Legends of the Small Screen
“This week’s best thing can be described with one word - ambitious. The idea was simple - pick more than 40 people who have contributed enormously to television in Australia and name them Legends of the Small Screen. The execution could not have been more challenging. It took reporter Siobhan Duck and photographer David Caird months to organise but the result was extraordinary.... the two produced a riveting and innovative combination of great words and world class photographs.”
I enjoy a challenge, and none came bigger than The Legends of the Small Screen, a special content series I wrote and co-ordinated to celebrate 60 years of Australian television. Ultimately, I assembled more than 40 of the small screen's biggest stars - among them Bert Newton, Lorraine Bayly, Daryl Somers, Noni Hazlehurst, Michael Caton, Kerry O’Brien, Sigrid Thornton, Mike Willesee and Ray Martin - for photo shoots and interviews.
Arch rivals Karl Stefanovic and Kochie posed together in their pyjamas. A-list actors assembled for group shots. And I secured rare interviews with the legendary Mike Walsh and Ernie Carroll, the man behind Ossie Ostrich. We produced a true multi-platform series with articles complemented by striking photography from the amazingly talented David Caird and video too. The stories were packaged in a 24-page special liftout in print.
Lady Legends
Lisa McCune, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Georgie Parker, Deborah Mailman, Kat Stewart, Kate Ritchie and Rebecca Gibney were among those we gathered for this cracking photoshoot. See how the story came up by clicking here.
Lad Legends
John Wood, Brian Brown, John Howard, Vince Collosimo you know them all, that’s what make them Australian television’s usual suspects. Read the story here.
Bert Newton
Excuses about homework were an early hint to this legend’s quick-thinking talents that would set him apart as an entertainer. See the story here
Kerri-Anne Kennerley
She has been parodied by Gina Riley, been written off as just another dizzy blonde and criticised for her figure, her clothes and even her chosen shade of lipstick. But there is one knock she refused to cop on the chin. Read the story here
Lisa Mccune
The four-time Gold Logie winner says her utmost joy after winning those awards was to escape home to bed, ready for work on the show the next day. Read the piece here
Daryl somers
When he was growing up Daryl used to sneak out of bed to watch Graham Kennedy now the legend still looks down on him. Read the piece here