WHEEL OF FORTUNE to WRITERS PLAYHOUSE - The Memorable TV Guide to Australian Television

An indepth guide to pretty much every UK show ever seen on TV, all entries include cast and crew details as well as running times, plot details, when it was on, what it was about and more besides. This page features all shows from Abide With Me to The Advocates, simply click on the links below to access the information, UK sitcoms and UK Comedy are treated separately in their own sections.

W2 - WHEEL OF FORTUNE to WRITERS PLAYHOUSE
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A Sydney based quiz which was not exactly the same as the later Wheel of Fortune, this was hosted by Reg Grundy (the series was also known as Reg Grundy's Wheel of Fortune), the Wheel of Fortune part in this instance being the wheel spun by Reg to see what prizes would be given out. Started life as a radio production.

Long running Australian version of the famous USA quiz featuring 3 contestants spinning a wheel and trying to solve various well known quotes or phrases etc. There were also special bonuses such as win a free spin but also a bankrupt slot too. Hosts have been:- Ernie Sigley (1981-1984), John Burgess (1984-1996), Tony Barber (1996) and Rob Elliott (1997-), Hostesses have been Adriana Xenides (1981-1999) and Sophie Falkiner (1999-).

The return of Johnny O'Keefe to TV after his problematic lay off at the turn of the sixties. This was a lavish variety show series that came from various outdoor spots in and around Sydney.

Writer: Michael Laurence / Camera: Ellery Ryan / Design: George Liddle / Costume: David Rowe / Music: Bruce Rowland / Producer: Hal McElroy / Director: Carl Schultz

Drama serial. In Phnom Penh nurse Karen Parsons flees for her life along with the children of two murdered friends, she teams up with Aussie Steve Hannah to try and get to safety.

With:- CYBIL SHEPHERD as Karen Parson / JOHN WATERS as Steve Hannah / PETA TOPPANO as Annie / JOHN EWART as Ferguson / RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON as Jim Walters / MARC GRAY as Billy / ANDY TRAN as Quan / ADRIAN KWAN as Khai / KIET LAM as Haing / MICHAEL MORRISSEY as Grafton / TIMOTHY SMITH as David / STEPHEN HALL as Joe / THUY LE KIM as Lien

Period action adventure series. In 1850's Australia, American Christopher Cobb sets up a stagecoach line, this show was actually made by a British company with an American star and filmed in Australia. There were planned to be 39 episodes but in the end only 34 were completed.

Crime drama series. Cases of the detectives of the Kingsway Major Crime Squad working to keep crime out of Pacific Paradise from the streets of Sylvania Waters, to the towering cranes on the Container Wharves of Botany Bay, bordered by the white beaches and blue water between Monterey and Hungry Point.

With:- Peter O'Brien as Detective Sergeant Joe Hill / Freya Stafford as Detective Senior Constable Harriet Walker / Richard Carter as Detective Snr Sergeant Ted Hudson / Brooke Satchwell as Plain Clothes Constable Sophia Marinkovitch / Don Hany as Plain Clothes Senior Constable Theo Rahme / Jodie Dry as Nicole Brown / Linda Cropper as Fran Hoffman

Comedy drama series following the exploits of a young woman out to improve both her career and her love life.

Documentary that purported to present a sociologival study of nudism, it included interviews with clergymen, nudists strippers and psychologists. Mainly notable for the amount of filming done at nudist beach Lady Bay.

Religious documentary made to mark Mass Media day and showing the activities of the Catholic Church in Radio, TV and the Press in Australia.

Writers: Vincent Moran, Peter Schreck / Book: Colin Duck, Martin Thomas / Camera: Jamie Doolan / Design: Phillip Ellis / Music: Garry McDonald, Laurie Stone / Producer: Mark DeFreist / Executive Producers: Hector Crawford, Ian Crawford, Terry Stapleton / Director: Ian Barry

Period drama serial. In 1945 in a small Victorian town the Morrison's and the Jenkins become convinced that their recently born babies have been mistakenly swapped by the hospital authorities.

With:- ANGELA PUNCH-McGREGOR as Gwen Morrison / DREW FORSYTHE as Bill Morrison / ROBYN GIBBES as Joanne Lee Morrison / VICKI LUKE as Jess Jenkins / PETER CURTIN as Noel Jenkins / LISA CRITTENDEN as Nola Jenkins / MOYA O'SULLIVAN as Amelia Williams / RHYS McCONNOCHIE as Justice Barry / WYNN ROBERTS as 'Ted' Hudson K.C. / LAUREN DELL as Lee / KATRINA LAMBERT as Nola (baby) / VINCENT BALL as Robert Monahan K.C.

