Kerri-Anne Kennerley

Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Kennerly in April 2017
Born	Kerri-Anne Wright (1953-09-22) 22 September 1953 (age 71) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupations	Television presenter radio presenter actress singer
Years active	1967–present
Employer	Network 10
Television	Good Morning Australia Midday with Kerri-Anne Kerri-Anne Studio 10
Spouses	Jimmy Miller John Kennerley ​ ​ (m. 1984; died 2019)​

Kerri-Anne Kennerley (née Wright; born 22 September 1953) is an Australian television and radio presenter, actress and singer. She has more than 50 years in the industry, and is an inductee into the Logie Hall of Fame. Kennerley co-hosted Network 10's breakfast television program Good Morning Australia for 11 years. She then went on to replace Tracy Grimshaw and David Reyne as the host of Midday, making the show Midday with Kerri-Anne. After leaving Midday, she hosted her own breakfast television show on the Nine Network called Kerri-Anne (originally titled Mornings with Kerri-Anne) and was more recently a co-host on Network 10's Studio 10. She starred in Pippin at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2020 as Pippin's grandmother, Berthe.^[1]

Career

Kennerley made her first television appearance in 1967 at the age of 14 on the children's shows The Channel Niners and Everybody's In on Brisbane's QTQ 9. After returning to Australia from the US in 1981 she landed the role of Melinda Burgess in TV series The Restless Years, a teen-oriented soap opera. She hosted the breakfast TV program Good Morning Australia on Network Ten for 11 years.^[2]

During the 1980s Kennerley performed as a singer, and released a self-titled album (Kerri-Anne) as well as a Christmas album in 1985.^{[3][deprecated source]}

Her cabaret singing style was parodied by singer and comedian Gina Riley on the TV comedy show Fast Forward. She appeared on the television show and later record album Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge with a rendition of the AC/DC song Dirty Deeds.

In 1996, Kennerly replaced Tracy Grimshaw and David Reyne as the host of the daytime-variety TV show Midday, giving the show a new title of Midday with Kerri-Anne.^[4] This was her first solo talk show. Hosting duties on the show earned her three Gold Logie nominations. After Midday ended in late 1998, she joined the What's Cooking program in 1999. This role (and the program) only lasted a few months. Both Midday and What's Cooking aired on the Nine Network.

In 2001, she shifted to Network Ten to host the game shows Greed and Moment of Truth. Both flopped and lasted only a few episodes. In 2002, she returned to the Nine Network where she hosted her second solo talk show, Kerri-Anne (originally titled Mornings with Kerri-Anne). The show was broadcast on weekdays from 9am to 11am.^[5] In 2011, it was announced that Kerri-Anne had been cancelled after nine years on air.^[6][7][8]

Kennerley moved to the Seven Network in 2012, and appeared as a contestant on the twelfth season of the network's program Dancing with the Stars.^[9][10][11] She was the fourth contestant to be eliminated, and placed seventh overall.^[12] A planned prime-time program for the network was put on hold due to Kennerley's cancer battle,^[13] but appeared as a guest reporter on Sunday Night and as fill-in presenter for Kylie Gillies on The Morning Show.

In September 2013, Kennerley joined Foxtel to present the true crime series Behind Mansion Walls for the Crime & Investigation Network. The initial order is for 13 one-hour episodes.^[14] Kennerley has also been a guest panelist on Network Ten's The Project.^[15]

In 2016, Kennerley spoke out in support of Sonia Kruger who had suggested a ban on Muslims immigrating to Australia.^[16] Kruger was later found by the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal to have vilified Muslims.^[17]

In 2017, Kennerley made a cameo appearance as herself in the first episode of The War on Waste.^[18]

Kennerley was an advisor on the fourth season of Nine Network's The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.^[19]

In September 2018, it was announced that Kennerley will be joining Network 10's morning talk show Studio 10 as co-host alongside Denise Scott and remaining hosts Sarah Harris, Angela Bishop, Denise Drysdale and Joe Hildebrand.^{[20][21][22][23]} In August 2020, it was announced that Kennerly would be leaving Studio 10 after three years ahead of the show's major new revamp.^[24][25]

