The stars who worked on Sydney Weekender, now celebrating 21 years
MIKE Whitney knows what a good wicket he’s on hosting Channel 7’s Sydney Weekender, a gig he lucked upon after a headlining career with the Australian cricket team.
Back in those days, he was a cheeky left-arm fast bowler who starred for his country, state and had played grade cricket for Randwick against the former Seven CEO Chris Chapman, who just happened to be casting for stars on a new lifestyle show.
After turning down an offer to join the network’s sports team, Whitney instead scored the hosting gig for a show celebrating the extraordinary TV milestone of Sydney Weekender being on air for 21 years.
“Chris said to me then, ‘we’ve just started this show and want to use it as a training ground, so have a go and we can move you on from there,” Whitney remembers.
Travelling NSW every week to film the state’s best holiday spots, natural wonders and food and wine to tempt even the fussiest traveller, the seasoned presenter may have been everywhere for Weekender since but he’s still in no hurry to move on.
While a galaxy of Australian TV talent have been nurtured on the program - from country singers to career media stars - Sydney Weekender has indeed gone on to teach some of our biggest stars to shine.
Whitney says the show’s fast-paced production - turning out a tight half-hour of travel, entertainment and restaurant reports - has given many in the industry valuable experience.
“We’ve had people like (chefs) Matt Moran, Tetsuya and Steve Manfredi come on the show as guest reporters and they can’t believe what we get done in a day. They’ll say after 1.5 hours ‘is that it? I’ve been on other shows where this would have taken three days.’”
The show has been flexible in welcoming actors and entertainers like Home And Away’s Ada Nicodemou and The Wiggles star Greg Page the opportunity to try new skills; while seasoned reporters and newsreaders like Ann Sanders, Natalie Barr and Rahni Sadler have all made appearances on the show.
Seven network talent like The Daily Edition co-host Sally Obermeder and Weekend Sunrise presenter James Tobin got their chance to impress executives by fronting segments on Weekender, then going on to score more high-profile roles.
It’s also been a nursery for other network, poaching talent like Georgie Gardner, Cameron Williams, Sonia Kruger, Amber Sherlock (all now on Nine), Nuala Hafner (Ten) and Angus Stewart (ABC’s Gardening Australia) - who all appeared on Sydney Weekender over its two decades.
THEN AND NOW: SONIA KRUGER
THEN AND NOW: JOHANNA GRIGGS
THEN AND NOW: GEORGIE GARDNER
THEN AND NOW: ADA NICODEMOU
THEN AND NOW: SOPHIE FALKINER
THEN AND NOW: AMBER SHERLOCK
Meanwhile, Whitney says he’s practising his best fend to palm away anyone with their eyes on taking his job.
“It’s definitely one of the plum jobs in TV and there’s probably some fit young guy with a washboard abs angling to take over but I’m trying to keep them at bay. At least until I reach 1000 episodes,” Whitney said, now at 885 episodes not out.
Melissa Doyle 1999
Johanna Griggs 1995
Andrew Ettingshausen 2004
Dr John Darcy 1997
Sonia Kruger 1999
Monique Wright 1997
Mark Beretta 2000
Rahni Sadler 2000
Lea Wilson 2002 (Miss Australia 1989)
Ann Sanders 1995
Cameron Williams 1994
Leigh Hatcher 1994 (Face of Sky News)
Natalie Barr 1995
Angus Stewart 1996 (Gardening Australia)
Steve Mortimer 1995 (NRL legend)
Kylie Gillies 1997
Steve Waugh 1997
Deb Rice 1997 (ABC News anchor)
Chris Reason 1997
Amber Sherlock (nee Higlett) 1998
Dawn Fraser 1998
Georgie Gardner 1999
Sophie Falkiner 2000
Tony ‘Plugger’ Lockett 2000 (AFL legend)
Anne Fulwood 2001
Peter Colquhoun 2000 (Better Homes and Gardens architect, Sandcastles host)
Jason Hodges 2001
Nuala Hafner 2004
Todd McKenney 2005
Katrina Warren 2005
Sally Obermeder 2005
Adam Brand 2007
James Tobin 2007
Ada Nicodemou 2010
Jason Stevens 2011
Greg Page (The Wiggles)
* SYDNEY WEEKENDER AIRS 6.30PM SATURDAY ON CHANNEL 7
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