‘It’s a disgrace!’ The biggest names in TV call for an end to the Logie Awards gentleman’s club

IT’S the female-shunning gentleman’s club of Aussie television that has been labelled a “disgrace”. Now dozens of male stars are demanding change.

Worthy recipient ... Noeline Brown was another name put forward.

IT’S the female-shunning gentleman’s club of Australian television that has been labelled a “disgrace”.

Now dozens of the small screen’s most prominent blokes have thrown their support behind a campaign calling for more women to be inducted into the Logie Awards Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame became part of the annual Logies ceremony in 1984 and since then, just one woman — Ruth Cracknell — has been inducted alongside 27 men.

“There are so many women who have played major national roles and it’s a disgrace that the gender imbalance is such,” Eddie McGuire told the blog TV Tonight.

Industry “disgrace” ... Eddie McGuire is one of dozens of men of TV to support a campaign highlighting the Logies Hall of Fame gender imbalance. Picture: Supplied

He joined 34 other male personalities, including Karl Stefanovic, Rove McManus, David Koch, Charlie Pickering and Shaun Micallef, to offer suggestions of women worthy of recognition.

Among the popular responses were Denise Drysdale, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Noni Hazlehurst and Jana Wendt.

As the men point out, there are countless examples of iconic women to choose from after nearly 60 years of TV in Australia.

Lone recipient ... Ruth Cracknell is the only woman to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame, alongside 27 men. Picture: Supplied

And while McGuire acknowledges the industry was dominated by men in the early days, he said things changed long ago and “now is the time to widen the eyes and acknowledge these legendary figures of television”.

Worth contender ... comedian and TV presenter Denise Drysdale was a popular pick for Hall of Fame recognition. Picture: Supplied

The More Logie Women campaign was launched by TV Tonight and its editor David Knox said the response from the industry and viewers alike showed a need for change.

“This year’s (Hall of Fame) inductee will be Seven’s long-running soap Home And Away, only the fourth time a show has been honoured,” Knox said.

“While it’s a worthy inductee, it’s clear the men of TV want change next year.”

The male personalities TV Tonight approached overwhelmingly nominated Drysdale, a Gold Logie winning comedian, presenter and actress, as a Hall of Fame possibility.

Worthy recipient ... Kerri-Anne Kennerley was another name put forward. Picture: Roger Wyman

Worthy recipient ... Jana Wendt was another name put forward.

McManus said she had “more than earned a place in the gentleman’s club that is the Hall of Fame” while Koch credited her with “inventing the role of the female variety show host”.

“It shocks me a little that she hasn’t already been inducted,” comic and TV presenter Peter Helliar said.

Worthy recipient ... Noeline Brown was another name put forward.

Wendt, an iconic broadcast journalist, was also a popular pick, with Sky News presenter David Speers describing her as a “source of great inspiration” in his own career.

New inductee ... the long-running soap Home and Away is this year’s entrant into the Logies Hall of Fame. Picture: Supplied

TV veteran Kennerley was also put forward as a name deserving of Hall of Fame recognition, with Adam Zwar calling her “smart, funny and an enormous talent”.

The TV WEEK Logie Awards take place this Sunday. Organisers declined to comment.

Originally published as ‘It’s a disgrace!’ The biggest names in TV call for an end to the Logie Awards gentleman’s club