During climate change demonstrations related to the Extinction Rebellion in October 2019, Kennerley suggested that people should run over the protesters with their cars as a solution to stopping the campaign from affecting traffic. Commenting on her show Studio 10, she said that, "No emergency services should help them, nobody should do anything, leave them there, and you just put little witch's hats around them or use them as speed bumps." She also said in the same segment that an alternative solution would be to starve them in prison.^[26][27][28]

In 2020, it was announced that Kennerley, was one of several Network Ten stars who would be made redundant because of network budget cuts, others include fellow Studio 10 personality and news presenter Natarsha Belling and long time weather presenter Tim Bailey.^[29][30]

Following her departure from Studio 10, Kennerley was cast in the featured role of Berthe in Pippin at the Sydney Lyric Theatre^[1]

In 2022 she performed in a celebrity tribute to Australian comedian and actor Paul Hogan, Roast of Paul Hogan, which was broadcast on Australia's Seven Network.^[31]

From 2 April 2023, Kennerley appeared as a contestant in the ninth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.^[32][33][34] On 6 April 2023, Kennerley withdrew from the series.^[35][36]

Personal life

Kennerly with her husband John in March 2012

Kennerley was born Kerri-Anne Wright in Brisbane, Queensland, the daughter of a builder/hobby farmer. Along with her three siblings, she was raised in Brisbane's bay-side suburb of Sandgate.^[37] During her time in the US, she was married to record producer Jimmy Miller. She has said that he regularly subjected her to physical assaults. She sought support from friend John Kennerley, who helped her leave the abusive marriage.^[38]

In 1984, she married John Kennerley, who had two children from a previous marriage. In a 2006 interview in The Australian Women's Weekly, she revealed that they had tried to have children for many years, that she had a miscarriage 15 years ago, and would always regret not having children.^[39]

In June 2012, Kennerley revealed in an interview in New Idea magazine that she had breast cancer.^[40]

In 2013, she was elected to the board of Golf Australia.^[41]

In March 2016, her husband was paralysed after injuring his neck in a fall at Coffs Harbour.^[42] He died in February 2019, aged 78.^[43]

Kennerley lives in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra.^[44]

Awards and honours

Kennerley was nominated for the Gold Logie in 1997, 1998 and 1999 for her role as host of Midday. Kennerley was awarded a star on the Caloundra Walk of Stars in 1988, between Leo Sayer and Lucky Grills. In 2017, she was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. In 2018, her portrait appeared on a series of Australia Post stamps, as part of the "Legends of Television" series^[45]

TV and radio work

• The Restless Years (1981)
• Good Morning Australia (1981–1991)
• 2UE Fill in Announcer (1992–1993)
• 2CH Breakfast shift & CEO (1994–1995)
• GMA With Bert Newton (1995) (fill in host for Bert Newton)
• Monday To Friday (1995)
• Midday with Kerri-Anne (1996–1998)
• What's Cooking? (1999)
• Greed (2001)
• Moment of Truth (2001)
• Kerri-Anne at Midday, Radio Show – 2GB (2001)
• Kerri-Anne (formerly titled Mornings with Kerri-Anne) (Oct 2002 – Nov 2011)
• Behind Mansion Walls (2011–2013)
• The Celebrity Apprentice Australia (2015)
• Studio 10 (September 2018 – September 2020)

Controversies

In 2010, Kennerley caused controversy while discussing sexual assault allegations involving two Collingwood Football Club players, by referring to women who socialize with footballers as "strays" and for suggesting that "responsibility cuts both ways".^[46]

In 2019, Kennerley made controversial sweeping statements regarding the rape of Indigenous women and children in "the outback".^[47]

In 2019, Kennerley made an on-air comment to senior reporter Antoinette Lattouf wearing a playsuit saying "Did you forget your pants today?", following it up with a comment to camera that was construed by commentators as shaming the reporter.^[48]

