Media titan David Leckie had two great loves in his life, his son Harry told a Covid-era socially distanced funeral: his 'soul mate' Skye, and a long-term mistress.
That mistress was television - the industry he dominated for 22 years as CEO of both Australia's major commercial networks, Seven and Nine, under proprietors Kerry Packer and Kerry Stokes.
Leckie, 70, who took both networks to Number One, died at his farm in the NSW Southern Highlands on Tuesday following a decade-long illness.
A handful of close family and friends, including his sons and philanthropist second wife Skye, remembered 'Big Wave Dave' - the 'last of the rockstar' TV CEOs - at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on Friday.
Harry remembered his dad as a 'bulldog' who was boisterous, obsessive and a ruthless competitor, and also an adoring and sensitive father and husband.
'Dad was devoted to mum. They were soulmates. An unconventional but always a laugh-a-minute marriage.
'Although he had another mistress for many years ... and unfortunately for dad she came in the shape of a square TV screen.'
Philanthropist Skye Leckie adjusts her son Harry's tie ahead of the socially-distanced service for TV executive David Leckie on Friday evening. Due to Covid restrictions, the number of mourners was capped at 10 - but many more watched online
Philanthropist Skye Leckie recalled her 'extraordinary' union with David. Her son Harry describing them as 'soul-mates' and a 'laugh a minute marriage'. Son Ben said his dad had been described as a 'rock star. He'd be having a good laugh over that - he'd probably say this is the only time ten people turned up to farewell as rockstar.' (Covid restrictions meant the service was capped at 10 people)
Leckie led both Channel Seven and Nine to number one in the ratings during the 22 years he spent as CEO of either network
Pallbearers carry Leckie's coffin into the south chapel at the Northern Suburbs crematorium on Friday
Describing her own 'extraordinary union' with Leckie, Skye used the same word: 'He did have his mistress. He enjoyed the cut and thrust of network life, and he never took his eye off the ball with either of those networks.'
'Winning the ratings' was what made him happiest in life, Seven's commercial director Bruce McWilliam said during a video tribute.
8.31am each morning - the time the ratings dropped - was always 'judgment day' for the media exec.
Losing just a point in the ratings was a 'biblical' blow, Skye said.
Legend had it he would swing a nine-iron golf club as he waited for the results and fume: 'What the f*** happened last night. What happened?
Skye recalled: 'David always felt the pleasure or the pain of his team. He would usually give himself a life sentence because the ratings never quite went the way he wanted.'
Mourners heard he had an eye for TV talent. 'If you haven't been hired and fired by David Leckie you're not going anywhere,' son Ben said.
Some of his aptitude was clear in those who gave video tributes - broadcasters Alan Jones, Tracey Grimshaw and Larry Emdur.
During his final years, Skye said David would grouch about feeling 'irrelevant.'
'After this weeks stories and testimonies to you, Davo, that's one word we would never say you are,' she said.
Instead, Skye remembered him as 'my north, my south, my east and my west.
'I feel very lucky to have shared my life with someone, for who the flame will never go out.'
Hard-drinking and prone to profanity, TV titan David Leckie dominated the notoriously cutthroat industry for decades - but behind the bravado and bluster there was a softer side to the last rock star CEOBy Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia
David Leckie made his name in an era when television network bosses were larger-than-life characters who could attract as much attention as on-screen stars.
Leckie was a colossus of the industry, stomping across and through its landscape like a dinosaur - which is what some detractors thought he was.
He was big, bold, brash and boisterous. Often blistering and sometimes boorish. Harsh critics called him a bully boy but he could also be a charmer.
Leckie was a noted drinker and prone to profanity, almost as well known for his long lunches as being one of few men to run two television networks.
David Leckie came to fame in an era when television network bosses were larger-than-life characters who could attract as much attention as on-screen stars. He is pictured with wife Skye and sons, Harry (left) and Ben
Leckie was a fearsome drinker and prone to workplace profanity, as well known for his long lunches as being one of few men to run two television networks. He is pictured with presenter Johanna Griggs at Fleminton's Derby Day in 2004
Leckie worked for Kerry Packer for two decades until he was sacked as chief executive of the Nine Network. He fell out with Packer's son James, who called him a 'raging f***wit' at Leckie's predecessor Sam Chisholm's 70th birthday party
Sporting humourist Billy Birmingham immortalised Leckie's boozing on one of his popular 12th Man comedy records.
In the skit, urbane commentator Richie Benaud joined the then Nine boss for lunch and asked the waiter for water. The waiter then asked Leckie if he would like another schooner of Drambuie.
Some of those close to Leckie believed that behind the abrasive front he suffered from shyness; while at Nine he was known to mutter that no one really liked him.
Beside him through most of it was his sparkling Sydney socialite wife Skye.
Leckie, who has died aged 70 after a long illness, will be remembered as a titan of television who could inspire and terrify in equal measures but was impossible to ignore.
Early in his tenure as Nine boss Leckie attended film screenings in Cannes where he gave a speech in which he
