John Blackman (born 14 July 1947) is an Australian radio and television presenter, voice-artist and comedy writer and author. He is most widely known for his voice-over work for the long-running

Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...

comedy variety show ''

Hey Hey It's Saturday ''Hey Hey It's Saturday'' was a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 28 years on the Nine Network from 9 October 1971 to 20 November 1999, with a recess in 1978. Its host throughout its entire ...

'' from 1971 until 1999 and then returning for the reunion specials in 2009 and in 2021, with a brief relaunch in 2010.

Biography

Blackman grew up in the Victorian suburb of

Mount Waverley Mount Waverley is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Monash local government area. Mount Waverley recorded a population of 35,340 at the 2021 census. It ...

, where he attended Syndal Primary School until 1959 and completed year 10 at Syndal Technical School in 1963. He was an avid supporter of the

Fitzroy Football Club The Fitzroy Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). Formed in 1883 to represent the inner-Melbourne municipality of Fitzroy, the club was a member of the Vi ...

, now the

Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions is a professional Australian rules football club based in Brisbane, Queensland, that plays in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club was formed in late 1996 via a merger of the Melbourne-based 1883 foundation VFL c ...

. On leaving school (and home) at 16, he worked in a succession of occupations: customs clerk, cash van salesman for a cigarette distributor, sales representative for a perfume company, and spruiker in the Myer Bargain Basement. At the age of 22, he decided on a career in radio.

Media work

He has worked in radio since 1969 but is probably best known for his 28-year stint as announcer and character voice-over for the Nine Network's ''Hey Hey It's Saturday'', Australia's longest-running variety show. One of his best-known characters was a stick puppet known as "Dickie Knee". In 1969, he joined

2GN GNFM (formerly known as 2GN) is an Australian radio station serving the Goulburn region, which opened in January 1932 as 2GN on a frequency of 1390 kHz (1368 kHz between 1978 and 2022). Test broadcasting began on 9 December 1931. It is now co-own ...

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...

as an announcer, newsreader,

copywriter Copywriting is the act or occupation of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. The product, called copy or sales copy, is written content that aims to increase brand awareness and ultimately persuade a person or ...

, salesman, and record librarian. In 1970, he joined

2CA 2CA is an Australian commercial radio station on the AM band serving Canberra. It is jointly owned by the Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters. The station broadcasts on AM Stereo 1053 kHz and on DAB. 2CA was Canberra's first radi ...

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

, where he worked in a variety of on-air shifts for 18 months until mid-1971, when he joined

3AW 3AW is a talkback radio station based in Melbourne. It broadcasts on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station. The station is owned and operated by Nine Entertainment Co. Hist ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. As evening announcer, Blackman worked with the Reverend Alex Kenworthy for a number of years on "Nightline". In 1974, he joined

3AK 3AK is the call sign of SEN 1116, an 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. A number of unusual events and precedents throughout the stati ...

where he hosted the morning show until 1975, when he moved to Sydney to join 2UE as a "floating" announcer for just three months. At

TCN-9 TCN is the flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia. The station is currently located at 1 Denison Street, North Sydney. The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Sir Frank Packer, was one of ...

in Sydney, he was a staff continuity announcer and daytime newsreader for ''

National Nine News ''Nine News'' (stylised ''9News'') is the national news service of the Nine Network in Australia. Its flagship program is the hour-long 6:00 pm state bulletin, produced by Nine's owned-and-operated stations in TCN, Sydney, GTV (Australia) ...

'' alongside his work on ''Hey Hey It's Saturday'', which he would do "down the line" to

GTV-9 GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. History GTV-9 was amongst the first television stations to begin regular ...

in Melbourne every Saturday from an announcing booth at TCN-9. He returned to 3AK Melbourne in 1979 to host the breakfast show until 1981. Later that year, he joined

to host their breakfast show with Paul Barber. After Barber parted company with 3AW not long afterwards, Blackman was joined by former ATV-0 newsreader and staff announcer,

Bruce Mansfield Bruce Mansfield (24 April 1944 – 17 April 2016) was an Australian television/ radio personality and narrator. Early career Mansfield began in radio at age 16, when he won a junior announcer's competition at the 3UZ radio station in 1960. The ...

