Late Foxtel boss Brian Walsh to be inducted into Logies Hall of Fame

Late Foxtel boss Brian Walsh will be honoured at next week’s Logie Awards with an induction into the awards’ Hall of Fame.

Brian Walsh will receive a very special posthumous honour at next week’s Logies. Picture: Getty

Late Foxtel boss Brian Walsh will be honoured at next week’s Logie Awards with an induction into the awards’ Hall of Fame.

Walsh, the company’s executive director of drama and senior content consultant, passed away in Sydney in March at the age of 68.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Walsh was credited with the global success of the iconic soap Neighbours, helping to launch the careers of international stars like Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Jason Donovan.

In 1995, he helped to launch Foxtel and subscription television in this country. He oversaw all scripted and unscripted commissions for Foxtel, including acclaimed shows like Wentworth, Upright, Deadline Gallipoli, The Kettering Incident, The End, Love Me, Colin from Accounts and most recently The Twelve - which is the most nominated drama at this year’s Logies.

Walsh’s sudden death in March sent shockwaves around the Australian entertainment industry, with veteran entertainment journalist Richard Wilkins becoming emotional when he announced his friend’s passing on-air.

“He just loved the business, loved the people in the business, loved the business of the business,” Wilkins said, visibly trying to hold back tears.

“He loved people... so many people. Sorry, I don’t know what to say.”

Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany called Walsh’s death “a very difficult day for the Foxtel Group family, for Australia’s creative community and the millions of Australians who watched and loved the stories that Brian bought to life through television. Australia’s creative community has lost a much-loved figure in Brian. For us, the loss is heavily felt.”

This year’s Gold Logie nominees. Picture: TV WEEK/PAUL SUESSE

With one week to go until the Logies take place, today photos have been released from a glam new shoot featuring all of this year’s Gold Logie nominees: Julia Morris, Mark Coles Smith, Osher Gunsberg, Shaun Micallef, Sonia Kruger, Leigh Sales and Hamish Blake.

Also announced today are two headline musical acts for the ceremony, which will take place next Sunday night at The Star in Sydney - the first time the awards night has been held in Sydney for many years.

Dance act Peking Duck will perform, alongside Aussie singer-songwriter Amy Shark, who will debut her new single Can I Shower At Yours.

The Logies will air at their new home of the Seven network next Sunday, with Sonia Kruger and Chris Brown hosting the red carpet broadcast at 7pm before Sam Pang takes the stage to host the ceremony live from 7:30pm.

Originally published as Late Foxtel boss Brian Walsh to be inducted into Logies Hall of Fame