Logies 2019: Gold Logie winners over the years

We’ve had tears, laughter and chaos. Here’s a look back at the stars who have taken out the award for most popular personality on Australian TV.

It’s the top honour in television — the Gold Logie. 

Tonight, Rodger Corser, Amanda Keller, Costa Georgiadis, Eve Morey, Sam Mac, Tom Gleeson and Waleed Aly will battle it out for the coveted gold statue at the 61st annual TV WEEK Logie Awards. 

We  look back at the acceptance speeches of the stars who have taken out the award for most popular personality on Australian TV.

GRANT DENYER, 2018

Grant Denyer delivered an emotional speech after his shock Gold Logie win in 2018.

The TV host  broke down in tears during his acceptance speech, revealing that Family Feud came at a time when he "wasn't well" and helped him get his "mojo" back. 

"I really wasn't sure if I'd ever work again or if I wanted to," Denyer said, tearing up. "I wasn't particularly in a very good place. I wasn't very well. I was in a bit of a hole. I was pretty sad. I was a bit lost and Family Feud came along and I was very unwell at that particular time. And Family Feud gave me a ladder out of that hole. And I've been very lucky to have had it.

He also thanked his "ray of sunshine" wife, Cheryl, saying she had always believed in him. 

SAMUEL JOHNSON, 2017

Actor Samuel Johnson is not one for doing things by halves. The popular star won Gold for his acting swansong, his staggering portrayal of Aussie music guru Molly Meldrum in the mini-series Molly.

Samuel Johnson with his Gold Logie in 2017.

Johnson’s acceptance speech was meant to be the finale for what had been a feel-the-love Logies.

Johnson had taken to the stage earlier in the night, drawing early tears when he dedicated his Silver Logie win for best actor to his cancer-stricken sister, Constance, who tragically died just months later.

But the actor was upstaged when industry legend Meldrum wandered on to the stage and stole the show during his Gold Logie moment.

Meldrum took control of the microphone and proceeded to ambush Johnson’s moment in the spotlight with his own rambling, expletive-filled filled speech before being ushered off stage.

Johnson appeared momentarily stunned but the amiable star took it all in his stride, later telling reporters he was “half deaf” and “even if I could hear him I don’t know I could have done anything.”

WALEED ALY, 2016

Television presenter Waleed Aly silenced his critics with a stunning victory at the annual TV Week Logie Awards, using his speech to highlight discriminiation in the entertainement industry.

The Project co-host jokingly told the TV audience: “do not adjust your sets, there’s nothing wrong with the picture.”

Aly spoke powerfully and generously of the diversity that the 2016 Gold Logie field represented. The inclusion of Aly and SBS presenter Lee Lin Chin for the top honour had raised eyebrows, but Aly said it was “an amazing thing”.

“Each nominee brilliantly distils some separate piece of Australia and I think it’s an amazing thing that that can be assembled on this night in this way,” he said. “If you step back and look at those pieces assembled, it is a truly spectacular mosaic.”

Waleed Aly highlighted discrimination in the entertainment industry when he accepted his Gold Logie.

Aly used the platform to shine a spotlight on discrimination in the Australian TV industry.

“Someone who is in this room came up to me, introduced themselves and said to me: ‘I really hope you win. My name’s Mustafa but I can’t use that name because I won’t get a job’.”

CARRIE BICKMORE, 2015

Who could forget Carrie Bickmore’s emotional speech after her Gold Logie win? The Project host left the audience and TV viewers stunned when she chose to use her two-minute acceptance speech to talk about something particularly close to her heart.

Bickmore whipped out a bright blue beanie and placed it on her head to raise awareness about brain cancer, the disease that killed her husband Greg, who died in 2010.

Carrie Bickmore used her speech to raise awareness about brain cancer. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

“Everyone thinks it is this rare form of cancer. It is not. It kills more people under 40, and it is a lot of you in this room, more people under 40 than any other cancer,” Bickmore told the audience.

“It kills more kids than any other disease. In 2010, my husband, Greg, was one of the unlucky ones.

“Over 10 years, I watched him suffer multiple seizures a day, lose feeling down one side of his body, have his little three-year-old have to push him around in a wheelchair because he couldn’t walk anymore.

“He was an incredibly brave man. He was a great dad. He was a great husband. He was a great brother and he was a great friend.”

The Project host famously donned a blue beanie to raise brain cancer awareness.

She said no-one should have to suffer as he did, but that brain cancer received very little funding.

“Throughout his cancer journey, he used to wear a lot of hats and he used to wear a lot of beanies and that was because he felt embarrassed about his scars and his head.

“I used to say to him don’t be embarrassed, scars are really, really cool and beanies are also really cool.

“I want to ask anybody that is on TV in Australia tomorrow, to whack on a beanie. I want to get the nation talking about brain cancer.”

SCOTT CAM, 2014

Scott Cam took out gold for his role as the host of Nine’s The Block.

Accepting the Gold Logie, Cam — who also won a gong for the most popular presenter — said he was first asked to do a screen test while he was at a pub.

Scott Cam celebrates his wins.

“I want to thank some early executive producers and producers that I worked with in the early days that put me in the right direction,” he said.

“As I said, I knew nothing about it - they pointed me in the right direction and taught me a fair bit about it.”

Cam later revealed he had turned his Gold Logie into a bottle opener.

ASHER KEDDIE, 2013

Asher Keddie took out Gold for her role in Offspring after a decade of Logie nominations for such series as Underbelly, Paper Giants and Love My Way.

“I’m very overwhelmed and very moved,” she said.

“I think what this really does mean is that it’s such a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to the audience who has watched me play a number of characters over the years, and it’s my opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for being so supportive, even when the characters I have played over the years have not always been entirely likeable.

