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Bert: The story of Australia's favourite TV star
Bert Newton has been on the Australian small screen since it first flickered to life in the 1950s - now, in the book all his fans have been waiting for, bestselling author Graeme Blundell gives us the full story of the man behind that unforgettable face.
'Personally, he is a fine man. Professionally, he is one of the best television performers I've ever seen.' Bob Hope on Bert Newton. The millions of Australians who have watched Bert over the years would whole-heartedly agree.
TV and radio host, compere, interviewer, all round media personality, Bert Newton is one of Australia's favourite performers. But who is this moon-faced man we've loved to watch for decades? Whose jokes we have laughed at while he compered the Logies once again? Who we've delighted in seeing on stage in productions ranging from The Wizard of Oz to Wicked and Grease?
We know he's married to the wonderful Pattie - theirs was the first wedding to be broadcast on TV here, and programs such as In Melbourne Tonight, The Don Lane Show and Good Morning Australia, have all showcased Bert's signature style. They've shown his witty eloquence and, at times, acerbic interview techniques, and, like television itself, his ability to offer something new to each generation of viewers. But what about his life behind the camera?
In the hands of Graeme Blundell, journalist and bestselling author of KING: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRAHAM KENNEDY, this is a meticulously researched and compelling account of Bert Newton's off and on screen world. It's also the fascinating story of Australian television itself as it moved into our homes and our lives.
'Personally, he is a fine man. Professionally, he is one of the best television performers I've ever seen.' Bob Hope on Bert Newton. The millions of Australians who have watched Bert over the years would whole-heartedly agree.
TV and radio host, compere, interviewer, all round media personality, Bert Newton is one of Australia's favourite performers. But who is this moon-faced man we've loved to watch for decades? Whose jokes we have laughed at while he compered the Logies once again? Who we've delighted in seeing on stage in productions ranging from The Wizard of Oz to Wicked and Grease?
We know he's married to the wonderful Pattie - theirs was the first wedding to be broadcast on TV here, and programs such as In Melbourne Tonight, The Don Lane Show and Good Morning Australia, have all showcased Bert's signature style. They've shown his witty eloquence and, at times, acerbic interview techniques, and, like television itself, his ability to offer something new to each generation of viewers. But what about his life behind the camera?
In the hands of Graeme Blundell, journalist and bestselling author of KING: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRAHAM KENNEDY, this is a meticulously researched and compelling account of Bert Newton's off and on screen world. It's also the fascinating story of Australian television itself as it moved into our homes and our lives.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 28, 2024
The one thing I hate about this is that it's not a biography, it's NOT in Bert Newton's words but rather a author who found all of Bert's career in various media format from articles and put them collective in this book to make it read as a biography.
As it started to get to the end of the biography, it started to mention the personal lives of the Newton's, talking about Matthew's mental illness and legal issues, as well as Lauren's birthing emergencies. As much as the world feels owed the personal lives of celebrities, I feel like including Matthew and Lauren's personal pain wasn't a necessity for this story. I felt like that should've been left out. I know the Newton's have been quite candid about their family's personal issues but in an unofficial biography I didn't need a retelling of someone's personal hell.
It's a shame because this would've been brilliant to read in Bert Newton's own words.
As it started to get to the end of the biography, it started to mention the personal lives of the Newton's, talking about Matthew's mental illness and legal issues, as well as Lauren's birthing emergencies. As much as the world feels owed the personal lives of celebrities, I feel like including Matthew and Lauren's personal pain wasn't a necessity for this story. I felt like that should've been left out. I know the Newton's have been quite candid about their family's personal issues but in an unofficial biography I didn't need a retelling of someone's personal hell.
It's a shame because this would've been brilliant to read in Bert Newton's own words.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2015
Entertaining read
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews