Kath & Kim’s Effluent Life: Shane Warne death prompts reunion show

It’s been 20 years since Kath & Kim hit our screens, but it was the day cricket legend Shane Warne died that lit the flame behind the show’s reunion.

Shane Warne with Kath & Kim stars. Picture: Supplied

Michael Buble was dying with laughter, Shane Warne had a fantastic experience and Kylie Minogue recalls making a lasting fashion statement.

All three big names have guest starred on Kath & Kim and also appear in a collection of tributes, never-been-before seen clips and bloopers to celebrate 20 years of the iconic series.

A sneak peek of the two specials marking Kath & Kim’s Effluent Life, airing Sunday and Monday nights, reveals a string of famous faces including Chris Hemsworth, Matt Lucas, Carson Kressley, Eric Bana, Barry Humphries, Richard E. Grant, Ricky Ponting and Mick Molloy.

Michael Bublè on the Kath and Kim set with Gina Riley and Jane Turner. Picture: Supplied

“I was flying in to Australia to do the Logies and Kath & Kim came on the in-flight show and I was dying with laughter,’’ Buble says after his appearance in 2005.

Warne said in 2007: “Being on the set was fantastic, they all made me feel welcome. Trying to rehearse lines, I’d never had to do that.”

There’s highlights from events such as the Logies, AFL Grand Final and the set of Home And Away where Kim pashed on with Hemsworth, plus some new scenes were captured giving insight into where the characters are today.

Gina Riley, who played effervescent hornbag Kim Craig nee Day, said this is a fitting way to mark the milestone and bid farewell.

“At the time the show had a difficult birth with people not being used to women talking whatever was on their minds, and the world has changed so much in 20 years in that women can do comedy,’’ Riley said.

Kylie Minogue as Epponnee-Rae on the set of TV show Kath and Kim. Picture: Supplied

Rhonda Burchmore with Glenn Robbins. Picture: Supplied

“There was always an argument that women aren’t funny back in the day. This has been so much fun and so lovely to properly say goodbye. We just pinch ourselves that there’s a new generation who still respond to it. I don’t think we can get lightning in a bottle again — it was great to get together for a very fitting end.”

All the favourites are back across the two nights, including Sharon Strzelecki, Brett Craig, Kel Knight and of course Kath Day Knight.

As footage from more than 1000 tapes and 240 shoot days was gathered, the impact the foxy ladies from Fountain Lakes made was undeniable.

Kath & Kim executive producer Rick McKenna says the sudden death of cricket legend Warne prompted a think back to all the memorable moments.

Eric Bana with Jane Turner as Kath. Picture: Supplied

“Glenn (Robbins) is very close to him and we had a bit to do with him for the show and the movie and that day he passed we were all in touch and sharing photos,’’ McKenna said.

“We had all these moments that brought on all this dialogue and that lit the flame that it’s the 20th year, we’re all really proud of it, we remembered how much laughter there was on set and we reflected on our mortality.

“Most of the tapes hadn’t been converted in today’s technology but we were digging up the gems and we found so many off-the-cuff moments. Golden moments with Bert (Newton), Prue and Trude on The Panel, taunting Simon Cowell at the British Comedy Awards.

“In 2017 before Channel 9 replayed the show and it was picked up by Netflix we were at a Christmas party and a five year-old said she loves Kath & Kim. It made us realise the show has still got life in it yet.”

As the ladies say, this final fling means it’s over — O, V, A, H.

Kath & Kim: Our Effluent Life airs Sunday November 20 on Seven and 7Plus at 7pm, followed by Kath & Kim: 20 Preposterous Years on Monday November 21 on Seven and 7Plus at 7.30pm