. This collaboration became one of the most successful combinations in Australian radio history, with 3AW breakfast topping the ratings for 5 consecutive years until 1986. After leaving 3AW in controversial circumstances on 30 April 1986, Blackman became part of the short-lived, ill-fated CBC Network (2UE/3AK) experiment; and, in December of that year, his contract was not renewed. From 1987 to 1990, he co-hosted a breakfast show on 3UZ (now

RSN Racing & Sport RSN Racing & Sport (ACMA callsign: 3UZ) is an Australian radio station in Australia. Owned and operated by thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing bodies of Victoria, it broadcasts a sports radio format to Melbourne, and to much of Victori ...

) with

Coodabeen Champions The Coodabeen Champions'' (often referred to as "The Coodabeens") are an Australian comedy team with radio programs broadcast on the ACE Radio Network in Melbourne on 1377AM 3MP and sell as across regional Victoria and Southern New South Wales. ...

member Ian Cover and, later,

Wilbur Wilde Wilbur Wilde (born Nicholas Robert Aitken on 5 October 1955) is an Australian saxophonist, television personality and radio presenter. He is best known for his work on ''Hey Hey It's Saturday''. He rose to prominence with the bands Ol' 55 and J ...

. In 1997, after a 7-year hiatus from radio, Blackman was employed as the co-host of the 3AK breakfast show with Anna "Pinky" Pinkus and Denis Donoghue (Lawyers, Guns & Money) until 2000. In 2004, he joined

Triple M Triple M is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo. The network consists of 40 radio stations broadcasting a mainstream rock music format and 5 digital radio stations. The network dates back to th ...

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

and was co-host of ''The John Blackman & Jane Reilly Breakfast Show'' until December 2007. Other television shows Blackman has appeared on and announced for include '' Blankety Blanks'', ''Personality Squares'', ''

The Paul Hogan Show ''The Paul Hogan Show'' was a popular Australian comedy show which aired on Australian television from 1973 until 1984 for a total of 12 seasons and 60 episodes. It made a star of Paul Hogan, who later appeared in ''Crocodile Dundee.'' Hogan' ...

'', ''The Daryl Somers Tonight Show'', ''

Holiday Island ''Holiday Island'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten. The show aired twice weekly from 1981 to 1982, with the first episode going to air on 17 June 1981. Series synopsis Like preceding Crawford' ...

'', ''

Family Feud ''Family Feud'' is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson. It features two families who compete to name the most popular answers to survey questions in order to win cash and prizes. The show has had three separate runs, the ...

'' and many others. Blackman was interviewed on ABC's ''

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991.Talkin ...

'' in 2006.

Accusations of racism

In 2009, Blackman returned as part of the ''Hey Hey It's Saturday'' reunion specials to reprise his voice-over role. Despite respectable ratings, the show's contract was not renewed for 2011. During the second 2009 comeback episode, a Red Faces act called "the Jackson Jive" (a

Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...

parody) caused outrage, especially in the UK and USA, after the act dressed up in

blackface Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used predominantly by non-Black people to portray a caricature of a Black person. In the United States, the practice became common during the 19th century and contributed to the spread of racial stereo ...

to perform the Jackson 5 hit " Can You Feel It" in a jive style. The show, and Blackman, had a longstanding history of mocking people of colour, which was demonstrated in a March 2021 video compilation by John Patterson, which has received 165,000 views as of 2023. Blackman also has a four-decade feud with

Kamahl Kandiah Kamalesvaran ( ta, கந்தையா கமலேஸ்வரன்; born 13 November 1934), better known by his stage name Kamahl, is a Malaysian-born Australian singer and recording artist. His highest charting Australian single, ...

