AACTA Awards 2020: Tom Gleeson mocks Pete Evans in hilarious opening monologue

Tom Gleeson used his AACTAs opening monologue to mercilessly mock controversial chef Pete Evans and Kerri-Anne Kennerly.

Tom Gleeson did not hold back as host of the AACTA Awards, skewering some of Australia’s biggest stars.

The comedian targeted Pete Evans during his hilarious opening monologue at the awards which were held at The Star in Sydney on Monday night.

“I’m your host for this evening, I’ll be taking you through the night and I’ll be choosing my words very carefully because TV shows used to get cancelled, (but) now people get cancelled … like Pete Evans,” Gleeson began.

“He was dropped from I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. It’s a missed opportunity for Channel 10 though, the first challenge could have been ‘try this vaccination’ … or ‘stand under this 5G tower’ … or ‘be credible’.”

RELATED: All the AACTA winners

Pete Evans was dumped from I’m A Celeb over his interesting views.

The comedian also took aim at SAS Australia, and Plate of Origin.

“SAS Australia was a huge success this year for Channel 7. Congratulations, they put celebrities through their paces.

“It was so entertaining that they almost forgot about the war crimes,” Gleeson said.

“This year Channel 7 also poached Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston. They left MasterChef to launch Plate Of Origin, whichI suspect completed its only season,” he said about the low-rating show.

“Plate of Origin was a TV competition where Gary Meighan and Matt Preston unknowingly competed to answer the question, ‘Was MasterChef’s ratings success due to the talent or the format?’ Spoiler alert, it was the format.”

Finally, the outspoken host took aim at Studio 10 and Kerri-Anne Kennerley.

“Studio 10 on Channel 10 had a big clean out. Joe Hildebrand gone, Natarsha Belling gone. Kerri-Anne gone. After getting a Gold Logie, Kerri-Anne called me a wimp for not going to Studio 10, so I’d just like to say to Kerri-Anne, who is probably watching from home because she’s not invited, or on air … I’d just like to let you know Kerri-Anne that I didn’t go on Studio 10 because I enjoy performing to an audience!”

Tom Gleeson took aim at Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s departure from Studio 10.

RELATED: KAK crashed Studio 10: ‘I’ll be shot’

“There are more people in this room socially distanced than who watch Studio 10.

“Going to Studio 10 is like yelling your opinions into an empty shoebox. It’s pointless behaviour.

“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it fall, you’re on Studio 10.

The 2020 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel were held over two ceremonies due to COVID-19 – a film ceremony in the afternoon and a TV/online ceremony in the early evening.

Rove McManus and Susie Youssef hosted the afternoon film awards with Tom Gleeson taking the reigns for the TV ceremony.

Guests who attended at least one of the ceremonies included Delta Goodrem, Tim Minchin, Matt Okine, Abe Forsythe, Eliza Scanlen, Anne Edmonds and Melissa Leong.

The AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Ceremony will air on Foxtel Arts, December 6 at 7.30pm AEDT. And Tom Gleeson is set to perform his Lighten Up stand-up show at the Sydney Opera House on December 4 and 5.