John Blackman: A man of many voices, and we loved them all

Australian TV and music legend Molly Meldrum has led a wave of emotional tributes to ­entertainment’s man of many ­voices, John Blackman, who has died, aged 76.

John Blackman had a voice that was instantly recognisable on radio and TV, though he was rarely seen on screen.

Australian TV and music legend Ian “Molly” Meldrum has led a wave of emotional tributes to ­entertainment’s man of many ­voices, John Blackman.

Meldrum described Blackman, who via his character Dickie Knee would regularly interrupt Meldrum’s music segment on Hey Hey It’s Saturday, as a brilliant and talented performer.

“He was one of the most magnificent people I have ever met. So clever and so humble. I will never forget him,” Meldrum said.

In the 1980s, Meldrum did a segment each Sunday on his legendary ABC pop music show Countdown called Molly’s Humdrum, on which he often mangled his words.

On one of these nights, Blackman, who never tangled his words, delivered one of his finest off-the-cuff lines, signalling the end of Meldrum’s segment thus: “That’s hoodoo from the guru.”

Blackman, best-known for voicing the cheeky Dickie Knee on Hey Hey It’s Saturday, died on Tuesday, aged 76. He had fought a gruelling battle with cancer, but is believed to have suffered a heart attack.

Blackman during a 2007 reunion with Dickie Knee, the popular puppet he voiced on that show.

Blackman had many ­voices, and Australia loved them all. It was on our radios and it was on our televisions – and wherever the voice of Blackman went, wicked humour and an uncanny gift for double entendres followed.

Blackman’s colourful career commenced in radio in 1969, when he and his first wife bundled off to 2GN in Goulburn so he could earn his stripes behind the microphone.

By 1971, he had landed a gig at Melbourne’s 3AW – where he would eventually become one half of the city’s top-rating breakfast radio show.

Blackman’s fame was solidified when he joined the motley crew at Hey Hey It’s Saturday, working as the voiceover ­announcer for Australia’s longest-running variety show.

He was rarely seen on screen – yet his contribution to the show was inimitable, adding outrageous off-script banter to every episode and regularly chatting with host Daryl Somers live on-air.

Fellow Hey Hey performer Wilbur Wilde said he would “forever remember all the laughs” he had shared with Blackman.

“John Blackman was a funny man and possessed a great sense of humanity. He looked after his old mum for many years, joking that the ramp he had installed to her home would be wide enough to cater for her and her oxygen cylinder,” Wilde said.

“He also looked after his sister who suffers from cerebral palsy and who has, against the odds, outlived him.”

Former Hey Hey co-star Marty Fields shared his sorrow at his friend’s death.

“So sad at the passing of my old mate John Blackman,” Fields wrote online. “He was a master voiceover announcer, live act and incredible radio pioneer.”

Longtime friend and sometimes critic of Blackman, former politician Derryn Hinch, also said he was “shocked and saddened” by his death.

Blackman at centre left with fellow cast members of Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

“He handled his illnesses so bravely. We had some huge rows but he was the fastest ad lib man ever. Vale,” Mr Hinch wrote.

Despite their public spats, Blackman confirmed only months ago that the pair were nonetheless the “best of mates”.

“We have buried so many hatchets our back gardens have turned rusty,” he said.

In 2018, Blackman’s life took an unexpected turn when he had to undergo 12 hours of surgery to replace his jaw after he was diagnosed with an aggressive malignant cancer.

When the cancer reappeared in 2022, he had to endure more surgery to remove the top of his skull and skin from his scalp.

Reflecting on his career in January this year, Blackman said his 10-year-old self “would not have predicted” the extraordinary experiences and opportunities that he had enjoyed. But he added: “Life deals you a rough hand sometimes and you have to play with the cards God deals you.”

Blackman is survived by his wife Cecile, whom he wed in 1972, and his daughter Tiffany.