A scam in Paris had Tim Ferguson chewing up his change
Tim Ferguson has a refreshing outlook on television stardom, born of humble but funny beginnings in the entertainment business.
The host of Network Ten's Unreal TV had to travel halfway around the world with the Doug Anthony All-Stars to be "discovered" and learnt a few valuable life lessons along the way.
"We (the Doug Anthony All-Stars) took off to Edinburgh (Comedy Festival) in the early years because we weren't going to get a break here," Tim says.
"We thought that if we went overseas people would take us seriously - and it worked. We then got on TV over there, on Friday Night Live, in the UK. Ted Robinson, who runs Good News Week, saw a tape of the show and said, 'Gee. Who are those Kiwis? Maybe we could get them'. And off it went.
"After the Festival we just romped around Europe and busked every day.
"We went through Italy, France, and all throughout the UK, Ireland and Berlin.
"It was a nice way to get around, even though we did not have any money. Busking would pay our way. We'd open our guitar case and sing filthy songs that they didn't quite understand. We squeezed money out of them and that would be tonight's board and food. So it was real hand-to-mouth stuff - a great way to live, though.
"Sometimes we would ask if there was anyone in the crowd who could put us up for the night. Occasionaly there was.
"Once I was wandering in Paris with only 100 francs to my name, which was about enough for lunch, I think.
"I bought something, I can't remember what it was - a coffee or a baguette - and the guy gave me this note in change.
"Paris, apparently, is littered with counterfeit money and the locals can spot it in a flash. So what they do is just save them for when a dopey tourist comes in. So I got this baguette and headed off and the next place I went to, to get lunch and finally eat, refused to take the note.
"So I went back to the place that had given me the counterfeit note and he said he had never seen me before and that he didn't know who I was.
"So I shoved the fake note in my mouth and chewed it up and spat it out. One of the people I went away with said, 'You know, this has been such a crappy day for you, you should keep that because later in life you will look at it and laugh'. I still haven't, though.
"So this is my chewed up and spat out note, framed. It's an heirloom."
A father of three, Tim is writing "a psychological drama novel about the corruption endemic in our new casino culture and how it's corrupting our own values."
These days, he prefers less-demanding holidays with his family. Tasmania, Lake Eildon and Port Fairy are popular destinations.
Although his ideas of a holiday have changed, Tim's grounded, tongue-in-cheek approach to his profession has not.
"The tall-poppy syndrome in Australia is an interesting one," he says.
"We hate people who are successful - for one reason or another.
"So I have found, the best way to still have people enjoy what you do is to pretend it's not working."
