Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman dead at 76

Aussie TV legend John Blackman, who served as Hey, Hey’s voiceover artist for the show’s entire run, has died at the age of 76.

Former Hey, Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman has died at the age of 76.

The Australian TV and radio legend, who served as Hey, Hey’s voiceover artist for the show’s entire run, had suffered ill health in recent years as he dealt with cancer.

In 2018, he underwent a mammoth 12-hour surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his mouth and jaw, which saw most of his jaw removed. The cancer reappeared in 2022, and Blackman had to undergo yet more gruelling surgery: This time, to remove the top of his skull and skin from his scalp.

Blackman in his Hey, Hey heyday.

Catching up with old friend Daryl Somers (left) more recently.

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford shared the news on the Seven Network this morning, calling Blackman “an incredible man. In the past years, he has put up a huge cancer fight.”

“He was a beautiful performer on radio and television, in recent years, of course, he’s put up this incredible cancer fight,” he said.

Blackman underwent several gruelling operations to treat his cancer in recent years.

Blackman was always heard but rarely seen on Hey, Hey.

Blackman got his start in radio in 1969 but found fame two years later when he moved across to television, serving as the voiceover announcer for Hey, Hey, Australia’s longest-running variety show. The Saturday night show ran from 1971 to 1999, before a couple of brief relaunches in the noughties.

Although he was rarely seen on screen, Blackman was a major part of the show, adding off-script banter to each episode and often chatting with host Daryl Somers directly live on-air.

As well as his long-running role on Hey, Hey, Blackman wrote several books, appeared on TV shows including Blankety Blanks and The Paul Hogan Show, and served as a radio host on stations including 3AW and Triple M.

Blackman made headlines in recent years when he hit back at fellow former Hey, Hey star Kamahl after the Malaysian-born singer, a frequent guest on the show, said he felt “humiliated” by a number of racist skits that took place while he was on-air.

“Goodness me Kamahl, 37 years and you’re still “humiliated”,” he wrote, arguing Kamahl should’ve complained at the time and he would’ve “desisted from making any further ”racist” remarks forever.” However, others - Kamahl included - criticised Blackman for taking that stance.

Blackman is survived by his wife Cecile and their adult daughter.

Originally published as Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman dead at 76