Gretel Killeen facts for kids

Gretel Killeen (born 3 February 1963) is a famous Australian comedian, TV presenter, and author. Many people know her as the host of Big Brother Australia. She hosted the show from when it first started in 2001 until the 2007 season. She also hosted Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. In 2009, Gretel also hosted the important TV Week Logie Awards.

Gretel Killeen's Career

Television Work

Early TV Shows

From 1989 to 1991, Gretel was a regular on the TV show Midday with Ray Martin. She wrote and appeared in a funny sketch called A Town Like Dallas.

In 1990, she co-hosted Coast to Coast for the Nine Network.

Hosting Big Brother

Gretel Killeen was the main host of Big Brother Australia. She hosted every season from its very first one in 2001. Her time as host ended after the seventh season in 2007.

Other TV Appearances

Gretel has hosted many other big events. She co-hosted the Sydney New Year's Eve 2006–07 TV broadcast. She also hosted the Australia Day celebrations in 2006 and 2007.

In 2009, she hosted the Logies, which are big awards for Australian TV. She even made a grand entrance dressed as an angel!

Gretel also acted as Nurse Angela Mercie in The Horizon, a YouTube web series, in 2013. In 2015, she co-hosted the ABC TV show How Not to Behave with Matt Okine.

In 2019, Gretel appeared on The Masked Singer Australia. She was the Octopus and was the first contestant to be voted off.

You might also see Gretel as a guest on popular morning and talk shows. These include Studio 10, Sunrise, Today Australia, and The Project.

Radio Work

Nova 100

In 2003, Gretel filled in as a host on Nova 100's Hughesy, Kate & Dave radio show. She helped out while Kate Langbroek was on maternity leave.

Books Written by Gretel Killeen

Gretel Killeen is also a talented author and has written many books.

• The Night my Bum Dropped (2009)
• How To Live With a Sausage in a Bonnet (1991)
• Baby on Board: A Beginner's Guide to Pregnancy (1991)
• Every Girl's Geek Guide (1992)
• Visible Panty Line (1998)
• Cherry Pie (1999)
• What'll We Get for Grandma? (1999)
• You're Joking! (2001)

Fleur Trotter Series

Gretel wrote a series of books about a character named Fleur Trotter.

• My Life Is a Toilet (1994)
• The 'My Life Is a Toilet' Instruction Book (1995)
• My Life Is a Wedgie (2000)
• My Life Is a Girdle (2003)

The My Sister Series

She also wrote a popular series of books called "The My Sister series."

• My Sister's a Yoyo (1997)
• My Sister's an Alien (1998)
• My Sister's a Sea Slug (1999)
• My Sister's a Burp (1999)
• My Sister's a Full Stop (2000)
• My Sister's a Nightmare (2000)

Hot Buns & Ophelia Series

• Hot Buns & Ophelia Get a Bloke (2000)
• Hot Buns & Ophelia Get Shipwrecked (2001)

The Very Naughty Mother Series

• The Very Naughty Mother Goes Green (2002)
• The Very Naughty Mother Runs Away (2003)
• The Very Naughty Mother Goes Invisible (2003)
• The Very Naughty Mother Is a Spy (2004)

Movie and Stage Roles

Gretel had a small role in the Australian film Gettin' Square. She played a character named Rhonda Halliwell.

She also performed on stage as the Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show. She appeared in this musical in Sydney and Melbourne in 2008, and again in Sydney in 2024.

Gretel Killeen's Personal Life

Gretel Killeen was born in Sydney, Australia. She has two grown-up children from her previous marriage.

Awards and Recognition

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards were special awards for live entertainment in Australia. They were given out each year from 1975 to 2016. Gretel Killeen won one of these awards.