Words: Katherine Davison. Main picture: Alana Landsberry/bauersyndication.com.au.Nearly 50,000 people
answered his plea – giving Jan
a much-needed boost when
she was at her lowest ebb.
“My wife believes, and so
do I, that it had a profound
effect on her recovery,” says
John, explaining Jan is currently
on medication and “we’re
getting there”.
LOVING CO-STAR
Talking about his wife’s fight
leaves John, who lives with Jan
in Perth, visibly emotional, and
it’s not the first time he has
witnessed the agony of seeing
a loved-one battle ill health.
He and Wheel Of Fortune
co-star Adriana Xenides became
lifelong pals after working
together for 12 years on the hit
show, and when the bubbly
blonde was admitted to hospital
after suffering stomach pain in
2010, John and Jan were quick
to rush to her side.
“She was in a coma when I got
there,” John says.
“My wife says when I leant
over and said, ‘Adri, Burgo’s
here’, she opened her eyes very
briefly, but I didn’t see it
because I was in tears.”
Tragically, Adriana – who had
suffered a ruptured intestine –
passed away aged just 54.
Later, it was claimed her
much-loved million-dollar smile
masked a “sad and lonely” life,
which included an eating
disorder, depression and
prescription drug abuse.
With his co-star gone and
his wife’s battle continuing,
what does the future hold
for Baby John?
Despite his struggles, the
TV veteran, who has recently
fronted a campaign for Smith’s
chips inspired by his stint on
Wheel Of Fortune, refuses to
rule out a return to screens as
a game show host.SPIN THAT WHEEL!
“It’s nice to make people happy,”
he says. “[Wheel Of Fortune] is
on in about 34 countries in the
world. It’s not on in Australia for
some unknown reason. Don’t
ask me why.
“I think if some enterprising
TV network thought it’d be
a good idea to bring it back
with Burgo, it’d be a very big
story, and I reckon it would
be a bonanza!”
But for now, John’s focus
is on his beautiful wife and
he’s determined to remain
by her side.
The pair wed in 1989 after
he drove her “nuts” with his
“perseverance” following their
meeting at a friend’s party.
“I still look at her and my
heart skips a beat,” he has said
of the love of his life.
“Over the years our love really
hasn’t changed. I really did hit
the jackpot!”“She was a
great friend
and a TV
legend,” says
Burgo of the
late Adriana.