up with our regular cast members including Peter Helliar, Ryan Shelton, Hamish & Andy, Judith Lucy and Kristy Warner as well our old friends from the past, Dave Callan, Dave Hughes, Corinne Grant, Meshel Laurie and Carrie Bickmore. All in all, one huge show, not to be missed!

The whole 10th Anniversary season celebrates the fact that Rove and his mates have been making us laugh for 10 years, but this one particular episode will be one huge reunion party - and like all good reunions, there'll be plenty of embarrassing memories shared. The show will look back to when Rove first hit our screens, with special tape packages, favourite Rove moments from celebrity guests, sketches and congrats messages from many of the stars who've shared the couch with the gang.

And just when you think the show is over and all the good times are done...surprise surprise, the folks at Rovedaily show up and dig out all the goodies that couldn't be squeezed in on the night. Each week we'll be serving up extra archived videos and pics from the vaults. We'll just keep digging through those archives till we think you're satisfied! Enjoy!

Obtained from the official ROVE website - RoveDaily.com.au

That's right the team are on Twitter!

Don't be fooled by impersonators, the OFFICIAL Twitter accounts are listed below:

Rove McManus - @Rove1974

Dave Hughes - @DHughesy

Peter Helliar - @pjhelliar

Ryan Shelton - @Ryan_Shelton

Hayden Guppy - @haydo

Rove Daily - @rovedaily

Other accounts that may be of interest to you but are not official:

RoveOnline - @RoveOnline (latest news & videos)

Rove New Zealand - @RoveNewZealand (NZ guest line-up - No spoilers)

Follow & tweet away!

STAND UP Against Poverty is a worldwide call to take action against  poverty and inequality and for the Millennium Development Goals.

STAND UP is led across the world by the  Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and the United Nations  Millennium Campaign (UNMC). In Australia and the Oceanic region, STAND  UP is facilitated by the Australian MAKEHISTORY coalition. POVERTY

STAND UP is a unique global mobilisation which calls on civil society,  schools, businesses and NGOs to band together with the same message -  that we must MAKEHISTORY. POVERTY

People from all nations, all creeds, all races and all walks of life,  join together by hosting or attending events in their local community.  At each event, across the globe participants stand up together to  symbolise their unity with millions of other STAND UP participants  across the globe. Event and participant numbers are registered and  tallied with all participant numbers and forwarded to Guinness World  Records.

In 2007, 43.7 million people worldwide participated in STAND UP events, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest single coordinated movement of people in the history of the Guinness World Record. Over 107,000 Australians joined millions across the globe who participated in STAND UP events to  show that they refuse to stay silent or seated in the face of poverty.

This year, STAND UP & TAKE ACTION  world record attempt takes place over one week covering all global  timezones. In Australia, STAND UP will be held from 6am Friday October 17 - 11pm Sunday October 19.

In the week leading up to Stand Up, Australians can access useful  resources about poverty and get involved in various activities and as  part of Anti-poverty week, 12-18 October.

Visit the official website for more information

WANT TO SEE ROVE?

"You will know Rove from shows such as Rove Live and more recently Rove, once again displaying his gift for coming up with show names he is hitting the road with his new stand-up show called Rove.

Will it sell out? I would have thought so. Should you book soon? Your call really."

 

     Melbourne Town Hall
    April 10-12 @ 7:00 pm
    Bookings: Ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 660 013
   
    Brisbane Convention Centre
    29 & 30 May @ 7.30pm
    On Sale Tuesday 1st April
    Bookings: Ticketek.com.au or 132 849
   
    Sydney - Enmore Theatre
    13 May @ 7.30pm
    On Sale Tuesday 1st April
    Bookings: Ticketek.com.au or 132 849
   
    Perth Concert Hall
    23 & 24 September @ 7.30pm
    On Sale Tuesday 1st April
    Bookings: Bocsticketing.com.au - 9484 1133

• You will need to register for RoveDaily in order to request tix. There is a registration link in the navigation bar above.
  
• That there are only a limited number of tickets available, so submitting a request does not guarantee you tickets to the show.
  
• Rove is made in Melbourne, so you need to be able to get to Melbourne for the date that you request.
  
• We’re currently taking ticket requests for Sunday 30/03/08, 06/04/08, 13/04/08 and 20/04/08 only.
  
• Requests for other dates at this time will be disregarded.
  
• Successful applicants will be contacted two weeks prior to the show date will full details, terms and conditions.
  
• If you haven’t heard from us by that time, it means that we weren’t able to fit you in.
  
• If you’re not successful, feel free to try for a different date.
  
• Please note that the producers reserve the right to accept or reject any request for tickets for any reason in its sole discretion.

Kids, want to be on TV????

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader is coming to TEN again in 2008 and we are looking for the NEW 5th grade (year 5) classmates to join Rove in all the fun.

Filming the 2nd series will commence on 28th April 2008 for 2 weeks

If you live in Melbourne or Sydney, are smart, funny, outgoing and want be on TV, then we want to hear from you.

To be considered for an audition, please send in a photo (basic snapshot is perfect) a brief biography including your parents or guardians contact details (including email details) and a DVD or VHS (no other format can be considered) of yourself demonstrating to us why you want to be on this show.

This DVD or VHS must be NO LONGER THAN 3 MINUTES in length. You can do a show and talk about your favourite topic, tell us about your favourite hobbies, sports, academic achievements, favourite subjects at school, what you get up to on holidays, that type of thing, have fun with it, let your imagination run wild, but most importantly tell us why you want to be a part of this great FUN show

Please post your bits and pieces to the address below by 15th February 2008

Cameron Harris
Roving Enterprises, 5th Grader
PO BOX 382
Richmond VIC 3121

Please note: Your photo, biog and DVD or VHS will not be returned and you will only be contacted should you be successful and invited in for a screen test.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE IN YEAR 5 FOR 2008

[ Download this information (PDF file)] - Ten.com.au