, which was instigated in part by Blackman and

Daryl Somers Daryl Paul Somers (né Schulz; 6 August 1951) is an Australian television personality and musician, and a triple Gold Logie award-winner. He rose to national fame as the host and executive producer of the long-running comedy-variety program '' ...

' persistent bullying on ''Hey Hey'', including racist jokes. While Somers eventually made a full apology regarding his past actions after initially being criticised for invoking

cancel culture Cancel culture, or rarely also known as call-out culture, is a phrase contemporary to the late 2010s and early 2020s used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles—whether it be online, on ...

to defend his actions, Blackman doubled down upon his past actions: "Goodness me Kamahl, 37 years and you’re still 'humiliated'." Blackman's racist jokes and humiliations were numerous, but a particularly egregious example was when he surprised Kamahl with white powder being slammed into his face. Blackman joked at the time that this made him a "real white man".

Return to radio

From April 2015 to May 2016, he was employed at MAGIC 1278 in Melbourne and MAGIC 882 in Brisbane as their Breakfast Announcer between 6.00am and 10.00am, initially as co-host with Jane Holmes, who resigned in April 2015 for personal reasons. Blackman continued in a solo role until May 2016, when he was unceremoniously dumped by Macquarie Media Ltd. According to the MML COO, Adam Lang, “He’s a very respected and highly regarded broadcaster but his style of broadcasting, while excellent, wasn’t working on the MAGIC format.” Significantly, in the third radio survey for 2016, (released a few days later) Blackman actually increased his Melbourne audience from 1.5% to 2.2% and his cumulative audience to 19,000 listeners (2,000 more than the station average).

Corporate work

Blackman is a corporate host and compere for over 800 business award nights, conferences and social occasions. He also regularly voices radio and television advertisements.

Writing

Blackman has authored several books, including ''Aussie Slang'', ''Aussie Gags'' (1998) and ''More Aussie Gags'', ''Don't Come the Raw Prawn'', ''Best of Aussie Slang'', ''Aussie Slang Dictionary'', and the ''Dickie Knee Bumper Comic Book''. They were released through Pan Macmillan Australia.

Personal life

Blackman has been married twice. He married his second wife Cecile on 2 December 1972, and they have an adult daughter. On Christmas Eve 2007, Blackman suffered a seizure brought on by a golf ball size (benign)

meningioma Meningioma, also known as meningeal tumor, is typically a slow-growing tumor that forms from the meninges, the membranous layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms depend on the location and occur as a result of the tumor pressing o ...

brain tumour. After six hours of surgery, it was successfully removed at

The Alfred Hospital The Alfred Hospital, also known as The Alfred or Alfred Hospital, is a leading tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. It is the second oldest hospital in Victoria, and the oldest Melbourne hospital still operating on its original site ...

in Melbourne and he had a full recovery. Blackman was also diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer in 2019, resulting in his jaw being removed. The cancer reappeared in 2022, with Blackman undergoing extensive surgery to remove the top of his skull and the skin from his scalp.

Community/charity work

Blackman is a member of the Patrons Council of the ''

Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria The Epilepsy Foundation is a large Australian charity, headquartered in Surrey Hills, Victoria, which provides evidence-based programs to support to people living with epilepsy, and all those who care for them. Epilepsy Foundation programs are de ...

''. and an active

Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Ja ...

(Victoria) ambassador. He is also a past committee member and past vice-chairman of ''Variety – the Children's Charity'', currently an honorary member.

Famous characters

* Dickie Knee – a polystyrene head with black hair and a blue cap on a stick * Alfred Desk Mike * The Angel – a small angelic creature made from an old Barbie doll and superimposed on the screen * Doctor Ben Dover * Charlie Who – a

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

character * The Giant * The Man from Jupiter * Mrs Macgillicuddy – a hideous old hag with a raspy voice * Norman Neumann – a boom microphone with a moustache, which is in fact a

Sennheiser Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG (, ) is a German privately held audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of high fidelity products, including microphones, headphones, telephone accessories and aviation headse ...

