Australian icon Agro is back and looking better than ever
He’s the cheeky, playfully inappropriate puppet Australia grew to love in the 80s and 90s. Now, more than two decades on, Agro is back with a few changes.
TV
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Miley’s $1m loss in divorce from Liam
- Virus infects more Aussie cruisers as second Qantas flight planned
Exclusive: Mischievous puppet Agro is back and bringing more to the spotlight than a fresh take on adult humour.
The playfully inappropriate and iconic character, who shot to fame nationwide when he starred on Agro’s Cartoon Connection, has undergone a dramatic transformation.
Equipped with new threads, bright eyes and a wider smile, Agro 2.0 has come a long way since starting his TV career in 1989, alongside comedian and voice artist Jamie Dunn.
“Agro was always Agro and I never cleaned him so I made a new one,” Dunn said.
“It’s actually the second Agro you’re looking at … I don’t think the first Agro would be upset with me replacing him. He’s in the bottom draw of the dresser in my bedroom.”
Since starring on Agro’s Cartoon Connection – alongside co-hosts Ann-Maree Biggar, Terasa Livingstone and Holly Brisley, among others – Agro went on to co-host TV shows including Wombat, Sunday Super Show and Perfect Match Australia.
The 38-year-old puppet also appeared on The Don Lane Show, Hey Dad …!, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Concentration and The Daily Edition.
MORE NEWS
New change for Aussie Uber users
Quarantined Aussie’s desperate plea
Dunn, on the other hand, now works as a radio host on Brisbane country music station 98.9FM and said he and Agro continued to receive Agro’s Cartoon Connection fan mail.
“It’s strange isn’t it. At one stage, I think there was a recognition factor of Agro of over 90 per cent of Australia,” Dunn said.
“I never would’ve thought Agro – a puppet – would become an Aussie icon. He’s a successful accident.”
Another big “surprise” for the duo over the years, throughout their careers, was the increase in pay.
Starting on $63 per week in 1989, Dunn said he never expected to earn as much as he did with Agro.
His highest paying gig was with 2Day FM in Sydney, where he made $1.6 million.
“I never really cared about the money – it kind of just took off,” Dunn said, adding the next big gig with Agro was live stand-up, with the help of former Big Brother contestant Ben Zabel.
The trio are reviving Agro’s mischievous humour – as seen on Agro’s Cartoon Connection – and are touring nationwide to deliver Agro Up Late! With Jamie Dunn.
The “unplanned, scriptless” show – designed to be a “trip down memory lane” – is currently booked for the Brisbane Comedy Festival, the Sydney Comedy Festival and the Perth Comedy Festival.
“We’ll be using pieces of the set from Agro’s Cartoon Connection to take you back in time,” the Dunn said, adding he kept in touch with Biggar from the early days.
“I’ve actually ignored the last 15 calls from Ann-Maree since this tour has been announced, because I know she’s going to say ‘why aren’t you doing these shows with me?’
“She was the most professionally intelligent and best person I ever worked with but these shows are going in a different direction and I’m really looking forward to working with Ben.”
Originally published as Australian icon Agro is back and looking better than ever