Cricketers and light entertainment TV

[worbod]

With cricketers having a tradition of being high-profile people in Australia it was more or less inevitable that a fair percentage of them, more so during this century, would appear on television in various guises. Many have had a crack at presenting light entertainment or have been guests on light entertainment shows. This is not meant to be a complete list of such appearances, merely some of my memories.



Allan Border has probably appeared as a guest on a few chat shows or sports shows, but one in particular I can distinctly remember is when AB appeared on Denton. This was Andrew Denton’s variety show on Channel 7 in 1994. Border and Denton were sitting having a chat and the topic turned to streakers. After AB delivered his opinion on streakers, a naked woman came out and walked across the set, much to Border’s and the audience’s amazement. Obviously Denton had set this up, but minutes later when the topic had changed to something else, Denton told AB he now had a surprise for him. AB looked at Denton and asked, “That streaker’s not coming back is she?”

Denton laughed appreciably.

 

[worbod]

In 1980 Dennis Lillee appeared on The Don Lane Show. I tried to film part of this segment off a DVD but the four minutes of footage proved too large to upload here. Even when I filmed only 30 seconds it proved too large so I have included some snipped images instead.

On this night Don also had Bernard King on the show, and Bernard had whipped up crepes served with sautéed strawberries and some kiwi fruit. While the strawberries are cooling slightly, Don introduces Dennis as his official taster. Dennis comes on set and after talking about the upcoming cricket season for a few minutes, Dennis is invited to taste some of Bernard’s strawberries, which had been cooked in brandy.



Bernard states half-aghast “A cricketer! Tasting my food!”
Dennis asks, “I can only have one can I?”
Bernard replies, “Tasters take small amounts, in case they die instantaneously.”
Dennis eats a strawberry, then seconds later asks, “Do I have to say it’s good?”
Hearty laughter follows from Don and the audience.




Years later I remember Dennis being a guest on Rove Live. The audience had obviously been asked to participate in some good-natured fun with DK and after Lillee had been introduced they chanted “Lillee! Lillee!” as he walked across the set to meet Rove.

 

[worbod]

During 1993 Ian Botham was a guest on the revamped version of The Norman Gunston Show. Gunston had Botham come onto the set and he was given some McDonald’s to eat, which was part of the set for each guest. After chatting with Beefy, Gunston’s next guest is politician John Hewson. After Gunston greets Hewson, he gestures towards Botham and tells Hewson, “This is Mr Ian Botham. He has something to do with cricket.”


Shane Warne has appeared on a number of TV shows, including his own light entertainment chat show titled Warnie. One appearance by Warne which sticks out for me is when he appeared on Hey, Hey it’s Saturday in 1996. He was a guest judge on Red Faces and had brought along with him his new bowling kit for kids. Daryl Somers asked Warne to hold the kit to camera and explain what it involved. Warne began by saying, “Well Daryl, it has two balls.”
This received a mild laugh from the audience and it was the type of dialogue you might expect on Hey, Hey, but Warne’s apprehensive tone of voice suggested that even Warnie thought it was a bit corny.

 

[worbod]

Mike Whitney used to be a host on Almost Anything Goes and also appeared in a guest spot on The Late Show for one of the musical mix-ups. Mick Molloy “accidentally” got Whitney mixed up with Whitney Houston and Mike Whitney ended up singing I Will Always Love You (and did it with some passion too).




In other Late Show cricketing mix-ups, Mick booked Maxie Walker instead of Cyndi Lauper (with Tangles singing Girls Just Want to Have Fun) and he also booked David Boon instead of David Byrne, with Boonie wearing an appropriate large jacket to sing Once in a Lifetime, mimicking Byrne’s arm-chopping motions while he “sang”.

 

[worbod]

Someone who has a decent singing voice is former Zimbabwe pace bowler Henry Olonga, who appeared as a contestant on The Voice in 2019.



Also in 2019 Brett Lee was the parrot on The Masked Singer, though I reckon he could have put a bit more oomph into singing What’s My Scene.

