Billy Brownless and Garry Lyon appear on TV together for the first time since Footy Show host took his close mate’s wife – but bad blood still lingers
- Gary Lyon started a relationship with Billy Brownless’ ex-wife in 2016
- The pair were seen on the same program together for the first time in five years
- While they set their differences aside, the pair avoided being in the same room
Football presenters Billy Brownless and Gary Lyon have appeared on TV together for the first time since their close friendship was shattered when Lyon began a relationship with his co-host’s wife.
Lyon blindsided Brownless in 2016 by starting a relationship with Billy’s wife of 18 years, Nicky.
Although Lyon had been separated from his wife since 2014 and Brownless from his spouse for 12 months, Brownless believed the affair could have been going on for up to four years.
While the former close mates and star AFL forwards managed to partially set their differences aside this week to appear on the same program, it was only possible with the aid of pre-record.
Billy Brownless’ (pictured) former friend and Footy Show co-host Lyon blindsided him in 2016 by starting a relationship with his wife of 18 years, Nicky
Brownless suggested the affair between Nicky and Lyon (pictured) could have been going on for up to four years
Lyon appeared as a panelist on Fox Footy while Brownless’ segment for bookmaker PointsBet – the show’s sponsor – was recorded earlier.
‘It’s all prerecorded so it’s all good. I’ve done a little bit with PointsBet and I enjoy it,’ Brownless said.
In March of 2016 – one month after he found out about the affair – Brownless opened up in a tearful Footy Show interview about the toll it had taken on him.
‘I couldn’t believe it. I found out three or four months ago,’ Brownless said at the time.
Billy Brownless and Nikki Brownless (left) with Gary Lyon and Melissa Lyon (right) in 2012. The Lyons separated in 2014 and the Brownless’ separated in 2015
Nicky Brownless attends on Oaks Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne a year after her affair with Lyon was revealed
‘I asked Garry and Nicky earlier on what is going on and they said they were just good friends. That’s what hurts the most.
‘By law it’s legal. Morally it’s wrong. We all know our rights and wrongs. You don’t touch a man’s wallet; you don’t touch his wife.’
He ended his long-term friendship with Lyon, saying ‘a good mate wouldn’t do that’.
In January this year, Brownless told TV Week magazine that it ‘wasn’t easy’ to deal with the affair being played out in the media, but he has finally being able to move on with his personal and public life.
‘It took me a solid two years to recover from it,’ he said.
‘It took a while for me to go to a café or a pub and not think, “Everyone is looking at me and they know.” But really, all of that was in my head,’ added the father-of-four.
Brownless previously said he’d one day like to catch up with Lyon now that some time has helped to heal his pain over the separation.
Lyon and Nikki are still together in their relationship.