Steven without Chris: past, present and future for TV host

[Steven Sabados speaks about the past year and what’s next for the TV host after losing his partner Chris Hyndman of 28 years in August 2015. PHOTO: Steven Sabados]

Steven Sabados is fresh from a holiday in Barbados, where he has a second home — a retreat from the demands of his busy Toronto life, which he had once shared with his late partner, Chris Hyndman.

Almost a year ago, on Aug. 3, Hyndman was found dead in the laneway near the couple’s Toronto condo. Police have never divulged the cause of death and did not do a criminal investigation.

“It’s nice to go back to Barbados,” Sabados told Yahoo Canada News. “I find it quite comforting…with the anniversary of his death coming up, I know I will deal with it when it comes.”

Hyndman’s mother has said she believes her son was sleepwalking but Sabados has said he does not believe that theory.

Sabados told the Toronto Star he held a posthumous 50th birthday party for Hyndman in March.

“We had Champagne and burgers and it was off the charts,” he told the paper. “It was a party for Christopher. That’s what he would have wanted.”

Entwined romantically, the pair worked together in the design and decor industry and became endearing public figures with their lifestyle shows on HGTV and then, on CBC as “Steven and Chris.”

Sabados spoke to Yahoo Canada News about the past year and what’s next for him.

Q: What quality about Chris do you hold most dear?

His humour. What made such a great relationship is that we made each other laugh a lot. We worked really hard. I miss his humour. He made everyone laugh and then he would say at home that I was the bigger idiot than him.

I just freshened up the [home decor and furnishings] business we had for seven years. We’ve rebranded it as stevensabados.com, and made the website more user-friendly. It was challenging since I had that business with Chris but I have a talented team. And we often have Chris’s opinion in the back of our head.

He didn’t like colour or pattern. He would prefer the world in navy and grey and white. He always wanted a white couch but we have a great Dane so that didn’t work out. But it’s funny, we will throw in a pattern or colour on an object or accessory and we would say: “Chris would hate this!” and we’d laugh. Somewhere, there’s going to be a lightening strike, I better be careful [laughter].

Q: What’s it like to be grieving as a public persona?

We were known as Steven and Chris…We were together 28 years. I’m so proud of that.

It’s difficult at times. You don’t want to be approached and it’s very sweet that people want to give their condolences and want to talk about it. Sometimes, I just don’t. It’s not a negative thing, hardly because there’s an outpouring of love and I appreciate that.

People tell me how much they loved his work. It is hard though. People want to sit and talk with you. I generally thank them and move one. A lot of times, I just wouldn’t go out. I didn’t want to chat so I stayed at home a lot.

Q: Being so interlocked as a pair, i.e. Steven and Chris, did you have try to redefine who you are?

I’m still looking for me [he laughs]. That is understandably going to take many years considering the [nearly three decades] we were together. You become one person. We were one. It’s going to be a big journey for me.

You know, you don’t reflect on yourself very much. You rely on your friends and family. They are telling me about my so-called progress — if that’s what you call it. My friends say my intention is now different or that I’m smiling more and that I’m more like me. They are seeing it but I am not.

I started painting again because I actually went to school for fine art and I just never had the time to paint all these days. I was so busy. Now I’ve had more time. It’s emotional therapy. That’s where I find myself figuring out who I am. It keeps me busy at night.

I put my headphones on, have a vodka and soda and just lose myself. I’ll paint all night long until the sun rises. I find the nights difficult and that’s why painting is so relaxing for me. I’m in another world.

I leave the paintings around the house. I have given some to friends. They are all really different — there is [no one style]. They are very dark though — it’s a progression of what I’m going through. They start out with colour but end up black.

[Steven Sabados says he’s started painting again, but that they’re very dark. PHOTO: Steven Sabados]

Q: You’re returning to TV this fall, again on CBC, with a lifestyle show. Why did you decide to do that?

I love our show that we did together. I love television and everything about it. The opportunity arose and I just didn’t want to miss it. It’s like going back to family — it will be the same team, same crew. It was so fantastic. We had a great time [doing “Steven and Chris,” which launched in 2008]. It’s still going to be a lifestyle show but with four hosts that have an expertise like home decor or food.

It will be interesting to return to shoot the series [in September]. We’ll see how it goes. We are all equal co-hosts. I’m not a main host. I wouldn’t want that.

I met all of them. We spent many, many weeks of chemistry testing to see how they would look on camera and did mock interviews.

On social media everyone was hoping I would come back. It’s going to be the same audience [that was watching “Steven and Chris”]. It’s daytime, fun and informative TV. It’s a good place.

The first show will premiere on Oct. 3. I’m excited and nervous to do it. We’ll see what happens. It’s a journey.

NOTE: CBC is set to unveil the name of the new show soon and the names of the other hosts. The only co-host named so far is Jessi Cruickshank.

The interview was condensed and edited.