Hey Hey It’s Saturday will return to TV for 50th anniversary

Hey Hey It’s Saturday host Daryl Somers has revealed how the iconic variety show will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Gold Logie winner Daryl Somers will return to TV screens to host the 50th anniversary special of Hey Hey It’s Saturday later this year.

Somers, who hosted the variety show for 30 years, will feature the show’s favourite characters in the TV special Hey Hey We’re 50.

“I was absolutely delighted when Seven suggested a 50th anniversary Hey Hey special,” he said.

“Trawling back through the vast archive has been almost as much fun as doing the show in the first place, so I hope we can offer a few laughs, not only to the diehard Hey Hey fans but to all Australians, as we desperately need a touch of levity at this time.”

Hey Hey It’s Saturday host and producer Daryl Somers.

Seven Network Director of Programming, Angus Ross, said: “There are very few Australian TV shows as loved as Hey Hey and we are really pleased to be able to work with Daryl and his team on this fantastic special event. “For three decades, Hey Hey was one of the funniest, most entertaining and most unpredictable shows on TV. We’re honoured to be part of what promises to be a wonderful celebration.”

It comes months after Somers, 70, apologised after old footage of the show’s offensive segments, including racist jokes and caricatures of singer Kamahl resurfaced online and drew backlash.

One particular skit from the early 1980s showed Kamahl being hit in the face with a white powder-puff while voice-over artist John Blackman said: “You’re a real white man now, Kamahl, you know that?”

Earlier this year, Kamahl described the incidents as “humiliating”.

“Hey Hey It’s Saturday never set out to offend anybody but always strived to provide family entertainment,” Somers wrote in a statement.

“I am proud of the fact that it was the longest running comedy/variety programme on Australian television lasting for thirty years.

“I certainly appreciate, however, that in the context of modern society some material from the past is plainly inappropriate, and would not go to air today.”