“Channel Ten is extremely proud of Offspring and could not be more supportive of us.”

Asher Keddie beams as she holds Logies.

In a cute touch, she thanked her now husband, artist Vincent Fantauzzo and her stepson.

“As if life couldn’t get any sweeter thanks to the two guys in my life, Vincent and Luca (Fantauzzo’s son) . . . oh how lucky in love I am,’’ Keddie said.

HAMISH BLAKE, 2012

HAMISH Blake admitted he felt like an “impostor” after winning the Gold Logie.

“I feel like I’m a bit of an impostor on the list. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing my name on that list of winners,” he said.

Blake, who fronted the media the morning after wearing a bathrobe, shocked the television industry when he won its most prized trophy.

Hamish Blake with his Gold Logie trophy, the morning after the Logie Awards.

“Once you step out into the light of day in a bathrobe, now I do feel like I’m in a dream,” the comedian said.

Blake won over short-priced favourite Carrie Bickmore, who had more money bet on her than all other nominees combined.

The night was a double celebration for Blake, who with comic partner Andy Lee won most popular light entertainment program for Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year.

KARL STEFANOVIC, 2011

When it comes to the Logies, Today host Karl Stefanovic is never far from controversy. In 2009, he shocked TV viewers with his infamous post-Logies broadcast.

Stting next to his former co-host Lisa Wilkinson, who looked clearly bemused, Stefanovic appeared flushed as he slurred his works and giggled uncontrollably.

Stefanoic later admitted that he was “really drunk”, telling an interviewer, “we all get smashed at the Logies and go to work the next day; we’d done it for years and years.

“But this was the first Logies when stuff really started working on the internet.”

The controversy didn’t end there. In 2011, Stefanovic surprised TV pundits when he beat favourite Rebecca Gibney to win the Gold Logie —and sparked a sexism row.

Gold Logie winner Karl Stefanovic caused a stir whne he won gold.

The severely jetlagged TV host, who raced back from covering the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to be at the awards show, angered viewers and women in the room with his risque acceptance speech.

Karl Stefanovic arrives at the 2011 Logies with former wife Cassandra Thorburn.

Thanking his then wife Cassandra Thorburn — the pair split in October 2016 after 21 years of marriage — he said: “She has been a great influence on my life and has also got the best arse I have ever seen.”

RAY MEAGHER, 2010

After a television career spannning decades, Home and Away legend Ray Meagher was finally honoured with a Gold Logie in 2010. For Meagher, a TV favourite, the award meant more that just recognition for his acting talents.

The win plunged Meagher back into his tragic childhood, which was marked by the early deaths of his mother, Patricia, and father, Bill.

It was a double blow that Meagher says he only overcame with the help of his eldest brother, Colin and Colin’s wife, Pat.

Ray Meagher paid tribute to his family.

“They helped me both emotionally and financially from a very young age and I owe them a great deal of gratitude,” he said.

“From the time Mum died, Colin, who is 13 years older than I am, and Pat were like parents to me.

“I’m sure he paid for some of my school fees and things like that.” Meagher excelled at sport - he was a rugby union champion - but the acting bug bit. He credited Colin with giving him the confidence to pursue it as a career.

REBECCA GIBNEY, 2009

Everybody loves Rebecca Gibney. So it was no surprise when the star took out the top gong for her role as the nation’s favourite mum, Julie Rafter in Seven’s family drama Packed to the Rafters.

Prior to her Gold Logie win, Gibney had 20 Logie nominations under her belt. But she had only ever won one — in 1991 for the ABC World War II series Come In Spinner.

Rebecca Gibney with her Gold and Silver Logies.

The popular star was delighted to win.

“Everyone has been so really lovely and I know we sometimes poo poo the Logies but this is so bloody marvellous,” Gibney said on accepting the award.

“And I’m really really thrilled.

She had been the favourite with Neighbours star Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop, but pipped him in the end.

KATE RITCHIE, 2008 and 2007

When Aussie TV sweetheart Kate Ritchie took out gold for second time, emotions ran high. The actress, who grew up on our TV screens, thanked the cast and crew of Home and Away’ but had an emotional message for someone else.

“There are so many people that I need to thank tonight but the most important person that I need to thank is Sally Fletcher,” she said.

“I didn’t realise how important she was to me and what a huge part of me she was until I had to say goodbye.

“She has been like my best mate and, to be honest, I feel like I have had my right arm cut off and there are days when I ... I don’t even know how to finish that sentence, but I just appreciate being able to share so much of my life with everyone, and I think the most important thing is that I feel so appreciated. Thank you so much. Thank you.”

Kate Ritchie was overwhelmed by her win.

After her first win in 2007, Ritchie said the award meant more than people realised.

“No one probably understands how much this award means to me,” she said holding back tears as she clutched the golden statue.

“I am forever having people approach me and telling me they’ve watched me on tele and feel like they know me, and for a long time I felt like I needed to be the person that everybody else thought I was.”

JOHN WOOD, 2006

After 10 nominations, actor John Wood finally won Australian television’s highest honour — the Gold Logie.

The veteran Blue Heelers cop beat Bert Newton, Bec Hewitt, Kate Richie and McLeod’s Daughters star Bridie Carter to take out gold.

“I would just like to say a big thank you to all people right around Australia who got behind me this year for the Gold Logie,” Wood, who also won the most popular actor Logie, said.

John Wood with his gold logie. Logies. Awards.

“Ten years in a row is an amazing statistic and I am really very proud to take this out on behalf of Blue Heelers, which is an iconic and legendary show.”

That year also marked the change in voting. Voting was votes could be cast by SMS as well as by coupons found in TV Week.

*The 61st TV WEEK Logie Awards will air on Channel 9 tonight from 7pm (AEST). 

Originally published as Logies 2019: Gold Logie winners over the years