Michael Veitch
Encyclopedia
Michael Veitch is an Australia
n comedian, author and broadcaster, best known for his roles on the sketch comedy
television shows The D-Generation
, Fast Forward and Full Frontal
, as well as for his books on Second World War aviation and the Bass Strait Islands.
Veitch emerged from the tradition of the University of Melbourne
(where he completed an Arts degree) sketch comedy and revue. In 1985, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) produced three locally-produced comedy series: The Gillies Report, Australia You're Standing In It and The D-Generation, the latter absorbing the current group of talent performing in Melbourne Uni revues. Veitch performed a wide variety of characters over two seasons of The D-Generation, a programme which eventually cemented among the annals of Australian comedy. Some of his characters included Kelvin Cunnington, a puerile young man obsessed with smutty innuendo (rumoured to be based on a real-life commercial radio host); Murray Beckworth, a semi-senile veteran of the Second World War; and many roles with Magda Szubanski. The D-Generation team eventually split, with half the team going on to produce The Late Show
and form Working Dog Productions
; Veitch was part of the group (including Jane Turner
, Marg Downey
and Magda Szubanski
) which joined Steve Vizard
's company to produce sketch comedy shows Fast Forward and Full Frontal.
As one of the lead performers on Fast Forward and Full Frontal, Veitch became known for his many impersonations of current personalities movie and TV icons such as Sonny (Skippy
parody), Clive Robertson, Clive James, and particularly Wayne, the gay airline steward which he created and performed alongside Steve Vizard
. In 2005, Veitch made a short-lived return to sketch comedy, appearing alongside former Fast Forward patrons Peter Moon
and Marg Downey
in Let Loose Live
. The series was axed after 2 episodes, due to poor ratings.
From 2006 to 2009 he hosted Sunday Arts
on the ABC
; ironically, a role which he had performed in parody a decade before on Fast Forward.
Hailing from a family of journalists, Veitch wrote Flak – True stories from the men who flew in World War II published in 2006 by Pan Macmillan and later, Fly: True stories of courage and adventure from the airmen of World War II published by Penguin Australia in August 2008. A third book, exploring the islands of Bass Strait, was published by Penguin Australia in August 2011.
In 2010, Veitch moved to Hobart, Tasmania, to host afternoons on 936 ABC Hobart
local ABC radio. With the retirement of Andy Muirhead
pending legal proceedings, Veitch was given the breakfast program on the same station in June 2010, but returned to Afternoons as of January 2011.
He is the father of three children, Zoe (1987) and twins William and Thomas (1991).
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 comedian, author and broadcaster, best known for his roles on the sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
television shows The D-Generation
The D-Generation
The D-Generation was a popular and influential Australian TV sketch comedy show, produced and broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for two series, between 1986 and 1987...
, Fast Forward and Full Frontal
Full Frontal
Full Frontal may refer to:* Full Frontal , an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993* Full Frontal , a 2001 film by Kyle Schickner* Full Frontal , a 2002 film by Steven Soderbergh...
, as well as for his books on Second World War aviation and the Bass Strait Islands.
Veitch emerged from the tradition of the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
(where he completed an Arts degree) sketch comedy and revue. In 1985, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) produced three locally-produced comedy series: The Gillies Report, Australia You're Standing In It and The D-Generation, the latter absorbing the current group of talent performing in Melbourne Uni revues. Veitch performed a wide variety of characters over two seasons of The D-Generation, a programme which eventually cemented among the annals of Australian comedy. Some of his characters included Kelvin Cunnington, a puerile young man obsessed with smutty innuendo (rumoured to be based on a real-life commercial radio host); Murray Beckworth, a semi-senile veteran of the Second World War; and many roles with Magda Szubanski. The D-Generation team eventually split, with half the team going on to produce The Late Show
The Late Show (Australian TV series)
The Late Show was a popular Australian comedy show, which ran for two seasons on ABC from 18 July 1992 to 30 October 1993.-Cast:The Late Show has its roots in the 1980s comedy group, The D-Generation...
and form Working Dog Productions
Working Dog Productions
Working Dog Productions is a small film and television production company based in Melbourne, Australia. It was originally known as Frontline Television Productions Pty Ltd...
