Gretel Killeen (born 3 February 1963) is an Australian comedian, television presenter, media personality and author. She is known for being the host of ''

Big Brother Australia ''Big Brother Australia'' (also known simply as ''Big Brother'') is an Australian reality show based on the international '' Big Brother'' format created by John de Mol. Following the premise of other versions of the format, the show features ...

'' from its inception in

2001 The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a multi-national coalition in an invasion of Afghanist ...

until the

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple Inc., Apple's first iPhone (1st generation), iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakis ...

season (including '' Celebrity Big Brother'' in 2002). Killeen hosted the 2009 ''

TV Week ''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news. Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...

'' Logie Awards.

Career

Television

Midday

From 1989 to 1991, Killeen was a regular on '' Midday with Ray Martin'' on the

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 ...

. She wrote and featured in the sketch ''A Town Like Dallas'', a parody of the genre of soap opera.

Coast to Coast

In 1990, Terry Willesee, John Mangos and Killeen hosted ''Coast to Coast'' for the Nine Network after the departure of Graham Kennedy from the program, but the program in the new format was short-lived.

Big Brother

Killeen was host of

, from its first season in 2001. She hosted each series up until its seventh season in 2007. On 28 October 2007, ''

The Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long vertical pages, typically of . Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner and tabloid ...

'' reported that, as a part of a revamp of the show, Killeen was being replaced as host by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O from 2Day FM.

Other television roles

Killeen, along with Daniel MacPherson, co-hosted the Sydney New Year's Eve 2006–07 telecast and also the

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 ...

eve celebrations on 25 January 2006. She was also the host of Ten's coverage of the

ceremony in 2007. In 2009 Kileen hosted the

Logies The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...

and was lowered onto the stage in an angel costume. She played nurse Angela Mercie in two episodes of the

YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...

web series The Horizon in 2013. In 2015, Killeen co-hosted ABC TV series ''

How Not to Behave ''How Not to Behave'' was an Australian comedy series on ABC, hosted by Gretel Killeen and Matt Okine Matthew Okine (born 12 April 1985) is a stand-up comedian, author and radio presenter from Brisbane, Australia. Okine is of Ghanaian and ...

'' with Matt Okine. In 2019, Killeen appeared as a contestant on the Australian version of '' The Masked Singer'' as the Octopus, and was voted off in the first episode. Killeen is a regular guest on morning/talk-shows such as; '' Studio 10'', '' Sunrise'', '' Today Australia'' and '' Today Extra Australia'' and '' The Project.'' Killeen has also appeared on '' Beauty and the Beast'', '' Midday'', '' SlideShow'', '' Good Morning Australia'', '' Celebrity Name Game'', '' Q&A'', '' Good News Week'', '' You Have Been Watching'' and ''

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 ...

''.

Radio

Nova 100

In 2003, Killeen filled in on

Nova 100 Nova 100 (call sign: 3MEL) is a commercial radio station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, broadcasting on 100.3 MHz. The station is owned by NOVA Entertainment along with sister station, smoothfm 91.5. History Nova 100 commenced on th ...

's '' Hughesy, Kate & Dave'' whilst

Kate Langbroek Katherine Langbroek (born 8 August 1965) is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter. Langbroek has previously hosted ''Hughesy & Kate'' with Dave Hughes on the HIT Network. Career Langbroek has a degree in journalism and has app ...

was on maternity leave.

Literary works

As an author of a number of books,

Movie roles

Killeen has a cameo in the Australian film ''

Gettin' Square ''Gettin' Square'' is a 2003 crime caper movie set on Australia's Gold Coast and directed by Jonathan Teplitzky. The protagonists are ex-criminals trying to keep out of trouble. ''Gettin' Square'' won nominations at several Australian ceremoni ...

'' as Rhonda Halliwell.

Stage roles

Killeen appeared as the Narrator in a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show in Sydney and Melbourne in 2008.

Personal life

Killeen was born in Sydney and has 2 adult children from a previous marriage.

Awards

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Gretel Killeen won one award in that time. (wins only) , - , 2000 , Gretel Killeen , Female Comedy Performer of the Year , , -

References

External links

* *
Gretel Killeen at Penguin Books
{{DEFAULTSORT:Killeen, Gretel 1963 births Australian people of German descent Australian stand-up comedians Australian radio personalities Australian women children's writers Australian women radio presenters Australian children's writers Australian game show hosts Big Brother (Australian TV series) Living people Comedians from Sydney Australian women comedians