A kind of cross between a lifestyle show and a game show, hosted by Graeme Bond of Aunty Jack fame this featured three celebrities showing bond around the same house and all three claiming they lived there but only one actually did, with the viewer having to try and guess who did.

Quiz in which contestants had the chance to win a million dollars by simply answering fifteen general knowledge questions correctly. The questions started off being worth a hundred dollars before doubling up and doubling up until the million was reached. The contestants could walk away with their money at any time (and often did) but also had the chance of three 'lifelines' Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend and Fifty/Fifty (the questions were all multiple choice - with four answers to choose from). Hosted by Eddie McGuire. There are occasional celebrity specials and also sometimes husband and wife editions. Based on the UK Original of the same name.

The Arts. Music writer and journalist Michael Shmith takes a look at a number of famous Arias from the archives of Opera Australia whilst also providing an overview of what Opera is exactly. The seires also featured interviews with the like of Simone Young, music director designate of Opera Australia, composer Richard Mills, tenor David Hobson, director Lindy Hume and soprano Joan Carden.

Writer: Don Arioli / Producer: Paul Field / Music: The Wiggles/ Executive Producers: The Wiggles, Wayne Covell

Children's preschool fun featuring the music group The Wiggles who are Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Greg Page. Also appearing were Leeanne Ashley, Leanne Halloran, Reem Hanwell, Paul Paddick and Edward Rooke.

Children's drama series. Katrina and her brother Jamie find their lives disrupted when their father sends them to live with their mother Erica (who works as a vet at a big city zoo - Perth Zoo in real life). Kat befriends a young female Tiger called Garang and finds herself developing 'higher powers' like heightened senses and being able to see in the dark.

Creators: Michael Jenkins, Ben Gannon / Executive Producer: Andy Hoyd James / Music: Peter Best / Producer: Steve Knapman

Crime drama series. Cases of a group of cops working in a downtown police station and renegade crisis centre in the red light district.

With:- TONY MARTIN as Bill McCoy / RACHAEL BLAKE as Maxine Sommers / AARON PEDERSEN as Vince / JESSICA NAPIER as Gerry Davis / ALEX DIMITRIDES as Charlie Coustos / JESSICA NAPIER as Gerry Davis / TAMMY McINTOSH as Kim Devlin / RICHARD CARTER as Brian Deacon

Willing and Abel is a light hearted urban comedy series. Set in the brassy, Pulsating areas of the red-light district and the trendy city docks of Sydney, the series has the picturesque Sydney harbour as its backdrop. The two main characters, Charles Willing and Abel Moore, establish a small company called ''Willing and Abel'' which they operate from their home - an old passenger ferry berthed in Sydney Harbour. As the name suggests, they offer their services in any capacity to anyone at any time (no job too big or small) which often lands them in humorous and sometimes dangerous situations. The pair have to pay off their boat to a roguish Italian called Passini. Both Dodwell and Withington came fresh from A Country Practice as did much of the behind the scenes crew. The format was bought by CBS for the American market.

With:- SHANE WITHINGTON as Abel Moore / GRANT DODWELL as Charles Willing / REBECCA RIGG as Angela Reddy / LUCIUS BORICH as Paramatta Jones

News based documentary. Channel Nine presents a special news feature which was made by the Channel Nine crew in Vietnam . John Bailey was the host for the program and there were interviews with Vietnam ?s Prime Minister Tran Van Lam. The program also showed the Australian troops? reaction to Australia ?s withdrawal from this war which had caused great controversy in political circles and among the general public.

Documentary series looking at the huge industry that is Australian wine production, from the wines themselves to the regions producing it. With wine expert Grant Van Every, winemaker Maryann Egan and Pria Viswalingam.

A weekly VFL wrapup show hosted by Drew Morphett. Thanks to Ralph Sunley for his contribution to this entry.

Documentary hosted by Ray Martin looking at the preparations made by the Australian Olympic team for the 2000 games and broadcast two weeks before the start of the games. With contributions from Susie O'Neill, Grant Hackett, Michael Klim and Matt Shirvington amongst many more.

Quiz show hosted by comedy duo Roy and H.G (In real life John Doyle (Roy) and Greg Pickhaver (HG). Three contestants answer general knowledge questions in various knockout rounds until the one remaining contestant went into the isolation booth to try and win $5,000.

Former "This Day Tonight' reporter, American Gerald Stone, travels the states to interview the people featuring in the major headlines of the day. Stone went on to produce '60 Minutes' and 'Real Life'.

Thriller. A family is pulled over by a traffic policeman who turns out to be extremely overzealous in his interpretations of criminal offences. He lets the husband off with a warning, however, before launching a frightening psychological attack over a sustained period on the wife. As the threats increase and the violence worsens, the husband and wife team vow not to succumb.

