Ernie Sigley
Encyclopedia
Ernest William "Ernie" Sigley (born 2 September 1938, in Footscray
, Victoria
) is an enduring Australia
n entertainment personality known for his square-rimmed spectacles, the gap between his front teeth and his slapstick
approach to comedy.
's breakfast program at radio station 3DB Melbourne
. Television arrived in Australia in 1956, and Sigley made his TV debut as host of Teenage Mailbag on HSV-7
in 1957. Shortly after this, he decided to try his luck in London
, gaining some work experience at the BBC
. But a bigger break was to come with a two year contract at Radio Luxembourg
. Ernie was host of the afternoon program on Melbourne's 3AW
from 1996, but on 16 September 2008 announced his retirement, presenting his last show on Friday 7 November. Regular fill in presenter Denis Walter
replaced Sigley from Monday 10 November 2008.
Sigley then took on a part time role at the station replacing Paul Cronin as the fill in host on Nightline. Sigley partnered either Bruce Mansfield or Philip Brady in the Friday night slot but this lasted less than a month before it is believed an argument with management saw Sigley storm out of the building never to return. Longtime Nightline producer and current on air personality Simon Owens now fills the Friday night role.
Sigley is especially remembered for his 1964 association with the Adelaide leg of The Beatles
tour of Australia. In one press conference, Sigley's questioning of The Beatles about their rock influences, and being able to discuss them (e.g. Buddy Holly
), brought about an enthusiastic response from John Lennon
, which contrasted strongly from all the questions asked by other interviewers during the conference.
Ernie Sigley has walked away from radio in January 2009 after a 57 year association with the industry. After Sigley retired from his 3AW
afternoon program in November 2008 he became a Friday night fill in host with Nightline for a number of weeks. It is believed Sigley stormed out of a heated meeting with 3AW
management.
on NWS-9
in the 1960s and early 1970s and The Ernie Sigley Show from 1974 – starring notable Australian media personalities such as Denise Drysdale
, Noni Hazlehurst, Pete Smith
and Joy Westmore
– winning him a TV Week
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
in 1975.
The program came to an abrupt axing after an off-air outburst by Sigley, following the first show for 1976, directed at station owner Kerry Packer
and producer Peter Faiman
. Packer inevitably heard about the incident the next day, then flew down from Sydney
to Melbourne
with Don Lane
. He dismissed Sigley in person, effective immediately, and replaced him with Lane.
After the dismissal from Packer, the early evening variety show Ernie followed in 1976 on ATV-0
, and in 1979, Saturday Night Live
on HSV-7
co-hosting with Mary Hardy. He was involved in an infamous stoush with fellow TV star Don Lane at a Logies Ceremony in the 1990s. Lane claims that he taunted Sigley about his weight, then punched at Sigley, intending to miss but accidentally connecting.
from 1981 to 1984, the regional variety program Six Tonight from BTV-6
Ballarat in 1982, and the daytime talent show
Pot Luck in 1987, and also worked again in radio at 3DB in 1981 and later at 3AK
and is now afternoon presenter at 3AW
. Sigley returned to television in 1989 with Denise Drysdale
, hosting GTV-9
's morning program In Melbourne Today.
He is also a passionate supporter of the Western Bulldogs
(formerly known as the Footscray Football Club).
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
) is an enduring Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n entertainment personality known for his square-rimmed spectacles, the gap between his front teeth and his slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
approach to comedy.
Radio career
Sigley's radio career began in 1952 as turntable operator on Danny WebbDanny Webb
Daniel Webb may refer to:* Danny Webb * Danny Webb * Danny Webb * Daniel Webb * Daniel Webb , British Army general* Dan Webb, Australian musician...
's breakfast program at radio station 3DB Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Television arrived in Australia in 1956, and Sigley made his TV debut as host of Teenage Mailbag on HSV-7
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
in 1957. Shortly after this, he decided to try his luck in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, gaining some work experience at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. But a bigger break was to come with a two year contract at Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
. Ernie was host of the afternoon program on Melbourne's 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
from 1996, but on 16 September 2008 announced his retirement, presenting his last show on Friday 7 November. Regular fill in presenter Denis Walter
Denis Walter
Denis Walter is an Australian media personality and singer.Throughout his music career Walter has recorded 14 albums. For many years until his resignation in November 2008 to join Melbourne radio 3AW full-time, Walter was the host of the evening news in the regional areas of Victoria for WIN TV...
replaced Sigley from Monday 10 November 2008.
