FEB 21- Highway DBN

Darren & Anna …
the love story
Darren Maule is a man of many talents. Whether he’s waking up KZN as the host of
ECR’s award-winning breakfast show or being an MC, comedian or ambassador for
major brands and NGOs, he is a renowned and much-loved personality. After a decade
of being the ultimate ‘single dad’, everything changed when ‘Anna Banana’ walked
into his life and KZN listened in awe as the two fell in love. We were recently granted
a sneaky glimpse into the private lives of Darren, Anna Kelly and Darren’s daughter,
affectionately known as ‘Mouse’.
Arriving at Darren and Anna’s North
Coast house, the breath-taking
view of the ocean becomes a
secondary thought as Anna, ever
the gracious hostess, greets us
with her effervescent smile. The
moment you walk in, you can feel
the transformation from a house
to a home. Darren pauses the CNN
channel to get up and say hello, and
12-year-old ‘Mouse’ and their three
enthusiastic dogs come running
down the stairs. Mouse goes to her
dad and Anna individually to give
them a big hug, before running off
upstairs again with the loyal pooches
right behind her. We’ve finally got
them together so it’s the perfect time
to get their thoughts on new love,
demanding lives, and how they ended
up as one of the most well-known
couples in the province.
Questions for the couple:
What was the first thought
you had when you met?
Darren: (chuckling) “She was sitting
elegantly in the foyer at ECR. I went
to my producer at the time and
asked him to go have a look at the
stunning woman who’d taken my
breath away. He went to take a peek
Photo: Lara Baker
and came back saying I should definitely go out there and say something, but I
didn’t, which I regretted. A few months later when the same scenario presented
itself, I decided to go for it, but she was already in a meeting with one of the
managers. I very subtly barged in and interrupted the meeting to ask some
random, nonsensical question just so I could be in the same room as her and say
hello. I thought that by my single act of defiance, barging into a meeting (which
I had never done before or ever since), would be the bat-signal to tell her I was
definitely interested in her. Well ... it only took me three or four more years, but
eventually we got there!
Anna: Our paths had crossed many times, but our first meaningful conversation
was backstage at Toy Story at the Pavilion four years ago. It was the first time we
had spoken one-on-one. I remember being surprised by how softly spoken he
was, he was also very geeky and clearly shy! I did think he was so attractive in his
attentiveness and sincerity and being 6ft 4 was rather yummy too!
February 2021 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North 11
Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge