Aunty Jack Show, The (ABC 1972-73, Grahame Bond, Garry McDonald)

Often controversial sketch show starring the cross dressing Aunty Jack who would dress as a pantomime dame, wear one boxing glove and ride a motorbike, his/her catchphrase was “I’ll rip yer bloody arm off”.

A special edition was broadcast on 1 March 1975 as an attempt by the ABC to introduce viewers to colour TV. The show began life as a couple of pilot radio shows for kids which the ABC considered too scary for children.

Graeme Bond said in a TV Week interview on 10 February 1973 that “the boxing glove? well that is sort of symbolic, Aunty Jack is bigoted, but she sees herself as a golden gloved fighter seeking justice”.

There was a one off special following the series which was broadcast 8 June 1973 called Aunty Jack Rox On featuring retreads of some of the best loved sketches and also four songs from a put together band called Cool Bananas (in reality the group were headed by former Easybeat Stevie Wright and called Black Tank).

Ten revived the character briefly in 1982.

production details
Australia / ABC / 13×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 1972-73

cast
GRAHAME BOND as Aunty Jack
RORY O’DONOGHUE as Thin Arthur
SANDRA MacGREGOR as Flange Desire
GARRY McDONALD as Kid Eager
JOHN DERUM as Narrator Neville