Dave Hughes has shared his surprisingly straightforward approach to maintaining the spark in his 20-year marriage to Holly Ife.

The 55-year-old Australian comedian recently divulged to the Daily Mail that the key to sustaining their romance is to never become complacent.

“Being present is crucial, along with practicing gratitude. By living in the moment, each day feels like the first, so you never tire of being together for 23 years. Instead, you enjoy the happiness of being together today,” Hughes explained.

He also emphasized the importance of letting go of minor issues, ensuring that small disagreements don’t grow into lingering resentments.

“It’s essential not to hold grudges or keep a tally of grievances,” he noted.

“Whether it’s with an adversary or with my wife, I believe in letting go of grudges,” Hughes shared.

Dave Hughes has revealed the simple secret that keeps the spark alive in his two-decade marriage to wife Holly Ife

He added that he was thrilled his wife accepted him for who he was, before commenting on his distinctive smile which he is hesitant to fix.

‘I’d never say never to fixing [my teeth]. The jury appears to be out on it, some people say to fix them, others say they love them, so I’m not sure what the best thing to do is,’ he said. 

‘There’s something full-on about getting full veneers… I’m not saying I won’t do it, but it hasn’t happened yet.’ 

Elsewhere in the interview, Hughes delivered a blunt verdict on ARN’s eye-watering $200million deal with axed radio stars Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson – declaring the executives behind it ‘insane’.

He said he was not surprised The Kyle and Jackie O Show was scrapped earlier this month, pointing to a rapidly changing media landscape.

‘I don’t wish anyone badly, but it is a tough time for the industry… and that is a massive contract to try to pay for,’ he began.

The Warrnambool-born comic argued the deal was fundamentally unsustainable, insisting the money simply isn’t there in modern radio, something Hughes would be all too aware of, as his 2Day FM show Hughesy, Ed and Erin was axed in 2024.

‘It is a tough one, I don’t think the money is in the industry. It is a tricky one when the world is changing so much,’ he added.

The Australian comedian told Daily Mail he has managed to keep their romance as strong as ever by never taking things for granted

While Hughes acknowledged the duo’s popularity, he questioned whether any talent could justify such a staggering salary in the current climate.

‘Obviously they are popular and they can work. But can anyone command that sort of wage and keep a company afloat… You just want to make sure that everyone can get by,’ he said.

He suggested the sheer size of the contract may have had broader consequences for the network, potentially limiting opportunities for other staff.

‘You don’t want a contract which means other people can’t work. Whoever signed off on it is insane, basically,’ he said.

‘They did not read the tea leaves about what is going on in the industry, or the world. Everything is changing, you have to move with the times.’

Dave has a new comedy show out called Cooked, which he will be performing at the upcoming Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals, where no topic is off-limits – tickets are available to purchase online.