MKH-816-P48 * Sammy Sanhiser – replacement for Norman * Baby Kangaroos – sounds a bit like the Angel

Radio career

Morning Show (1969) *

Morning Show (1970) *

Evening Show (1972) *

Breakfast Show (1975) * 2UE Night Show (1977) *

2GB 2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by parent company Nine Radio, a division of Nine Entertainment Co., who also own sister station 2UE. 2GB broadcasts on 873 kHz, AM. In 2010, 2GB held 14.7% of the total rad ...

Breakfast (1977

ne week NE, Ne or ne may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Neutral Evil, an alignment in the American role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' * New Edition, an American vocal group * Nicomachean Ethics, a collection of ten books by Greek philosopher Ar ...

*3AK Breakfast Show (1979) *3AW Breakfast Show (1981–1986) *3AK/2UE CBC Network Breakfast Show (1986–1987) * 3UZ Breakfast Show (1987–1990) *3AK Breakfast Show (1997–2000) *

Triple M Adelaide 5MMM (identified on air and in print as Triple M) is a radio station broadcasting in Adelaide, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30-54 age group. Triple M Adelaide is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M Network and broadcasts on ...

Breakfast Show (2005–2007) * 3GG Mornings (2009–2014) *3AW Afternoon replacement for

Denis Walter Denis Walter OAM, (born 3 January 1955) is an Australian radio presenter, baritone singer, recording artist and media personality who also presented television news for 16 years. Career Walter's music career has lasted over forty years and he ...

(2011) *3AW fill-in host on 3AW's Nightline program (2012–) *

Magic 1278 Magic 1278 (official callsign: 3EE) is a commercial radio station in Melbourne, Australia owned by Nine Entertainment Co, and run under a lease agreement by Ace Radio. History 1935–1991: 3XY 1935–1967 3XY began broadcasting on 8 Sept ...

and

Magic 882 4BH 1116 is the on-air identifier ( ACMA callsign: 4BH) of a radio station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It broadcasts on a frequency is 1116 kHz in the AM radio band and is simulcasted in DAB+ on channel 9B. It is o ...

Breakfast (2015–2016)

Television career

*''

'' (1971–99, 2009–10) (

) *''

'' – announcer for over 1500 shows (

) *Daytime newsreader ( TCN 9) *''

Penthouse Club ''The Penthouse Club'' was an Australian weekly variety program produced live to air from the studios of HSV-7 Melbourne from 10 October 1970. It was originally hosted by Michael Williamson (also a football commentator for HSV) and comedian Mar ...

'' ( HSV 7) *'' Paul Hogan Show'' (

GTV 9 GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. History GTV-9 was amongst the first television stations to begin regular ...

) *''Daryl & Ossie Show'' (

ATV 10 ATV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia, part of Network 10 – one of the three major Australian free-to-air commercial television networks. The station is owned by Paramount Networks UK & Australia. History In April 1963, t ...

) *''Personality Squares'' (ATV 10) *''Daryl Somers Tonight Show'' (

) *'' Blankety Blanks'' (ATV 10) *''

'' (ATV 10) *''

Prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...

'' (ATV 10) *''

Safeway Safeway is an American supermarket chain founded by Marion Barton Skaggs in April 1915 in American Falls, Idaho. The chain provides grocery items, food and general merchandise and features a variety of specialty departments, such as bakery, d ...

New Faces ''New Faces'' is a British television talent show that aired in the 1970s and 1980s. It has been hosted by Leslie Crowther, Derek Hobson and Marti Caine. It was produced for the ITV network by ATV, and later by Central. Original series: 1973 ...

'' judge (GTV 9) *''World's Craziest Inventions'' (GTV 9) *'' Toon Time'' ( 111 Hits)

References

External links

Official John Blackman WebsiteJohn Blackman Celebrity Speaker
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackman, John 3AW presenters Radio and television announcers Australian television presenters Australian male voice actors Australian comedy writers Radio personalities from Melbourne 1947 births Living people People from Mount Waverley, Victoria