References

1. "Pippin's Sydney Cast Announced Ahead of November Commencement | The Otaku's Study". Otakustudy.com. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
2. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley". Saxton Speakers. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
3. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley". rateyourmusic.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
4. "New host for Midday". Canberra Times. 18 December 1995. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
5. "Mornings with Kerri-Anne (TV Series)". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
6. "Kerri-Anne confirms replacement rumours". ABC News. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
7. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley farewells viewers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
8. "Nine ushers in its new Mornings | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
9. "Kerri-Anne Kennerly survives first elimination on Dancing With the Stars". News.com.au. 23 April 2012.
10. "'Dancing With The Stars saved my life': Kerri-Anne Kennerley on breast cancer diagnosis". celebrity.nine.com.au. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
11. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley "excited" for 'DWTS'". Digital Spy. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
12. "Kerri-Anne ends dancing reign". The West Australian. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
13. Davies, Rebecca (9 April 2012)"Kerri-Anne Kennerley lands new Seven Network TV show?", digitalspy.com.au. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
14. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley joins Foxtel". TV Tonight 9 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
15. "Pete Helliar, ready for segues and Kerri-Anne". TV Tonight. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
16. Guthrie, Susannah (25 July 2016). "Stay brave: Kerri-Anne Kennerley defends Sonia Kruger". New Daily. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
17. Whitbourn, Michaela (15 February 2019). "'Sonia Kruger 'vilified' Muslims in Today show segment'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
18. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley says size doesn't matter". Starts at 60. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
19. Hoyer, Melissa (20 July 2015). "Gabi Grecko, Geoffrey Edelsten, Mel Greig sign up for Celebrity Apprentice". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
20. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley to return to morning TV". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
21. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley joins Studio 10 | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
22. https://www.facebook.com/startsat60 (3 September 2018). "Kerri-Anne Kennerley 'joins Studio 10 as new host' after major stars quit". Starts at 60. Retrieved 19 May 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
23. Dawson, Abigail (2 September 2018). "Kerri-Anne Kennerley becomes co-host on Studio 10". Mumbrella. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
24. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley breaks down in Studio 10 farewell". Yahoo Life. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
25. "Kerri-Anne walks out: I Quit Studio 10". New Idea. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
26. Shanahan, Leo. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley says Extinction Rebellion protesters should be used as speed bumps and jailed". The Australian. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
27. Chung, Frank. "'Use them as a speed bump': Kerri-Anne Kennerley suggests running over climate change protesters". News.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
28. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley's controversial 'speed bumps' comments generate official complaints". OverSixty. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
29. Meade, Amanda (11 August 2020). "Kerri-Anne Kennerley to leave Channel 10 as network announces mass job cuts". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
30. "Kerri-Anne Kennerly among stars reportedly axed by Ten Network". News.com.au.
31. "Tom Gleeson was the brutal highlight of the Paul Hogan Roast". News.com.au.
32. Bond, Nick (2 April 2023). "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here: Full cast revealed". News.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
33. "TV Royalty Kerri-Anne Kennerley Is Heading Into The Jungle". 10 play. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
34. Perry, Kevin (2 April 2023). "TV royalty KERRI-ANNE KENNERLEY officially confirmed for I'M A CELEBRITY... GET ME OUT OF HERE! 2023". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
35. "Kerri-Ann Kennerley quits I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!". News.com.au. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
36. "Kerri-Anne QUITS jungle after 'abuse' from fellow celeb". PerthNow. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
37. "On with the show" by Matthew Fynes-Clinton, The Courier-Mail (21 July 2007)
38. Moran, Rob (9 October 2017). "'I think I'll be dead': Kerri-Anne Kennerley reveals past domestic abuse". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
39. "Kerri-Anne's Baby Blues", "The Courier Mail" (22 October 2006)
40. Staff Writers (11 June 2012). "Kerri-Anne Kennerley's shock cancer news". News.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
41. Golf Australia (10 April 2013). "Kerri-Anne Kennerley joins Golf Australia Board". Golf Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
42. Willis, Charlotte (7 April 2016). "KAK 'paid $350k' by Seven for TV tell-all". News.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
43. Clun, Rachel (27 February 2019). "'The love of my life': Kerri-Anne Kennerley's husband John dies, aged 78". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
44. Horton, Shelly (21 October 2013). "Inside the eccentric home of Kerri-Anne and John Kennerley". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
45. "Stamp Collectables - Stamp Issues". Shop.auspost.com.au. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
46. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley's 'strays' barb". The Age. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
47. "'Do you forgive me?': Kerri-Anne Kennerley visits outback after TV race row". Sbs.com.au. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
48. "Kerri-Anne Kennerley accused of 'slut-shaming' female colleague live on Studio 10". news.com. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2020.

External links

• Kerri-Anne Kennerley at IMDb