Bert Newton
Albert Watson Newton AM MBE (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer, and radio, theatre, and television personality and compere.
Bert Newton
30 October 2021 (aged 83)
- Television personality
- television host
- radio presenter
- theatre actor
1951–2015
2, including Matthew
Newton was known for his collaborations opposite Graham Kennedy and subsequently Don Lane on their respective variety shows, and appearances with his wife, singer Patti Newton.
Newton started his career in radio broadcasting, primarily as an announcer, before becoming a star and fixture of Australian television since its inception in 1956, and was considered both an industry pioneer icon and one of the longest-serving television performers in the world.
Newton was known for his association with both the Nine Network and Ten Network on numerous variety shows, including In Melbourne Tonight, New Faces, Good Morning Australia, 20 to 1, and game show Bert's Family Feud.
Early life[edit]
Newton was born in Fitzroy, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, to Joseph (Joe) and Gladys Newton. He had three brothers (Tom, Jack, and Bob) and two sisters (Alice and Elizabeth). He was educated at St Joseph's Marist Brothers Roman Catholic college. In his early years, he had thoughts of entering the priesthood and remained an active Roman Catholic.
Television[edit]
Early television career[edit]
Newton began his television career in 1957 at Melbourne's HSV-7, hosting The Late Show.[2] Newton left for GTV-9 in early 1959 to host In Melbourne Today.[2] After appearing in a live commercial on In Melbourne Tonight with his friend Graham Kennedy in 1959, he began to make regular appearances on the show and assumed hosting duties on some episodes. This began a lifelong association with Kennedy.
From 1959 to 1960, he hosted The Bert Newton Show (later retitled Hi-Fi Club) on GTV-9, a series aimed at teenagers.
From 1960 to 1961, Newton appeared in the national Graham Kennedy's Channel 9 Show (a weekly national version of IMT). In January 1962, the show was cancelled and replaced by the similar The Channel 9 Show, hosted by Newton.[2]
1975–92[edit]
From 1975 to mid-1992 Newton mainly appeared on the Nine Network.
In 1975 Newton was cast in the role of sidekick and "barrel boy" on The Don Lane Show. He was dubbed "Moonface", and the nickname stuck. Newton frequently appeared in outlandish costumes, often sending up celebrities. Newton memorably sent-up Demis Roussos, who was sent on set while Newton was doing the impersonation. Newton remained on the show until it ended in 1983.
Newton briefly hosted his own program, The Bert Newton Show, recorded for the ABC. It was not a success, and he returned to working with Kennedy.
In 1976, Newton replaced long-running compere Frank Wilson on Nine's amateur talent program New Faces. The show was a success, and lasted until 1985. In 1992, Newton hosted another version of New Faces; however, it did not last for long.
In 1981, Newton (and wife Patti) presented a quiz show, Ford Superquiz, produced by the Reg Grundy organisation for the Nine Network.
Tonight with Bert Newton was a short-lived attempt to bring back the spirit of IMT. It aired in 1984. The Bert Newton Show was created for the Seven Network in 1989 as an attempt to woo some of the audience away from The Midday Show with Ray Martin. This, however, didn't rate well and was only on air for that year.
1992–2005[edit]
In 1992, Newton moved into daytime TV as host of The Morning Show, which was soon renamed Good Morning Australia (GMA) on Network Ten. The show revived Newton's celebrity status and was a continuing success for Ten. GMA was a mix of interviews, music, cooking segments and infomercials. It was broadcast live-to-air on Mondays and Tuesdays, but for the rest of the week live-to-tape (recorded complete and aired later).[3] GMA was cancelled in late 2005 after a 14-year run. Although Newton was offered ongoing employment at Network Ten, he stated that he would return to the Nine Network in 2006.[4]
2006–12[edit]
After finishing on GMA. Newton returned to the Nine Network hosting Bert's Family Feud, a revised version of Family Feud, from 2006 and until it was cancelled in May 2007.
From 2006 to 2011, Newton hosted 20 to 1 taking over from Bud Tingwell. In 2007, Newton hosted the retrospective program What a Year with comedian Julia Zemiro, replacing previous hosts Mike Munro and Megan Gale, which took a light-hearted look at significant events from a chosen year in history.
In 2008 Newton appeared as a celebrity contestant on Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune alongside Livinia Nixon and Dawn Fraser. He won the main game, with $3,235 (including a plasma TV) going to his chosen charity, the International Diabetes Institute. On 14 August 2012, Newton appeared as a celebrity contestant on Millionaire Hot Seat and won $5,000 for the charity Sids & Kids.[5]
Newton reputedly received a yearly salary of A$800,000 from Nine during this era.[6]
Theatre[edit]
Newton's stage appearances included Professor Marvel/the Wizard of Oz in The Wizard of Oz, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Franz Liebkind in The Producers and Max in The Sound of Music.
From November 2008, Newton took over the role of The Wizard in the Melbourne production of the musical Wicked, after the sudden death of Rob Guest.[7] The production transferred to Sydney from September 2009. Newton continued to play the role on the national tour, which began in January 2011, opposite Lucy Durack as Glinda, Jemma Rix as Elphaba, David Harris as Fiyero and Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible. In 2011 he was part of the Australian cast performing Wicked in Singapore. Altogether, Newton had a three-year run in this show.
In July 2012 Newton joined the Melbourne cast of Annie for a few weeks, taking over the role of President Roosevelt from Alan Jones.[8]
From August 2013 Newton returned to the stage in producer John Frost's production of Grease The Musical, playing disc jockey Vince Fontaine.[9]
Newton played the narrator in the 2015 Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show.[10]
Logies[edit]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Newton was an institution of the Logie Awards since the awards since 1959. He was nominated for many Logie Awards and won several: