Andrew Denton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew Denton
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Denton in 2004
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| Born | 4 May 1960 Sydney, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
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| Spouse(s) | Jennifer Byrne |
Andrew Christopher Denton, born on May 4, 1960, is a well-known Australian TV producer, comedian, and presenter. He used to host popular shows like Enough Rope and Randling on the ABC. Andrew is famous for his funny style and how he interviews people. He also helped introduce the comedy group The Chaser to Australian TV viewers.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Andrew Denton is the son of Kit Denton, a writer who wrote the novel The Breaker. This book was about an Australian soldier named Breaker Morant. Andrew went to Roseville Primary School in Sydney. Later, he attended Blue Mountains Grammar School and Guildford Grammar School.
In 1982, he finished his studies at Mitchell College of Advanced Education. This college is now known as Charles Sturt University. He earned a degree in communications. During his time there, he was also involved with the campus radio station, 2MCE.
Career Highlights
Starting in Radio
Andrew Denton began his career working in Australian radio. He started as a writer for radio presenter Doug Mulray at Triple M Sydney. He also got involved early on with the Theatresports movement in Sydney. This was a type of improvised comedy.
Later, Denton became a morning radio host for Triple M in Sydney. During this time, he was part of a reality radio program called House From Hell. He has since said he regrets being involved in this show.
Television Shows
Denton first appeared on TV as an extra in the ABC series The Investigators. He then became part of a team that was runner-up in the improvised comedy show Theatresports in 1987.
Between 1988 and 1995, Andrew hosted several TV shows on ABC-TV. These included Blah Blah Blah, The Money or the Gun, and Live and Sweaty. He also hosted a comedy talk show called Denton on the Seven Network. Most of these shows were talk-based. Live and Sweaty was a sports show with a panel of guests.
On The Money or the Gun, Denton had a fun tradition. Each week, a different musical guest would perform a cover version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". They would play it in their own unique musical style.
Later, the actual musicians from Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, appeared on Denton. They performed a song by Rolf Harris. This was a nod to Harris's famous version of "Stairway to Heaven."
Denton also started a "Musical Challenge" segment on his shows. Guests would pick a song from a barrel and perform it. This led to three albums being released, called Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge. These albums featured artists like Tina Arena singing Cold Chisel's "Cheap Wine" and The Wiggles singing AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top".
In the early 1990s, Denton was the first guest programmer for the music video show Rage. He also appeared as a contestant on the game show Sale of the Century.
While hosting Denton, he started a public effort to hire a bounty hunter. The goal was to capture a businessman named Christopher Skase. Skase was trying to avoid being sent back to Australia. Denton even had a small role in the Australian film Let's Get Skase.
In 2003, Denton began hosting Enough Rope with Andrew Denton. He was also a producer and script editor for ABC's The Election Chaser and CNNNN. Enough Rope finished in late 2008. In 2003, Denton also narrated the animated documentary series Human Contraptions.
When asked about being a good interviewer, Denton said it's important to do your research. He also stressed the importance of listening and being open to unexpected conversations.
In 2009, Denton hosted the second season of Elders. This series featured interviews with older, famous Australians. After this, Denton spent a few years working more behind the scenes. In 2012, he returned to hosting the ABC game show Randling.
In 2014, Denton appeared on the SBS TV show Who Do You Think You Are?. On the show, he traced his Jewish family history back to Poland. He visited the Treblinka extermination camp and thought about what might have happened if his grandfather had not moved to England.
In 2018, Denton hosted Interview for the Seven Network.
Film Work
Andrew Denton's first full-length documentary was God on My Side. This film showed his visit to a convention for religious broadcasters. It was first shown at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2006. The film was later screened in Australian cinemas starting in November 2006. Denton has stated that he is not against Christianity.
In 2011, Denton was an executive producer for the horror film The Tunnel. This movie was funded by many people contributing small amounts of money. It was produced with Denton's company, Zapruder's Other Films.
Stage Performances
Denton has also performed on stage. He played Malcolm Turnbull in a play called A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy. This play was performed at the Belvoir Street Theatre. He also took part in the early years of the ABC's World Series Debating.
Production Company
Zapruder's Other Films is a production company that Andrew Denton co-founded in 1989. The company was named after Abraham Zapruder, who filmed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Some of the works produced by the company include:
- CNNNN (2002–2003)
- Enough Rope (2003–2008)
- The Gruen Transfer (2008–present)
- Elders (2008–2009)
- Hungry Beast (2009–2011)
- The Tunnel (2011)
- Randling (2012)
In early 2012, Zapruder's Other Films joined with another company to form CJZ. In June 2013, Denton sold his share of the company. At the same time, he announced he was taking a break from television.
Personal Life
Andrew Denton lives in Sydney with his wife, TV presenter Jennifer Byrne. They have a son together. In 1997, Byrne and Denton were separated for six months. Andrew is a fan of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team. He is also an atheist. In 2017, Denton was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. He had successful surgery to fix it.
Awards and Nominations
Logie Awards
Andrew Denton has been involved with the Logie Awards since the 1990s. He even hosted the awards ceremony in 1999 and 2000.
Denton has been nominated for several Logie awards, which are major Australian TV awards:
- The Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2008 and 2009, for his work on Enough Rope.
- The "Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality" award in 1994 and 1995.
- The "Most Popular Comedy Personality" award in 1996.
- The "Most Popular Presenter" award in 2005, 2008, and 2009, also for Enough Rope.
See also
In Spanish: Andrew Denton para niños
