EXCLUSIVENova host Tim Blackwell confirms radio’s worst-kept secret after splitting from his wife of 14 years – and it’s an all too familiar story…

It’s a tale as old as time.

A middle-aged man separates from his wife of many years, begins dating a younger model and is suddenly sporting a new wardrobe, haircut and attitude.

You may think ‘nice guys’ are the exception to the rule. But as radio host Tim Blackwell proves, even the best of men falter around a fawning 20-something who reminds him of how his ex looked a decade ago.

And so, 11 months after his wife Monique announced the end of their 14-year marriage, a trendy and refreshed Tim, 43, confirmed the worst-kept secret in radio on Friday when he stepped out with his 28-year-old girlfriend Lizzie Baxter.

Lizzie – stunning, blonde and 15 years Tim’s junior – is a producer for Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie breakfast show.

Joined by their Nova colleagues, the couple stayed close as they attended an intimate ‘Red Room’ gig at the Coogee Bay Hotel, hosted by rapper The Kid Laroi.

Lizzie bears a striking resemblance to Tim’s ex-wife Monique (pictured together in March 2018). The former couple, who share three children, announced their split almost a year ago

Tim looked like Liam Gallagher’s doppelgänger with a mod haircut complete with a pinstripe jacket, white T-shirt, cuffed black trousers and Dr. Martens boots.

Lizzie oozed Gen Z cool with a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired blonde blowout and a strapless red mini dress, completing her look with heart-patterned lace tights, knee-high boots, a studded crossbody bag and a varsity jacket.

There are rumours the lovebirds, who began dating after Tim’s marriage broke down, may make their first red carpet appearance together at the ARIA Awards.

In a flirty exchange on social media, Tim announced he was hosting the awards show and Lizzie asked in the comments if she could be his date for the evening.

‘Do you need a date by any chance? You’re hot,’ she wrote.

‘I’ll be working. Wouldn’t that be unprofessional?’ Blackwell responded, before quickly adding, ‘I’ll think about it…’

Baxter teased in reply: ‘Hasn’t stopped you in the past.’

Hmm. 

Joined by their colleagues at Nova 96.9, the couple kept close as they arrived at the Coogee Bay Hotel for an intimate ‘Red Room’ gig hosted by rapper The Kid Laroi 

Tim, 43, looked like Liam Gallagher ‘s doppelgänger with a mod haircut complete with a pinstripe jacket, white T-shirt, cuffed black trousers and Dr. Martens boots 

Lizzie oozed Gen Z cool with a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired blonde blowout and a strapless red mini dress, completing her look with heart-patterned lace tights and knee-high boots

A source tells Daily Mail Australia the pair have been engaging in flirty online banter for ‘a few months’ and Lizzie’s Instagram account included photos of them as a couple before she recently turned it private.

Another insider adds, ‘Their relationship is well-known in the industry. It’s not really a secret.’ 

Lizzie works as a content producer for Fitzy and Wippa in the same Sydney office as Tim, who is one third of the national drive show alongside Ricki-Lee Coulter and comedian Joel Creasey.

Tim and Lizzie’s date night comes almost one year after his estranged wife Monique confirmed they had split.

The former couple share three children, Bo, 11, Alfie, eight, and Artie, five.

Monique, an entrepreneur and yoga instructor, broke the news via Instagram on December 10.

‘Not all good things end, but this has,’ she captioned a gallery of photos of herself with Tim in happier times.

‘Thank you in advance for your messages of love, support and sadness at the news that Tim and I are no longer together.

‘Our babes are forever supported by Tim and I’s love for them. And our friendship is a source of strength for our family always, as we raise our children as best friends.’

A source says the pair have been engaging in flirty online banter for ‘a few months’ and Lizzie’s Instagram account included photos of them as a couple before she recently turned it private. This screenshot shows Lizzie playfully asking Tim to be his date for the ARIAs. He suggests it would be ‘unprofessional’ but Lizzie retorts, ‘[That] hasn’t stopped you in the past’ 

Tim remained silent on Instagram for over a week after his wife’s announcement. He wouldn’t address his marriage split directly until September.

He opened up about his separation and co-parenting on his podcast, Introducing with Tim Blackwell, during a conversation with singer Missy Higgins.

In a gut-wrenching admission, Tim admitted he felt like a failure as a parent when his marriage to Monique ended – but stressed their story wasn’t over yet.

‘Especially as co-parents, we’re still in the relationship. It just looks different. I think we’re working harder on the relationship we don’t have anymore,’ he said.

Lizzie (right) is employed as a content producer for Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie

Tim and Monique first met in 2002 after he moved to Perth to launch Nova 93.7’s drive show.

‘It’s the cheesiest radio-nerd story ever – one of the biggest days for my career and certainly the biggest day of my love life,’ he told Stellar magazine in 2018.

‘I had all the big bosses in town, all the news media there. I was shaking and absolutely s****ing myself but also exhilarated at the same time.

‘Once all that was over, we went downstairs and had this huge launch party and Monique was a part of the promotions team at the time there. She came over and I got the courage to say, “I’m new to Perth and I’d love to take you out to coffee or something.”‘

Tim and Monique first met in 2002 after he moved to Perth to launch Nova 93.7’s drive show. He was an up-and-coming presenter and she worked in PR. (They are pictured in March 2021)