Sigley then took on a part time role at the station replacing Paul Cronin as the fill in host on Nightline. Sigley partnered either Bruce Mansfield or Philip Brady in the Friday night slot but this lasted less than a month before it is believed an argument with management saw Sigley storm out of the building never to return. Longtime Nightline producer and current on air personality Simon Owens now fills the Friday night role.
Sigley is especially remembered for his 1964 association with the Adelaide leg of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
tour of Australia. In one press conference, Sigley's questioning of The Beatles about their rock influences, and being able to discuss them (e.g. Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
), brought about an enthusiastic response from John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, which contrasted strongly from all the questions asked by other interviewers during the conference.
Ernie Sigley has walked away from radio in January 2009 after a 57 year association with the industry. After Sigley retired from his 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
afternoon program in November 2008 he became a Friday night fill in host with Nightline for a number of weeks. It is believed Sigley stormed out of a heated meeting with 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
management.
Prime time
Sigley would later have prime time success as host of Adelaide TonightAdelaide Tonight
Adelaide Tonight was a nightly variety show, running four days a week at 9.30pm on NWS-9 Adelaide. The show was broadcast live from Studio 1 between 1959 and 1973...
on NWS-9
NWS-9
NWS is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation which is based in Adelaide, Australia. The station's name, NWS is an acronym of The NeWs South Australia.-Origins:...
in the 1960s and early 1970s and The Ernie Sigley Show from 1974 – starring notable Australian media personalities such as Denise Drysdale
Denise Drysdale
Denise Anne Christina Drysdale, is an Australian television personality and comedian. She is often affectionately called Ding-Dong.-Childhood:...
, Noni Hazlehurst, Pete Smith
Pete Smith (announcer)
Peter Philip Smith OAM is an Australian radio and television voice-over artist. He is primarily known for his work with GTV-9 Melbourne as their announcer, including being the announcer on the nationally screened Sale of the Century for twenty-one years.-Radio:Upon leaving school, Smith joined...
and Joy Westmore
Joy Westmore
Joy Westmore is an Australian actress, best known to television viewers for her long-running role in Prisoner as friendly but highly ineffectual officer Joyce Barry....
– winning him a TV Week
TV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
The Gold Logie Award has been awarded annually to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the TV Week Logie Awards since 1960...
in 1975.
The program came to an abrupt axing after an off-air outburst by Sigley, following the first show for 1976, directed at station owner Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
and producer Peter Faiman
Peter Faiman
Peter Leonard Faiman is a well known Australian television producer with experience in film, live television and events. He has had a long standing working relationship with the Nine Network.-Biography:...
. Packer inevitably heard about the incident the next day, then flew down from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
with Don Lane
Don Lane
Don Lane , born Morton Donald Isaacson, was an American-born talk show host and singer. Don Lane is best known for hosting The Don Lane Show, which was aired on The Nine Network in Australia from 1975 to 1983....
. He dismissed Sigley in person, effective immediately, and replaced him with Lane.
After the dismissal from Packer, the early evening variety show Ernie followed in 1976 on ATV-0
ATV-10
ATV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia, part of Network Ten - one of the three major Australian commercial television networks.-History:...
, and in 1979, Saturday Night Live
The Penthouse Club
The Penthouse Club was a weekly variety program produced live to air from the studios of HSV-7 Melbourne from October 10, 1970. It was originally hosted by Michael Williamson and comedian Mary Hardy....
on HSV-7
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
co-hosting with Mary Hardy. He was involved in an infamous stoush with fellow TV star Don Lane at a Logies Ceremony in the 1990s. Lane claims that he taunted Sigley about his weight, then punched at Sigley, intending to miss but accidentally connecting.
Game show host
Sigley was also the original host of the popular Australian game show, Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune (Australian game show)
Wheel of Fortune was an Australian television game show produced by Grundy Television. The programme aired on the Seven Network from 1981 to 2004 and November 2005 to July 2006, and is mostly based on the same general format as the original US version of the programme...
from 1981 to 1984, the regional variety program Six Tonight from BTV-6
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
Ballarat in 1982, and the daytime talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
Pot Luck in 1987, and also worked again in radio at 3DB in 1981 and later at 3AK
3AK
3AK is the call sign of SEN 1116 and earlier the on-air name of a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116...
and is now afternoon presenter at 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
. Sigley returned to television in 1989 with Denise Drysdale
Denise Drysdale
Denise Anne Christina Drysdale, is an Australian television personality and comedian. She is often affectionately called Ding-Dong.-Childhood:...
, hosting GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
's morning program In Melbourne Today.
He is also a passionate supporter of the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
(formerly known as the Footscray Football Club).