When it comes to variety on Australian television, few did it as well as Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
From comedic staples as Red Faces and Plucka Duck, to memorable characters such as Ossie Ostrich and Dickie Knee, Hey Hey It’s Saturday was requisite weekend viewing for Australian families.
Featuring an array of sketches, celebrity guests and audience participation, it was originally conceived as a morning children’s show, but evolved into a prime time light entertainment program.
THREE brain injuries, a shocking accident and a racism controversy: Where are the stars of Hey Hey It’s Saturday now?
Popular: From comedic staples as Red Faces and Plucka Duck to the memorable characters Ossie Ostrich and Dickie Knee, Hey Hey It’s Saturday was requisite weekend viewing for Australian families
Much of Hey Hey’s success came from the quick-fire interplay between host Daryl Somers and voice-over man John Blackman, who created the iconic Dickie Knee.
Initially running for a formidable 27 years, the show was revived for two reunion specials in 2009, raking in a peak audience of 2.64 million and 2.308 million respectively.
Based on the reunion’s popularity, it was commissioned for a series in 2010 but was not renewed for a subsequent season.
So just where are the stars of Hey Hey It’s Saturday now?
Daryl Somers
Leader: The driving force behind Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Daryl Somers was with the show since its inception
Beloved: Post Hey Hey, Darryl hosted Dancing With The Stars from 2004 to 2007 and was most recently seen on Australian screens in 2016, with the short lived hypnotist show You’re Back In The Room
The driving force behind Hey Hey, Daryl was with the show since its inception.
The affable host also helmed Family Feud and Blankety Blanks, making the three time Gold Logie winner one of the most bankable television stars of the 1980s.
Post Hey Hey, Darryl also hosted Dancing With The Stars from 2004 to 2007, and was most recently seen on Australian screens in 2016, with the short lived hypnotist show You’re Back In The Room.
Despite attracting strong ratings initially, the show was eventually cancelled after five episodes.
Woman’s Day reported that Daryl had a litany of ‘diva demands’ for the short-lived program, including $10,000 designer suits, generous catering and a personal hair and make-up artist.
Jacki MacDonald
Bubbly: Jacki MacDonald was the first of four female co-hosts, including Jo Beth Taylor, Denise Drysdale and Lavinia Nixon
New career: Post Hey Hey, Jackie had a stint on Brisbane radio station 4BC as an entertainment commentator, but has pretty much stepped out of the spotlight. Most recently, Jacki co-founded the Eat Street Markets in Hamilton, Queensland
Jacki MacDonald was the first of four female co-hosts on the show, including Jo Beth Taylor, Denise Drysdale and Lavinia Nixon.
Standing alongside Daryl for nine years and returning for the 2009 and 2010 iterations, the bubbly presenter was often made the butt of jokes from Daryl and John Blackman.
When she appeared – the song Folks Are Dumb Where I Come From would play – a not-so-subtle dig at the fact that Jacki came from Queensland.
Post Hey Hey, Jackie had a stint on Brisbane radio station 4BC as an entertainment commentator but has pretty much stepped out of the spotlight.
Most recently Jacki co-founded the Eat Street Markets in Hamilton Queensland.
John Blackman
Witty: Always quick with a jibe, voice-over man John Blackman was responsible for voicing the iconic Dickie Knee character
Off air: John was still behind the microphone for radio station Magic 1238 until May last year when he was axed
Always quick with a jibe, voice-over man John Blackman was responsible for voicing the iconic Dickie Knee character.
John had worked in radio since 1969, but his 28-year stint on Hey Hey is arguably his best known achievement.
Reuniting with the Hey Hey cast for the 2009 and 2010 iterations, John was also behind the microphone for radio station Magic 1278 until May last year.
The quick witted funnyman still keeps busy with various corporate presenting gigs, and this year revived his Dickie Knee character to advertise a joint pain remedy.
Russell Gilbert
Funnyman: Russell was the knockabout comedian who warmed up the studio audience on the hit show
Tragedy: Russell suffered heartbreak in 2015 when his partner of 19 years Rochelle Nolan was found dead in a Crown Casino hotel room. In a tragic twist, just two weeks after Rochelle’s death Russell suffered a brain aneurysm and an eventual stroke
Russell was the knockabout comedian who warmed up the studio audience on the hit show.
The former Comedy Company star proved to be a fan favourite and was given his own show The Russell Gilbert Show, which ran for one season in 1998.
Russell suffered heartbreak in 2015 when his partner of 19 years Rochelle Nolan was found dead in a Crown Casino hotel room.
In a tragic twist, just two weeks after Rochelle’s death, Russell suffered a brain aneurysm and an eventual stroke.
