Last Sunday, the Carte Blanche family stood together to pay tribute to their beloved colleague and friend, Derek Watts. Images via Instagram:
@carteblanchetv
‘I trusted him’: Derek Watts’s ‘TV wife’ praises gentle giant [listen]
Exactly 35 years ago, Ruda Landman first met Carte Blanche co-presenter Derek Watts. The dynamic duo would become TV’s most-loved faces.
Last Sunday, the Carte Blanche family stood together to pay tribute to their beloved colleague and friend, Derek Watts. Images via Instagram:
@carteblanchetv
It’s been almost a year to the day since Ruda Landman and Derek Watts “clicked” on the set on the TV actuality programme Carte Blanche 35 years ago.
While Ruda left the show two decades later, she maintained a firm friendship and close bond with her co-anchor, who tragically died this week.
On Tuesday, 22 August, Derek lost his battle with skin and lung cancer. He was 72 years old.
ALSO READ: Behind the man: Meet Derek Watt’s wife and children [photos]
RUDA LANDMAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO DEREK WATTS
A day after his death, Derek Watts’s “TV wife,” Ruda Landman, spoke out about their close relationship.
Ruda met Derek Watts for the first time on the set of Carte Blanche in 1988. The dynamic duo – who were household names and faces on South African television – became firm friends.
While Ruda left the show in 2007 to pursue other ventures, she kept in contact with her professional partner.
ALSO READ: Derek Watts: 5 Celebs who recently died from cancer [photos]
She told Hot 102.7 FM after his passing: “I can’t believe it. He was in my life for half of it – more than 35 years”.
Of working with him, she said: “I was always completely relaxed when he was sitting next to me. He was so prepared, so ready for everything.
“We completely trusted each other in the professional environment. We didn’t compete, there were no egos, and I’m more important than you.
“We were just shoulder to shoulder.
Ruda claimed that she last saw Derek 2 weeks ago.
She added: “The way he would look at you when you were talking felt like you were the most important thing in that moment”.
ALSO READ: Derek Watts the dazzling dancer: Remember these moves? [watch]
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF CARTE BLANCHE
Carte Blanche will celebrate its 35th anniversary this week by dedicating its popular Sunday night show to Derek Watts.
The show first aired on 28 August 1988 and has since become a respected source of groundbreaking news and features.
While Ruda and Derek first helmed the show, we’ve seen new faces along the way, like Devi Sankaree-Govender, Claire Mawisa, and Bongani Bongwa.
