Inside Derryn Hinch's 'raging inferno' final romance before his death at 82 - and his many love affairs and marriages that ended in controversy

Outspoken radio host and former federal senator Derryn Hinch has died aged 82 following a lengthy health battle, leaving a string of headline-grabbing romances in his wake. 

His former colleague and personal assistant Annette Philpott confirmed to Daily Mail the legendary broadcaster had died at home in his sleep on Thursday night.

'They're putting it down to old age,' Philpott said.

'He's had really tough times of late. He's been in and out of hospital. I'm assuming his heart just gave out.'

The Daily Mail understands Hinch was in a relationship with actress turned animal rights activist Lynda Stoner in the final years of his life.

The pair were engaged in the early 1980s, but called it off amid the intense media spotlight.

In 2019, they confirmed to New Idea that they were back together, revealing they met in Canberra in 2016 to discuss an animal-rights issue when they realised the chemistry was still there.

'We had lunch. It was not so much a spark of renewed love, it was a raging inferno,' Ms Stoner said.

Of their initial failed romance, she said: 'It was 1980, I was working on TV's Cop Shop and supporting animal rights causes. Derryn was on Melbourne radio calling for a ban to the horrors of live exports. 

'I sent him a telegram to congratulate his humane stance. I never expected some brash, larger-than-life radio star like Derryn to give a toss about animals. But he's an absolute softie with the biggest, kindest heart.'

Hinch said: 'We were engaged and so in love, but Lynda began to have second thoughts. My life back then was flamboyant and crazy. Rolls-Royces, chauffeurs. 

'I'd been married twice. Lynda is very shy, naturally modest, and became completely overwhelmed by the intense media attention.

'She gave back the ring, and called off the engagement. Of course, I was totally devastated. But we remained friends and respectful.'

Their rekindled romance came hot on the heels of Hinch's split with Natasha Chadwick, who slammed him on Twitter in 2016 for 'playing down' his drinking, after he admitted to consuming alcohol less than five years after a life-saving liver transplant.

'Derryn Hinch has been back on booze 12+ months. So much for respecting organ donors gift of life. Fave wine, cheap Gossips. No loyalty,' she posted at the time - sparking a huge scandal.

When Hinch attempted to clarify how much he drank by saying it was watered down and for special occasions, Ms Chadwick hit back.

'Playing it down. Not surprised. Not always diluted. Not only special occasions. But… he's a politician. Lies are acceptable,' she wrote.

Hinch responded, 'I've had the odd glass of wine, perhaps one-third wine and two-thirds water, with Natasha at birthdays and at events like Christmas'.

Chadwick, a writer, TV producer and former detective, met Hinch at a Channel Seven event in 2015.

At the time, she was 35 and he was 71, and she played down their 36-year age gap - even though she admitted she was sometimes mistaken for being his daughter.

'I've always dated older people ... it didn't faze me,' she said.

'I think he's had some younger relationships in his time as well, so we're both quite comfortable with that.

'And really, it's everybody else's attitudes out there that impact more on the age difference and highlight it.'

In 2013, Hinch announced he had split from Chanel Hayton, his wife of seven years, the year prior.

While married, the pair unconventionally had homes in the same South Yarra, Melbourne, apartment building, but never lived together. 

It was Hinch's fourth failed marriage - including splitting from Australian-born Hollywood star Jacki Weaver twice.

Hinch and Weaver originally married in 1983 - soon after Stoner broke off their engagement - before divorcing in 1998.

They later renewed their vows before splitting again.

He told New Idea: 'There is a misconception Jacki and I married twice. We didn't, although we did renew our vows in Kauai shortly before divorcing in the mid 90s.

'Jacki and I are great friends, and she's thrilled Lynda and I have fallen in love again.'

Jacki once said of Hinch: 'The night I fell in love with him was when I realised he was a feminist'.

She said Hinch, who never had kids, 'would have loved children, and I would have loved to have them with him but it just didn't happen'. 

He was married to editor Lana Wells, in the 1960s, and flight attendant Eve Carpenter from 1972 to 1980, before meeting Weaver. 

Discussing his several failed relationships, Derryn said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, 'I find that people tend to change and sometimes drift apart. 

'With Jacki, we still text each other all the time and are in touch by email and phone occasionally. I'm a bit of a mush bucket and I like being in love. I like committing to somebody. And that's what I did.'

He said he brought 'a sense of humour' to his relationships, adding that 'people seem to enjoy my kisses'. 

In April, the veteran broadcaster revealed on social media that he 'was not very well'.

'BUT. I am still moving. Pretty happy. Thinking. Going out. Catching up with friends,' he wrote.

'Maybe one more year or 10. Who knows? So enjoy. Appreciate still being here. Just do it. Be positive.'

Weeks later, he told the Daily Mail that he was 'improving daily'.

'I've been walking 8,000 steps a week. I had an operation on my leg last week, so yeah, things are getting back to normal - my new normal,' Hinch said in late May.

Hinch had just finished editing his latest book, believed to be an updated autobiography.

'That'll be out for Christmas,' he said.

Born in New Zealand, Hinch spent more than four decades in the media - first on the radio airwaves in Sydney and Melbourne and later hosted several television programs.

He spent 12 days in prison in 1987 for contempt of court after he reported Catholic priest Michael Glennon's prior conviction for indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

At the time, Glennon had been set to face trial over further child sex offences and was running a youth camp while on bail.

In 2011, Hinch was convicted of breaching suppression orders on the names of two sex offenders and was sentenced to five months' home detention.

Hinch was elected to the Senate in 2016 and served three years campaigning for a national child sex offenders register as well as other criminal justice system reforms.

In 2017, he revealed he had been molested by the brother of one of his father's friends when he was a nine-year-old boy growing up in his native New Zealand.

Hinch is often associated with the phrase 'shame, shame, shame' - a famous catch cry that was actually coined by Steve Vizard on 1990s Australian comedy show Fast Forward

'I never said 'Shame, Shame, Shame.' Vizard did,' Hinch said.