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Happy Bert-day! Bert Newton Turns 70!
Editorial ReviewEditorial Review
It's not every day you turn 70, and, a day before his actual birthday of 23 July, Bert Newton toasted the occasion at his second home, GTV9 in Melbourne.
Eddie McGuire introduced the legendary star, who McGuire first met when he was a sports reporter on Network TEN.
“Over the course of Bert's entire career and life there has been an enormous generosity of spirit,” said McGuire. “Everybody has one single frame of thought about Bert Newton and that is that he's a wonderful, wonderful person.”
Newton, who is a household name in Australia, started on radio at the age of 15, but it was the Seven Network who signed him to host The Late Show with friend Noel Ferrier. In 1959, however, Newton joined his opposition, Graham Kennedy, at GTV9.
Since that time Newton has appeared on numerous shows including In Melbourne Tonight, The Don Lane Show, New Faces, Tonight with Bert Newton, Ford Superquiz, Good Morning Australia (TEN), Family Feud, and most recently, 20 to 1. But it is the Logie Awards, of which he has personally collect 18, with which he is synonymous.
“Channel Nine has been very important to me right throughout my entire life,” said a humble Newton. “I was thinking before I've celebrated so many occasions here. I celebrated on air my 21st birthday, my 30th birthday in 1968, I celebrated the birth of my first son Matthew in 1977, Lauren in 1979 and of course my dismissal in 1985,” he joked.
“There is something about this network and particularly this place, GTV9 in Bendigo Street, Richmond. They used to call it the Hollywood of Australian television.
“When I look back on the years here at Channel Nine it's basically all happy memories. I think the important thing about this network, which no-one can kick out of it, is it is a team. And even when things haven't been going all that well ... it really builds itself again and I've got a feeling that's what we're going through at the moment.”
Let's hope he's right about that.
Nine marks Newton's 70th with a special This is Your Life present's Bert's 70th Birthday tonight, Wednesday, 23 July at 7:30pm.
David Knox, Citysearch, July 2008
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4 comments
Ernt: I can't imagine the cream pie was a shock to Patti - her & Bert are a pro comedy double-act and she would have known it was coming. Patti's very good at playing the patsy. (30 July 2008)
Ange Hudson: Hi I was absolutely disgusted when Patti Newton received the cream pie in her face.She put on a happy face which no doubt she would.That really took the gloss off a very enjoyable night's viewing.I felt embarrased for her.Very inappropriate on the night. Cheers Ange Hudson (27 July 2008)
JP: Happy bert-day Moon Face! (23 July 2008)
Mini Moon: Happy Birthday Bert! The day's supposed to be about you, though - drop the Nine boost from birthday speeches! (23 July 2008)
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