Molly Meldrum, 73, appears frail as he smokes a cigarette in the street before a book signing in Sydney
He's the legendary TV personality who helped shaped decades of Australian music.
But Molly Meldrum, 73, looked rather frail as he smoked a cigarette at a book signing in Sydney on Monday.
The Countdown host was promoting his autobiography The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story, which follows his impressive career.
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![Bad habit: Molly Meldrum (pictured) looked rather frail as he smoked a cigarette before a book signing in Sydney on Monday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/05/3AAC1DF300000578-3963194-Smoko_break_Molly_Meldrum_looked_already_ready_for_a_break_as_he-a-1_1479877783241.jpg)
Bad habit: Molly Meldrum (pictured) looked rather frail as he smoked a cigarette before a book signing in Sydney on Monday
But before signing any copies, Molly was spotted having a quick smoke break on Oxford Street.
Wearing his signature cowboy hat, the former music producer looked tired as he lit the cigarette.
He dressed simply in a black T-shirt, baggy trousers and his signature cowboy hat.
![Need a rest? But before signing any copies, Molly was spotted having a quick smoke break on Oxford Street](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/04/3AAC1E3200000578-3963194-Needed_a_rest_Wearing_his_signature_cowboy_hat_the_former_Countd-a-52_1479876063816.jpg)
![Duty: The Countdown host was promoting his autobiography The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/04/3AAC1E2500000578-3963194-Needed_a_rest_Wearing_his_signature_cowboy_hat_the_former_Countd-a-53_1479876063844.jpg)
Need a rest? But before signing any copies, Molly was spotted having a quick smoke break on Oxford Street
![Moody: Molly gazed contemplatively at the traffic as he puffed on the unhealthy cigarette](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/04/3AAC1E1B00000578-3963194-Something_on_his_mind_Molly_looked_contemplatively_at_the_traffi-a-56_1479876063946.jpg)
Moody: Molly gazed contemplatively at the traffic as he puffed on the unhealthy cigarette
The music legend gazed contemplatively at the traffic as he smoked on the unhealthy cigarette.
Samuel Johnson, who played Molly in a recent miniseries, claimed the journalist has been a smoker since childhood.
The actor previously told the ABC: 'Molly's very protective of his image. He doesn't want to be seen to be a smoker and he's been chain smoking since he was 10.'
![Long day? Wearing his signature cowboy hat, Molly looked tired and downcast](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/05/3AAC1E7A00000578-3963194-Break_mates_The_73_year_old_was_joined_on_his_smoke_stop_by_a_fe-a-2_1479877783720.jpg)
Long day? Wearing his signature cowboy hat, Molly looked tired and downcast
![Thumbs up! Molly appeared in brighter spirits when he spoke to fans at the meet-and-greet](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/05/3AAC1EEA00000578-3963194-Thumbs_up_The_music_journalist_looked_considerably_brighter_when-a-3_1479877783776.jpg)
Thumbs up! Molly appeared in brighter spirits when he spoke to fans at the meet-and-greet
But Molly appeared in brighter spirits when he spoke to fans during the meet-and-greet.
He even smiled for the camera and gave the thumbs up as he fulfilled his promotional duties.
The book signing comes after Molly looked worse for wear during a Melbourne Cup event at Flemington Racecourse.
![Big fan! Molly smiled for the camera as he fulfilled his promotional duties](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/23/05/3AAC1E9200000578-3963194-Big_fan_an_eager_fan_approached_Molly_to_chat_with_him_about_his-a-4_1479877784552.jpg)
Big fan! Molly smiled for the camera as he fulfilled his promotional duties
![Relaxed: While at the star-studded race day, the star was seen enjoying a cigarette](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/01/06/39F00AC900000578-3892272-Relaxed_While_at_the_star_studded_race_day_the_star_was_seen_enj-a-11_1477980965086.jpg)
Relaxed: The book signing comes after Molly looked worse for wear during a Melbourne Cup event at Flemington Racecourse
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