Currently focusing on recovery, Russell was the subject of a fundraiser, organised by comedian Mick Molloy in 2016 called the Gala For Gilbo.
Jo Beth Taylor
Bubbly blonde: Jo Beth joined the Hey Hey cast in 1995 after the departure of Denise Drysdale, staying with the show until 1999
New love: Jo Beth tied the knot with third husband Matt Bennell in South Africa in 2016. She is currently an ambassador for animal charity Rhino Revolution
Jo Beth joined the Hey Hey cast in 1995 after the departure of Denise Drysdale, staying on the show until 1999.
During this time, the popular presenter also hosted Australia’s Funniest Home Videos, making her the very first female to host a prime-time show.
Post Hey Hey, Jo Beth found herself at the helm of the short-lived Saturday night talent show StarStruck before a stint on radio in Noosa in 2009.
More recently, Jo-Beth has appeared on the reality shows Dancing With The Stars and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
On the latter, Jo Beth labelled her Hey Hey co-host Daryl ‘egocentric’ but later retracted the comment during an appearance on Studio 10, saying: ‘He’s a lovely man who’s always been very supportive of me and I really care for him, so I hope he’s OK with that.’
She added: ‘Daryl, if you’re watching, I’m really sorry and I did’t mean anything by it.’
Jo Beth tied the knot with third husband Matt Bennell in South Africa in 2016.
She is currently an ambassador for animal charity Rhino Revolution.
Red Symons
Judge: Aside from flaunting his musical prowess, Red was also known for his acerbic wit and they way he would mercilessly slay hopefuls on the show’s talent quest Red Faces
Shock: In June this year, red courted controversy when he interviewed fellow ABC presenter Beverly Wang about her podcast It’s Not A Race. Red drew the ire of listeners for asking such questions as ‘what’s the deal with Asians’ and ‘are you yellow?’
The legendary Skyhooks guitarist was one of the key members of the Hey Hey Band.
Aside from flaunting his musical prowess, Red was also known for his acerbic wit and the way he would mercilessly slay hopefuls on the show’s talent quest, Red Faces.
After his Hey Hey duties wrapped up, Red found himself as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent and made a move into radio, presenting the breakfast show for ABC Melbourne.
In June this year, he courted controversy when he interviewed fellow ABC presenter Beverly Wang about her podcast It’s Not A Race.
Red drew the ire of listeners for asking such questions as ‘what’s the deal with Asians’ and ‘are you yellow?’
This year tragedy struck when Red suffered a ‘significant brain injury’ after falling and hitting his head while walking home from the supermarket.
Speaking to the ABC, colleague John Faine said: ‘He’s working at coming back as soon as he can. The bottom line is he’s had a significant injury to his brain
‘He felt a bit unsteady, stopped, put his hand out to hold onto the building as he wobbled and fell backwards because it was a hill.
Wilbur Wilde
Talent: Along with Red, Wilbur was the other key player in the Hey Hey band
Still at it: It seems that the music bug still has a strong hold over Wilbur, as he was most recently seen performing alongside his ol 55 bandmate Frankie J Holden as Wilbur Wilde and the Troublemakers at Tumbafest in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains
Along with Red, Wilbur was the other key player in the Hey Hey band.
The lanky saxophone player, who rose to prominence in the bands Ol 55 and later Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, starred on the show from 1984 to 1999.
Post Hey Hey, Wilbur toured in the Australian production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, both in the band and in the role of Eddie.
From 2005 to 2008 he was also the drive announcer for radio station Vega 91.5FM.
It seems that the music bug still has a strong hold over Wilbur as he was most recently seen performing alongside his ol 55 bandmate Frankie J Holden as Wilbur Wilde and the Troublemakers at Tumbafest in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains.
Molly Meldrum
The iconic host of ABC’s Countdown found a welcome home on Hey Hey It’s Saturday where he was responsible for covering all things music.
Molly brought a slew of celebrity interviews to the program, from the likes of Elton John and Madonna.
Molly, whose name is synonymous with Australian music, was recently the subject of a TV mini-series that won a gold Logie for actor Samuel Johnson, who played the titular star.
In 2011, Molly was placed in intensive care after he fell off a ladder at his Melbourne home. He made a full recovery after months of rehabilitation.
The Herald Sun reported this week that the ABC will air a 13-part series called Classic Countdown from September.
‘It’s cool they’re using the old time slot, there was a real routine of the family coming together to watch each Sunday night,’ Molly told the publication.
The guru: The iconic host of ABC’s Countdown found a welcome home on Hey Hey It’s Saturday where he was responsible for covering all things music
Bad fall: In 2011, Molly was placed in intensive care after he fell off a ladder at his Melbourne home. he made a full recovery after months of rehabilitation