John "Deeksie" Deeks (born 1 May 1951) is an Australian television, radio presenter and the long-time voice artist on
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...
for the
Seven Network
The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
(known as the 'voice of Channel 7'), where he has been working since 1975 based in
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 ...
.
Biography
For many years Deeks was the announcer who said "Come on Down!" on the Australian version of game show ''
The Price Is Right
''The Price Is Right'' is a television game show franchise created by Bob Stewart, originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman; currently it is produced and owned by Fremantle. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also inc ...
'', although frequently the program's host
Ian Turpie
Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...
is erroneously named as the person to voice the phrase. Deeks was also the announcer on game show ''
Man O Man'' and presented the ''
Tattslotto'' lottery draw for many years.
He has acted as announcer on several popular programs, making his voice and style highly recognisable, leading to his being cast as voice over artist in recreations of game shows in some dramatic works.
He is best known as the announcer of the now-defunct ''
Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune or ''Rota Fortunae'' has been a concept and metaphor since ancient times referring to the capricious nature of Fate. Wheel of Fortune may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Art
* ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (Burne-Jo ...
'' (which he joined in 1984), on the
Seven Network
The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
.
During Deeks' time on Wheel of Fortune he would travel to
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 ...
where the show was taped between 1981 and 1996, (as did the show's host
John Burgess who would travel from his home in
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
. Hostess and letter-turner
Adriana Xenides
Adriana Xenides ( née Coutsaimanis; 9 January 1956 – 7 June 2010) was an Argentine-born Australian television presenter, former model, actress and children's author. Born in Buenos Aires, to a Greek father and a Spanish mother,
she moved to A ...
lived in Adelaide) each weekend to work on the show and often used his comedic skills to entertain the studio audience between takes.
Deeks departed ''Wheel of Fortune'' in 1996 to host ''
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 ...
'', taking over from
Rob Brough
Robert Edward Brough (born 1955) is an Australian journalist, television presenter and rugby league coach.
Media career Radio
Brough began his media career in radio in the 1970s as an announcer at radio station 4VL in Charleville, Queensland. He ...
. After ''Family Feud'' was cancelled later that year, Deeks returned to his old gig as ''Wheel of Fortunes voice-over man, which continued until the show's cancellation on 28 July 2006, at which point Deeks was offered a position at the
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed the Magpies or colloquially the Pies, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. The club w ...
, which he accepted.
In addition to providing the audience warm-up for ''
Australia's Got Talent'', ''Wheel of Fortune'' and ''
Deal or No Deal
''Deal or No Deal'' is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which (launching the format) was the Dutch ''Miljoenenjacht (Netherlands), Miljoenenjacht'' (''Hunt/Chase for Millions''). The centerpiece of this f ...
'', "Deeksie"' is a
continuity announcer
In broadcasting, continuity or presentation (or station break in the U.S. and Canada) is announcements, messages and graphics played by the broadcaster between specific programmes. It typically includes programme schedules, announcement of the ...
for
Seven Network
The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
stations across Australia, voicing trails, promos and ratings & announcements. He also voices commercials for Australian retailers such as ''
JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi Limited is an Australian consumer electronics and home appliances retail company. It is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Its headquarters are located in Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria.
The company has 316 store ...
''.
Deeks is also a former co-host of radio program ''Family Counsellor'' on
3UZ.
He also does the introduction to
Wil Anderson
William James Anderson (born 31 January 1974) is an Australian comedian, writer, presenter, and podcaster.
Early life
William James Anderson was born on 31 January 1974 in Sale, Victoria, and grew up on a dairy farm near Heyfield, Victoria.< ...
&
Charlie Clausen
Charlie Clausen (born 31 July 1977) is an Australian actor most known for his role as Jake Harrison on ''McLeod's Daughters'' in 2003 and as Acting Sergeant Alex Kirby on the police drama series ''Blue Heelers'', which he starred in for the ma ...
's podcast
TOFOP.
References
External links
*
Australian game show hosts
Australian male voice actors
Living people
Television personalities from Melbourne
Radio and television announcers
1951 births
2UE presenters
{{Australia-tv-bio-stub