Telethon 2023: Sunrise presenter Nat Barr quizzed on favourite Sunrise co-host
![Matt Shirvington, Natalie Barr, Basil Zempilas, Lynne McGranger and Dr Chris Brown Telethon](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-12279514/dd5fb7e05fcad5470a3404bae34311370c624f95-16x9-x33y0w1605h903.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Telethon is officially underway with a sensational first panel — hosted by Basil Zempilas — gracing the RAC Arena stage.
Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington, Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger, and Dr Chris Brown were the first group of the night, with plenty of other celebs in line and ready for rotation.
Returning for his second Telethon with nothing but wonderful things to say, Shirvo told the panel the annual fundraiser “makes your heart melt”.
The former Olympian has been hosting Channel 7’s premier breakfast program since June, alongside Bunbury-born Barr.
Zempilas jokingly turned to Home and Away star McGranger to query if was “too soon” to ask Barr if she prefers her new co-host over her old one.
“He’s out the back,” Barr quipped, referring to her former co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
McGranger then chimed in to chat about her visit to Perth Children’s Hospital earlier on Saturday.
“I’ll try get through this without getting emotional,” she said, before raising the tally with donations she’d received.
Dr Chris Brown, who is at his very first Telethon, also visited the hospital on Saturday and told the RAC Arena crowd that Telethon is “so incredibly special” and “has a remarkable reputation” over east.
“It’s a truly wonderful event,” he said.
![News. Telethon 2023. Channel 7 celebrity Dr Chris Brown with the Telethon children Emily Houston 7, Connor Barrett 8, Sophia Marshall 7, and Harrison Carthew 6, in the Green Room at the RAC Arena.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-12279514/8af2fa5393ff1f90174c83fc334f79eb4ca4f6ba.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Shirvo jokingly added that Dr Chris Brown used his vet skills to provide Fat Cat with a veterinarian check-up, causing the panel to burst into a fit of laughter.
To donate, call 1300 737 507 or visit telethon7.com/donate.
Catch Telethon 2023 LIVE from RAC Arena on Channel 7 and 7plus
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails