Dave Hughes and his wife Holly’s relationship has been full of love and lots of laughter.
From their meet-cute being broadcasted to the masses, to a relationship full of laughs, scroll to read about how it all began.
How did Dave Hughes meet his wife?
The couple met in 2002 in a bar in Melbourne when Dave was hosting a radio show. Holly (nee Ife) wrote in the Herald Sun that their meet-cute did not just stay between them.
“I was 22, it was a Friday night, and I’d ended up at Cherry Bar in the city. Dave was there with his mate. The three of us walked to an ATM together and then I caught a cab home,” she wrote.
“It was on the Monday morning that I got my first taste of the way the next decade or so would play out. He talked on the radio about our meeting, yelling at his mate for not leaving the two of us alone.”
“He asked me to call into their show, and I did, but I chickened out before going on air. Nevertheless, that call led to our first date that evening.”
They said ‘I do’ at Flemington racecourse in 2006 on New Year’s Eve, and son Rafferty, and daughters Sadie, and Tess, as well as two rescue cats.
The couple also co-wrote a kids’ book together called Excuse Me in 2017, about a flatulent sheep. Holly has hinted that she got the inspiration from Dave, who often farts loudly in the house.
What has Dave Hughes said about Holly?
The comedian often shared anecdotes about his wife when he was on the radio and is open about their relationship when he tours with his comedy. But the humour hasn’t stopped there – he has also been unfiltered about their life on TV.
When he hosted the Channel 10 show Hughesy, We Have a Problem, he recalled when he thought his wife was initiating foreplay.
“She looked me up and down and I thought she was perusing how sexy I was,” the 54-year-old told the audience and panellists.
“She had a look in her eye, and I thought, ‘She wants me so much, she can’t handle it.’ And she looked at me and said, ‘Have you put the bins out?’”
What does Dave Hughes’ wife think about his comedy?
Holly has previously told news.com.au that laughter was not in short supply in the Hughes household.
“Life with a comedian gives us all licence to be just that bit more eccentric — not that they need an excuse at the moment — and there is also a lot of laughter in our house,” she admitted.
However, the former Herald Sun columnist wrote that it took time to get used to his oversharing.
“ONE of the most common questions I get asked is ‘Do you care what he says about you?'” the 44-year-old wrote in 2014.
“It certainly took a bit of getting used to, and there were some huffy conversations with friends early on — “I can’t believe what he said about me!” – but it really wasn’t worth getting angry about.”
Two weeks later, the now-teacher went undercover and snuck into his comedy show to write a review.
“I slide into my seat just as he comes out on stage, but I’m up in the Dress Circle, so there’s no way he can spot me,” Holly said.
She wrote that she saw his shows throughout the year and had he known she was there, he might have changed his material.”
“…I doubt he would have complained plaintively about the fact that there was ‘not a lot of action going on’ in our bedroom if he’d known I was there,” she continued.
Inside Dave and Holly’s home
In April 2025, Dave gave fans a glimpse inside the St Kilda, Melbourne, home he shares with Holly and their three children, Rafferty, 15, Sadie, 13, and Tess, 12.
The 1930s Spanish mission-inspired property was an “accidental” purchase, he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
He thought the property would sell for more than he bid, so when the hammer went down, he was shocked – as was his wife.
“Holly was annoyed, not that angry, but definitely annoyed. Fortunately, I think she fell in love with the street after I bought the house,” he told the publication, describing the home’s location as being on a ” beautiful, quiet street with big plane trees”.
“It’s a lovely vibe,” the star added.
He and Holly renovated the place with the help of one of Holly’s childhood friends – the result being a light and airy home that’s connected to nature through a central courtyard.
“I think as you get older, you become a bit more in tune with nature,” Hughes told the SMH. “I love being surrounded by trees and plants and the sounds of the birds. I love the breeze that comes through the front and the fact that the north side is open to the sky, so there’s beautiful sunlight coming through all day.”
Is Dave Hughes still married?
Dave Hughes is indeed still married to Holly, with the pair snapped attending former Spice Girl Mel B’s wedding to her partner Rory McPhee in July 2025.
“Holly and I had a fantastic time at Mel and Rory’s wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday,” Dave shared on Instagram.
“Got to know both of them on Masked Singer and was stoked to watch them tie the knot. All class day celebrating an all-class couple. A great time was had by all.”
A photo montage shared by Dave showed him and Holly beaming alongside the blushing bride.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Hughesy shared some anecdotes from the wedding, revealing that Mel B “was half an hour late” and he was concerned Rory “was gonna be left at the aisle in his kilt – no undies and no bride”.
“Mel’s little dog was entrusted to bring the ring down the aisle, but she got lost and had to be chased around the chapel. Funny moment,” he shared.
“The choir were magnificent and the vicar even used a Spice Girls line in his homily,” the comedian added.
He also revealed that fellow comedian Alan Carr was among the guests, and he’d taken a shine to Dave’s wife.
“Alan Carr was a good laugh and loved Holly,” Hughesy shared.
Indeed, fans flocked to social media after the nuptials to declare that Dave was “punching above his weight” with his wife, Holly.
“I have had 23 years of ‘punching above weight’ comments,” Dave admitted to Daily Mail. “Take them as a compliment!”
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