Nova’s Tim Blackwell, 43, and his much younger girlfriend, 28, break their silence about their relationship as they make their red carpet debut – and he addresses a joke that won’t go away

Nova presenter Tim Blackwell and his new girlfriend Lizzie Baxter made their official red carpet debut at the 2024 ARIA Awards on Wednesday.

Tim, 43, and Lizzie, 28, couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they walked the red carpet and officially confirmed their relationship with Ny Breaking Australia.

The couple put on a display of love as they hugged and posed for photos at the annual music awards ceremony.

Tim exclusively shared that they are dating as they surprised onlookers with their arrival.

Lizzie showed off her legs at the event in an off-the-shoulder checked mini dress, which she paired with racy stockings.

The blonde beauty accessorized with a pair of chunky black heels and silver hoop earrings.

Tim also looked dapper for the occasion, wearing a velvet jacket and matching trousers.

The radio star completed the ensemble with a bright red button-up shirt and a pair of shiny black shoes.

Their red carpet debut comes just a day after Ny Breaking Australia revealed their romance when Tim stepped out with 28-year-old Lizzie on Friday.

Lizzie – 15 years younger than Tim – is a producer for Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with the Kate Ritchie breakfast show.

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

It is believed that the lovebirds started dating after Tim’s marriage failed.

In a flirty conversation 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 happen to need a date? You are hot,” she wrote.

‘I’m going to work. Wouldn’t that be unprofessional?’ Blackwell responded, before quickly adding: “I’ll think about it…”

Baxter teased in response, “Hasn’t stopped you in the past.”

A source told Ny Breaking Australia that the pair had been engaging in flirty online banter for “a few months” and that Lizzie’s Instagram account featured photos of them as a couple before she recently made it private.

Another insider added: “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 took place almost a year after his estranged wife Monique confirmed they had split.

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

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

“Not all good things come to an end, but this one does,” she wrote alongside a photo gallery 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 always a source of strength for our family, as we raise our children as best friends.”

Tim remained quiet on Instagram for over a week after his wife’s announcement. He wouldn’t directly discuss his marital split until September.

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

In a heartbreaking confession, Tim admitted he felt like a failure as a parent when his marriage to Monique ended, but insisted their story was not over.

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

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 geek story ever – one of the biggest days for my career and definitely 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 definitely fucking, but excited at the same time.

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