 

[worbod]

In 1996 Don Bradman appeared on a TV special titled 87 Not Out in which he was interviewed by Ray Martin to celebrate his 87th birthday from the previous year. At the end of the special, Martin asks The Don, “Can we do this again in ten years?”
Bradman replies playfully, “Yes, if I’m still alive!”
I have always thought it would have been more entertaining if Bradman had directed the intent of that comment toward Martin and told him, “Yes, if you’re still alive.”

Greg Matthews was a regular contributor to the Channel 9 program Live at 5, and also appeared with Roy and HG. During 1992 Matthews had an unsuccessful audition to be a host on Playschool. Then, in 1996 he failed another audition to replace Tracey Grimshaw as presenter of Animal Hospital.

 

[worbod]

Glenn McGrath appeared on Enough Rope in 2004 with his wife Jane. At one point Denton asked which one of them says “Ooh, aah, Glenn McGrath” when they make love.
Glenn replies, “We both do.”


Other little snippets I can recall are Adam Gilchrist once reading out some sports questions on Have You Been Paying Attention whilst Matthew Hayden once appeared as a panellist on Good News Week.



Merv Hughes was a guest on Grant Denyer’s Celebrity Name Game and Kerry O’Keeffe was a regular panellist on The Fat with his famous mad scientist laugh being a regular feature.

 

[worbod]

On English TV, I remember many years ago seeing Fred Trueman on Dad’s Army, appearing as a character named E. C. Egan. Egan is a fearsome fast bowler with past prestige who plays for the Air Raid Wardens against Dad’s Army in a social cricket match. However, in a closely-fought match Egan gets to bowl only one delivery.

 

[worbod]

Freddie Flintoff has appeared twice on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and has recently been on Australian Ninja Warrior. He also once tried to explain cricket to Jennifer Lopez on The Graham Norton Show.

 

[worbod]

Godfrey Evans once won 1,000 pounds on the British quiz show Double Your Money after correctly answering questions about jewellery.
In 2005 Darren Gough was the winner of Strictly Come Dancing. Then, in 2006, the winner was Mark Ramprakash.

Phil Tufnell has been a team member on Would I Lie to You. Tufnell read from his card that he had a recurring dream in which he is a potato being chased by a pitchfork. Could it possibly be true?

 

[VirgilHilts]

They've also had Michael Vaughn, Tufnell and Graeme Swann on Strictly Come Dancing.

Fred Trueman presented a show called Indoor League in the 70s, which was basically blokes competing in various pub games.

 

[Cleavy]

I hope everyone is prepared for Brad Hodge on 7’s Motorsport coverage this year. Seriously!

 

[STFU Donnie]

They've also had Michael Vaughn, Tufnell and Graeme Swann on Strictly Come Dancing.

Fred Trueman presented a show called Indoor League in the 70s, which was basically blokes competing in various pub games.

It was as good as it sounds. Enjoy!

 

[Gough]

It was as good as it sounds. Enjoy!

Until the mid 90s all pubs in Britain were shut from 1500hrs until 1800hrs on a Sunday because of some archaic WWI law. The Sunday afternoon half pissed viewing was like prime time over there at the time unless you could find a lock in.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Until the mid 90s all pubs in Britain were shut from 1500hrs until 1800hrs on a Sunday because of some archaic WWI law. The Sunday afternoon half pissed viewing was like prime time over there at the time unless you could find a lock in.

Don't forget Australia's famous 6 o'clock swill.

 

[Blue Arrow]

Freddie Flintoff has appeared twice on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and has recently been on Australian Ninja Warrior. He also once tried to explain cricket to Jennifer Lopez on The Graham Norton Show.

Flintoff has co-hosted more than a few shows, including the latest version of Top Gear.
===============================================================================
Ben Stokes has appeared on the UK version of Crime Stoppers

 

[STFU Donnie]

Flintoff has co-hosted more than a few shows, including the latest version of Top Gear.

He also hosted a show where he and a mate drove a fish and chip van around England.

 

[Nuggetz]

He also hosted a show where he and a mate drove a fish and chip van around England.

Did that in a few countries, including Australia

 

[worbod]

Dennis Lillee and Max Walker giving Mike Walsh some bowling tips