Jean Kittson (born 1955) is an Australian performer, writer and comedian in theatre and print, on radio and television. She made her comedy debut at Melbourne's comedy venue Le Joke in a series of solo performances, and then in the stage version of '' Let The Blood Run Free''. She came to national attention on ''

The Big Gig ''The Big Gig'' was a popular Australian television sketch comedy music/variety series based on the British TV series '' Saturday Live''. It was produced and broadcast on ABC TV in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was produced and directed by ...

''. This was followed by ''Let the Blood Run Free'', ''Kittson Fahey'', the ''Great Debate'' series as well as ''Good News Week'', '' The Glasshouse'' and ''

The Einstein Factor ''The Einstein Factor'' was an Australian television quiz show that was broadcast on ABC1. The show's host is comedian and broadcaster Peter Berner. It was first broadcast in 2004 and in 2009 the show commenced its sixth and final season, with t ...

''. She is also well known for her lively comedy debates for the ABC, Channel 9 and Channel Ten and was a regular guest on Channel 7's the Morning Show, Channel 9's KAK Show and ''20 to One''. She has also been a judge on ''Strictly Speaking'' and a guest on ''

Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation ''Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation'' is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef. History Original run The first series ran on Network Ten for 18 episode ...

''. Kittson is a regular guest on TGIF, ABC radio 702, Sydney and has been a regular columnist with ''New Weekly'', ''Sunday Telegraph'', the ''SMH Sydney Magazine'', ''Inspire Magazine'', and the ''Reader's Digest Health Smart'' magazine. She is the author of ''Tongue Lashing'', published by Penguin. She also authored a book on menopause, ''You're Still Hot To Me'' in 2014. She was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

in the

2023 Australia Day Honours The 2023 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2023 by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley. The Australia ...

Television

Kittson is best known for her performances, particularly as a news commentator Veronica Glenhuntly, on the

ABC1 ABC TV, formerly known as ABC1, is an Australian national public television network. It is owned and operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is the flagship ABC Television network. The headquarters of the ABC TV channel an ...

evening comedy program ''

'', which aired in the early 1990s. Kittson also starred in the TV series of '' Let The Blood Run Free'', which was first shown on

Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

in 1990, and ran for two seasons. Kittson was a regular guest on

's ''

'' and '' The Glasshouse''. In 2022, Kittson appeared as a contestant on the sixth season of ''

The Celebrity Apprentice Australia ''The Celebrity Apprentice Australia'' is an Australian reality television series which aired on the Nine Network. Based on NBC's ''The Apprentice'', it first aired on 24 October 2011 and originally featured Mark Bouris, the founder and chairm ...

''.

Theatre highlights

Her first major role was in David Wiliamson's play, ''

Siren Siren or sirens may refer to: Common meanings * Siren (alarm), a loud acoustic alarm used to alert people to emergencies * Siren (mythology), an enchanting but dangerous monster in Greek mythology Places * Siren (town), Wisconsin * Siren, Wisc ...

'' in 1990. Her theatre work also includes: ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''; ''The Night of The Missing Bridegroom''; and ''Behind The Mask''. Kittson also performed ''Love Letters'' with

Glynn Nicholas Glynn Nicholas (born 1952) is an Australian actor, comedian, director, writer, and producer. In the early 1990s he developed several the comic alter ego Paté Biscuit, a parody of Patsy Biscoe, a fellow presenter on the TV show ''Here's Humphrey ...

for the Melbourne Arts Festival and revisited the role in 2003 at the Noosa Arts and Cultural Festival with the late

Campbell McComas Geoffrey Campbell McComas AM (2 May 19528 January 2005) was an Australian comedian, writer and actor. Early life and education McComas attended Caulfield Grammar School and Scotch College in Hawthorn, Melbourne, and studied law and arts at Mona ...

. Kitson played a schoolteacher in ''Delta Blues'' in 2005.

Charity work

Jean Kittson is an avid supporter of multiple charities and is currently the Chair of the National Gynaecological Cancer Foundation. In February 2010, Kittson became the official spokesperson for the

Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different c ...

awareness month for Ovarian Cancer Australia, and in 2011 became the official national Afternoon Teal ambassador. Jean is Patron of The Junction Works - Community Services and an Ambassador for: * The Macular Disease Foundation Australia * Northcott Disability Services * The Raise Foundation – Youth Mentoring * Taldumande Member Foundation ( Taldumande Youth Services) - Homeless youth and families in crisis. *Palliative Care Nurses Australia

Cinema

In 2010, Kittson appeared in ''Bad Behaviour'', starring

Lindsay Farris Lindsay Farris is an Australian / Maori actor, writer, producer, musician, voice over artist and entrepreneur who has been labelled as one of the "young guardians of theatre". Career Stage Work Farris has an extensive background in Australi ...

John Jarratt John Jarratt is an Australian television film actor, producer and director and TV presenter who rose to fame through his work in the Australian New Wave. He has appeared in a number of film roles including '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ' ...

and

Roger Ward Roger Ward (born 1936) is an Australian actor who has had a considerable career in film and television, noted for "tough guy" roles in which he often did his own stunts. Biography Ward was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1936. His car ...

, written and directed by Joseph Sims.

Personal life

She is married to the cartoonist

Patrick Cook Patrick may refer to: *Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name * Patrick (surname), list of people with this name People *Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint * Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick ...

; they have two daughters.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kittson, Jean 1955 births Living people Members of the Order of Australia Comedians from Melbourne Australian film actresses Australian television actresses Actresses from Melbourne The Apprentice Australia candidates People from Lilydale, Victoria