Nicky Buckley, 59, Reveals Ageless Beauty Secrets and Pregnancy ‘Scandal’ on Sale of the Century

Nicky Buckley may be on the cusp of turning 60, but the popular TV presenter looks as youthful as ever.

Daily Mail caught up with Nicky, who will mark the milestone in November, during a luxe European getaway with husband Murray Bingham and three sons: Cooper, 27, Jasper, 26, and Baxter, 22  – an early birthday present to herself. 

‘I’m not one for big parties so I thought the best way I could celebrate was to be with my family,’ Nicky said earlier this month.

‘The first half of the holiday was in Greece with my husband and three boys and now my husband and I are continuing on our own.

‘We haven’t booked the rest of our trip – we are just booking on the hop which keeps it really flexible. Our next stop is Dubrovnik and then Puglia in Italy.’

Nicky began her career as a model before moving into television, as co-host of the revived game show Perfect Match, which was rebranded as Blind Date.

Despite an initially short stint, Nicky’s television career flourished, with the popular presenter going on to co-host the iconic game show Sale of the Century from 1994 to 1999. 

She was also a regular on Good Morning Australia and Today and is currently a presenter for Seven’s Melbourne Weekender.

Nicky has also dipped her toe into the reality TV waters, starring in the third season of Dancing With The Stars in 2005 and, more recently, in the 2025 iteration of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 

Of all of the hats she has worn throughout her nearly four-decade career, Nicky said that while each role has its own charm, one will always have a special place in her heart

‘I have the fondest memories of my times spent modelling both here in Australia and overseas. I am still very close with the girls and guys I worked with over 30 years ago – we still catch up regularly,’ she said.

‘However, perhaps my favourite, if I had to pick one, was my time as co-host on Sale of the Century.

‘It was a tenure I held for around six years and the opportunities it presented were incredible and I also got to work with my friends and husband. I feel very lucky.’

Nicky faced heavy criticism back in 1997 when she appeared on Sale of the Century while she was pregnant. 

‘It only really takes one event to change how things are accepted,’ she said.

At the time, she was presenting Sale of the Century and viewers took such umbrage with Nicky’s baby bump, they ‘jammed fax machines’ at the network and newsrooms around the country to complain.

Almost three decades later, Nicky said that she still scratches her head about the bizarre scandal.

‘I still marvel that people created such a stir about me continuing to work whilst pregnant,’ she said.

‘The newspapers ran daily polls on it, the magazines ran cover stories, A Current Affair took to the streets and asked people what they thought.’

Despite all the negative chatter, Nicky admitted that it was all water off a duck’s back.   

‘It was absolutely crazy and luckily I had some good hormones coursing through my veins because I wasn’t bothered at all – I had a mortgage and needed to work and I don’t regret it for one second,’ she said. 

The incident may have shifted the dial a little for women in television, with Nicky admitting her second pregnancy barely caused a ripple of controversy.

‘It only really takes one event to change how things are accepted,’ she added.

‘The funny thing is that the very next year I was pregnant again with my second child and I worked right through and no one batted an eyelid because the landscape of what was acceptable had now changed and thereafter it has not been an issue.’

At nearly 60, Nicky still looks as fresh-faced and youthful as she did hosting Sale of the Century in the ’90s. So, what’s her secret?

‘Around my late 20s I became aware of the damage the sun could do to your skin, I noticed pigmentation coming up on my face and forever after I have tried to protect my skin and use the best products I can find,’ she explained.

‘This is always changing as new products are always being introduced to the market. What’s most important to me is protection from the sun, hydration and rejuvenation –  using products that help the skin cells turn over.

‘Getting good sleep is also a priority for me as it shows on your face, as is a healthy diet and exercise. It all plays a part on how your skin looks.’

Nicky recently teamed up with skincare brand Hada Labo Tokyo to promote its new Lift range.

She said that the pairing made perfect sense, given her lifelong commitment to maintaining an ageless look.

‘At my age, I’m always looking for skincare that supports my skin’s needs and feels good,’ she said.

‘At this stage in life, I look for skincare that not only supports my skin’s needs but also makes me feel great in my own skin.’

Nicky added that she is not an easy sell when it comes to product endorsements, but this collaboration felt ‘authentic.’  

‘Those that know me know I would never endorse a product I didn’t believe in so I asked them to send me some products to try,’ she said.

‘After a couple of weeks, I was so impressed with how hydrating and firming it felt on my skin. I was excited to work with the brand as it felt authentic.’

Diet also plays a big part in keeping Nicky looking so young, although she admitted that her ‘day on a plate’ looks much different during her European jaunt, than at home.    

‘At home I tend to start each day with a cup of tea and a piece of my homemade sourdough and olive bread – which I enjoy just with butter and I bake about three times a week,’ she revealed.

‘Mid-morning – usually after exercise – I will have a protein smoothie and enjoy it with berries and banana.

‘Lunch is sometimes leftovers from the night before.  Another smoothie if I have nothing in the house or often I get sushi and I snack on fruit and nuts throughout the day.’

When it comes to dinner, Nicky said that she and husband Murray share the cooking duties, preferring home-cooked meals over eating out. 

‘We usually have a meat or fish protein with vegetables or we cook a pasta or rice dish,’ she said.

‘I do like a sweet treat after dinner and usually have a wine or two with soda water whilst preparing and eating dinner.

‘And I probably should drink more water.’