50 and fabulous: The female TV stars proving age is no barrier
JUST a few years ago, female TV hosts over the age of 50 quietly — or not so quietly — disappeared from our screens in an industry ruled by men. But now they are not only surviving, but playing a starring role on our screens.
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THESE are golden years for women in television.
Just a few years ago, female TV hosts over the age of 50 quietly — or not so quietly — disappeared from our screens in an industry ruled by men.
But in 2018, older women are out in force, not only surviving but starring on our screens.
Channel 10 is leading the charge when it comes to representation of older women on the screen, having recently enlisted Kerri-Anne Kennerley, 64, who after more than 50 years in television, was this month announced as a panellist on the Studio Ten program.
The same show employed Ita Buttrose, 76, and also Denise Scott, 63, in April after comedian Denise Drysdale, 69, departed.
We follow the careers of some of the silver dames of TV:
DENISE SCOTT
Author, actress and comedian Denise Scott first started working as a professional actor and comedian nearly 30 years ago.
Scott has been and remains a favourite guest on many of Australia’s favourite TV shows, including Spicks and Specks, The Project, Talkin’ ‘bout Your Generation and Have You Been Paying Attention? in addition to starring as Trish Gross on Channel 7’s high-rating drama Winners & Losers.
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Scott continues to perform around the country and appear on our TV screens, most recently as the voice of Channel 9’s Travel Guides. Scott joined the Studio 10 panel in April 2018.
SANDRA SULLY
Considered one of the most recognisable and respected faces on Australian television, Sully’s career includes 18 years as the presenter and senior editor of Ten Late News with Sports Tonight.
The 53-year-old is a senior journalist and anchor of Ten Eyewitness News First At Five Sydney and recently appointed managing news editor of Ten Daily.
She has been part of the Ten News team since 1990 and celebrated her 25th anniversary at the Network in 2015.
JENNIFER KEYTE
In 1982, Jennifer Keyte made the move from radio to television, joining Network Ten.
Here she was given the opportunity to write and present news bulletins, beginning with the early morning program, Good Morning Australia, then soon after began regularly presenting the weekend news.
Jennifer then joined the Seven Network in 1987 where she began reading the main evening news bulletin with Glenn Taylor.
In 1996, Jennifer joined the Nine Network to host Good Medicine.
Seven and half years later in August 2003, Jennifer returned to the newsdesk at Seven Melbourne to take up the position of weekend newsreader.
Keyte joined the team at Ten Eyewitness News First At Five in Melbourne in June following an illustrious career spanning more than 30 years.
ANN SANDERS
Ann Sanders is the anchor of Seven’s morning and afternoon News.
A respected journalist with more than three decades’ experience, Sanders has reported on some of the country’s biggest news events over the course of her career.
At the end of last year, Sanders celebrated her 30th anniversary with the Seven Network.
Sanders believes she has seen longevity in her role because of a few important factors.
“It’s not about me, it is about the news product that I deliver,” she said.
“It is important to have a can do attitude, work hard, be diligent, have a good attitude, be industrious and truthful.”
TRACY GRIMSHAW
Grimshaw joined Nine News as a reporter in 1981.
In 1985, she began presenting news bulletins and by 1987 had been appointed as the presenter of National Nine morning news.
In 1995, Grimshaw appeared as co-host of The Midday Show with David Reyne.
In 1996, she was host of Today on Saturday and Animal Hospital.
From 1996 until 2005, the 58-year-old was appointed as the co-host of Today with Steve Liebmann.
In 2006, Grimshaw began presenting and continues to host A Current Affair.
KERRI-ANNE KENNERLEY
Kerri-Anne Kennerley, affectionately known as KAK, has had a long and varied career.
She made her first television appearance in 1967 at the age of 14 on the children’s shows The Channel Niners and Everybody’s In on Brisbane’s QTQ 9.
She then made the move to The Saturday Show on Network Ten, before being made host of breakfast TV program Good Morning Australia on Network Ten for 11 years.
From 1996 until 1998, she worked on daytime-variety TV show Midday.
She joined the What’s Cooking program in 1999 before in 2001 moving to Channel 10 to host the game shows Greed and Moment of Truth.
In 2002, Kennerley returned to the Nine Network where she hosted Kerri-Anne for nine years.
In September Kennerley joined Studio 10 as a co-host.
AMANDA KELLER
After many years working as a producer and researcher, in 1994, Amanda Keller — known as a comedian, radio host, journalist, TV host — joined Andrew Denton as a regular guest on his show Denton.
In 1995, she hosted her own show on cable television called The Hub.
She then hosted her own pop culture program Mondo Thingo in 2004.
From 2009 to 2012, Keller was team leader on Network Ten’s quiz show Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation.
Keller currently presents morning radio on WSFM 101.7, with Brendan Jones, is now the host of The Living Room and recently signed on as host of Ten’s Dancing With The Stars.
HELEN WELLINGS
Helen Wellings is currently the consumer affairs editor for Seven News and has been a senior reporter with the Seven Network for more than 20 years.
The former high school teacher took on a consumer advocacy role during the 1970s and 80s, appearing daily on national news, current affairs and variety shows.
In 1986, Helen was appointed to the ABC TV’s award-winning consumer watchdog program, The Investigators, as its host and chief reporter for 10 years.
In 1996, Helen hosted Channel 7’s 6.30pm public affairs program Today Tonight.
For the past 20 years, with her long-held consumer affairs expertise, she has been presenting investigative reports for Today Tonight and Seven News.