With:- Arkie Whiteley as Megan Turner / Steve Bastoni as Arch Whitelaw / Kym Wilson as Josie Newman / John Alansu as Dr. Norman Chen / Pat Bishop as Cecile Bannerman / Rona Coleman as Stella / Norman Kaye as Max / Mark Lee as David / Alexander Natalenko as Josh / Stephen O'Rourke as Sergeant Ridley / Max Phipps as Mayberry / Rebecca Roth as Susie

Producer: Maurice Murphy / Director: Ted Robinson / Writers: Grahame Bond, Rory O'Donoghue, Tim Gooding, Bill Harding and Peter Bicevkis

Funny and satirical show which concentrated on the many delights, and subtle characters, of the NSW steel city of Wollongong. The show also marked the debut of McDonald's brilliant character Norman Gunston, and Bond's Kev Kavanagh.

Series looking at the philosophies, expectations and lifestyles of prominent and influential women such as Ita Buttrose, Barbara Thiering and Dame Enid Lyons. Presented by Terry Lane.

Long-running afternoon magazine program covering subjects of interest to the women of Australia. Mary Rossi was the dominant compere, with Joy Wren, Gwen Plumb and Mildred Kenny each having turns in the chair.

Producer: Bob Weis / Directors: James Ricketson, David Stevens, Stephen Wallace, Geoffrey Nottage / Writers: Sonia Borg and Hyllis Maris / Music: Red Symons / Photography: Nino Martinetti

Distinguished and courageous drama series looking at the relationship between white and black following the arrival of the Europeans in Australia. Each episode focuses on a different generation of women facing the destruction of their people. Winner of the United Nations Peace Prize.

Alinta Director: James Ricketson cast-Tony Hawkins, Nayakalan Munung, Yanagthu Wanambi, Chris Haywood and Gatja Marwili.ast

Maydina the Shadow Director: David Stevens cast-Wawiyul Yanthaluway, Sonia Pozzana, Julia Blake and James Laurie.

Nerida Andersen Director: Stephem Wallace cast-Justine Saunders, Paul Pryor, Lorraine Mafi and Minnie Patten.

LoArna Director: Geoffrey Nottage cast-Eva Bin-it, Bob Maza, Molly Dyer and Max Phipps.

Adventure series. Stories of an outback bound vet. Filmed at Ajax film studios Sydney and on location in New South Wales. The first batch of episodes were shown on ABC then repeated on the 9 network with that channel then getting first run of the other episodes. It was filmed mainly in NSW country districts and told stories of outback vet Don Pascoe and his adopted son. Guest stars included Mark McManus, Bobby Limb, Kirrily Nolan and Chips Rafferty.

Short comedy show pitting a team of Aussie comics against a team of Brits. The Australian's were Peter Moon (captain), David Hughes, Carl Barron, Wil Anderson and Greg Fleet. The UK team was Roland Rivron (team captain), Bill Bailey, Ed BYrne, Jeff Green and Ross Noble.

A special variety show celebrating the career of Bob Dyer from his beginnings in radio to his hosting of the long running quiz show Pick-A-Box.

Documentary hosted by Jackie O going behind the scenes of the show Popstars, following the group from season one Bardot as they record in London and also following Season 2's Scandalous on tour in the UK.

Sunday sports show hosted mostly by Ron Casey and Doug Elliott, the opening blurb ran "This is Channel 7, Melbourne calling in stations around Victoria, South Australia and Southern New South Wales, a big welcome to World of Sport". Sandy Roberts took over from Casey in 1980, horseracing tips were given by Bill "The Accurate One" Collins (who was allegedly very fond of playing practical jokes on the crew whilst the show was on air). Long running highlights included The Footy Show (shown at 2.15pm) in which a guest panel would look at that weekend's matches, regulars on this included Lou Richards, Jack Dyer and Bruce Andrew. Also popular was the Champion Kick segment which ran for 10 years from 1964 and featured footy stars in a football kicking contest. The show started on 16 May 1959 and ended 22 March 1987.

Writers: Harold Dover, Kevin Altmann, Barbara Gliddon / Producer: Rod Rees / Executive Producers: David Taft / Directors: Peter Baroulis, Mandy Smith

Anthology series of comedy dramas featured a youngster having the worst day of their

Celebrity based panel game show in which the teams told tall stories whilst the contestants tried to guess who was telling the truth. Hosted by Peter Lazar.

A collection of five Ethnic themed plays. 1. Dokerty (written by Angelo Loukakis), 2. A Hard Bargain (written by Christine Madaferi), 3. Second Chance (written by Serge Lazareff), 4. Insult to Injury (written by Peter Moon and Angelo Loukakis), 5. Heroes (written by Gary Deacon)