; Veitch was part of the group (including Jane Turner
Jane Turner
Jane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...
, Marg Downey
Marg Downey
-Career:Downey first rose to prominence in the sketch comedy program The D-Generation on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the late 1980s. She subsequently appeared in later sketch comedy series with other members of The D-Generation, including Fast Forward, Full Frontal and Something Stupid...
and Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski is a British-born Australian actress, comedian, television presenter, radio host and author.Szubanski's career began while she was studying at university and she progressed to television sketch comedy, as both a writer and performer...
) which joined Steve Vizard
Steve Vizard
Stephen William Vizard, born 6 March 1956 in Richmond, Victoria, is an Australian media personality, comedian, businessman and writer.-Early life:...
's company to produce sketch comedy shows Fast Forward and Full Frontal.
As one of the lead performers on Fast Forward and Full Frontal, Veitch became known for his many impersonations of current personalities movie and TV icons such as Sonny (Skippy
Skippy
Skippy may refer to:* Skippy , portrayed the character Asta in a 1934 film, The Thin Man* Skippy * Skippy , in computers* Scipionyx samniticus, dinosaurMusicians* Scott "Skippy" Chapman keyboardist, guitar...
parody), Clive Robertson, Clive James, and particularly Wayne, the gay airline steward which he created and performed alongside Steve Vizard
Steve Vizard
Stephen William Vizard, born 6 March 1956 in Richmond, Victoria, is an Australian media personality, comedian, businessman and writer.-Early life:...
. In 2005, Veitch made a short-lived return to sketch comedy, appearing alongside former Fast Forward patrons Peter Moon
Peter Moon (comedian)
Peter Moon is an Australian comedian, best known for writing and performing in the sketch comedy Fast Forward....
and Marg Downey
Marg Downey
-Career:Downey first rose to prominence in the sketch comedy program The D-Generation on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the late 1980s. She subsequently appeared in later sketch comedy series with other members of The D-Generation, including Fast Forward, Full Frontal and Something Stupid...
in Let Loose Live
Let Loose Live
Let Loose Live was an hour-long Australian live sketch comedy television programme that was loosely based on Saturday Night Live. It was broadcast on the Seven Network on Sunday nights at 8:30 PM. It was axed after just two episodes due to disappointing ratings...
. The series was axed after 2 episodes, due to poor ratings.
From 2006 to 2009 he hosted Sunday Arts
Sunday Arts
Sunday Arts is a weekly program on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia every Sunday. It gives a broad view of the various artists working in Australia today ranging from theatre, music, visual art, film, literature, to indigenous, cultural, and street art.It has been hosted by...
on the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
; ironically, a role which he had performed in parody a decade before on Fast Forward.
Hailing from a family of journalists, Veitch wrote Flak – True stories from the men who flew in World War II published in 2006 by Pan Macmillan and later, Fly: True stories of courage and adventure from the airmen of World War II published by Penguin Australia in August 2008. A third book, exploring the islands of Bass Strait, was published by Penguin Australia in August 2011.
In 2010, Veitch moved to Hobart, Tasmania, to host afternoons on 936 ABC Hobart
936 ABC Hobart
936 ABC Hobart is the ABC Local Radio station for Hobart, Tasmania, owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It broadcasts on 936 kHz on the AM band....
local ABC radio. With the retirement of Andy Muirhead
Andy Muirhead
Andrew Robert "Andy" Muirhead is an Australian radio and television presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He has been the presenter of ABC Radio's breakfast program in Tasmania and also the presenter of the Collectors TV program since 2005.-Career:Muirhead has worked in TV and...
pending legal proceedings, Veitch was given the breakfast program on the same station in June 2010, but returned to Afternoons as of January 2011.
He is the father of three children, Zoe (1987) and twins William and Thomas (1991).