Charlie Pickering: ‘Nobody has hired me for my looks’

CHARLIE Pickering is a man of many talents but admits returning texts is not among them.

The Weekly stars Charlie Pickering who is ably supported by Tom Gleeson and Kitty Flanagan.

CHARLIE Pickering is a man of many talents. Stellar catches up with The Weekly host to discuss the things that matter (namely, tie-choosery).

You’re a comic, TV and radio host, author and journalist. Isn’t it a bit rude to hog all the talents?

Nobody said I did any of those things well. I keep it fair by showing no sporting prowess whatsoever.

Name another thing you’re rubbish at.

Returning people’s texts. I could get a group text from Obama, Bono, Oprah and God, and I’d forget to reply. Two years later, I’d remember and text them saying, “You still up for that fondue party?”

Hosting The Weekly must be demanding, in terms of suit rotation and tie-choosery.

It has been in the past, but this year I’m considering following Karl Stefanovic’s lead and having only one suit.

Any guest left you starstruck?

When I met Alan Alda, I had to stop myself from yelling at him, “YOU’RE ALAN ALDA!”

What’s the hardest part of hosting The Weekly?

I have to watch a lot of news, and most of it is awful. Every week, my whole team has to watch hundreds of hours of news just to find the perfect clip of someone screwing up. Everyone should get trauma counselling.

Just to check, though, you’ve got a sensible job to fall back on when you lose your looks?

I thought that’s what radio was for. And, thankfully, nobody has hired me for my looks. If I had the looks, I’d just run an Instagram account from beside a pool in Costa Rica.

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering airs 8.30pm Wednesdays on the ABC.

Originally published as Charlie Pickering: ‘Nobody has hired me for my looks’