Peter Wynne has been producing and directing television in Australia for over thirty-five years and can take audiences inside the Star Chamber, through his true stories of madness, mayhem and pure magic. He is a classic raconteur, sharing secret TV yarns and fascinating stories that range from the bizarre to the hilarious.
Here the MC shares some insight into his fun filled career and takes you on a journey of pure unashamed name-dropping.
Behind the scenes
I have spent most of my working life in the dark, watching others standing in the light. Waiting behind curtains, lurking offstage or sitting in a control room gazing at those who fill the screen with their personas while fulfilling their roles as performers, stars and legends.
And in some cases all of the above.
These people worth watching are many of the biggest names in Australian television over the last three decades.
But there’s more.
I’ve also been privileged to work with over forty international superstars and a handful of academy award winners along the way.
It’s a tough gig, someone had to do it
I am a television producer and have been part of the smoke and mirrors business since 1979.
Don Lane’s first words to me on day one. ‘Look after the little things and big things happen’.
And a lot did happen.
I spent two and a half weeks battling the mosquitoes and humidity in the wet and muddy jungles of Bali while shooting a calendar special with Elle McPherson.
Somebody had to do it.
I remember sitting in the kitchen of Sir Donald and Lady Bradman sipping tea, eating homemade Anzac biscuits and listening to stories from the greatest batsman ever. It was all in a day’s work.
I suffered a panic attack while producing the TV Logie Awards when Steve Irwin appeared out of the stage floor with an ‘alleged tiger snake’ that got slightly out of hand and launched itself at a guest in the front row of the audience.
All live on the telly of course, so not much of a drama.
I had the pleasure of learning to play on Stevie Wonder’s piano and have fond memories of playing guitar with John Denver on his deck overlooking the Rockies.
Then there was flying into a war zone with Kylie Minogue and John Farnham for a live concert telecast on the eve of the Millennium. John did ease the tension when he walked into the belly of the Hercules bound for East Timor. ‘Hey, is this what it’s like in economy?’
I found out face to face why Paul Hogan called the late Robin Williams ‘The funniest man on the planet’ when producing a special with him and Ray Martin. I watched Russell Crowe drop the best opening remark on an awards show when I co-produced the Australian Film Awards with him back in 2005. While ‘suggesting’ to the winners they keep their speeches short – he picked up a huge black telephone and said ‘or say hello to my little friend…’
Best job ever
But beyond the unashamed name-dropping there were many other TV heroes. I was lucky to have been part of some of the best crews in live television that all lived it and loved it. We were part of the time when the big names of live television ruled the air ways for decades with a lot of anything-can-happen stuff that saw mayhem go pear-shaped and then get really out of control. With Don and Bert, Graham and Daryl plus Ray and Eddie taking their turn on the roller coaster, taking studio audiences on a journey of laughter for what seemed like hours. I knew I’d got the best job in the world.
So when Tim Ferguson stepped off the set of his first appearance on one of the most challenging live shows I’ve been a part of and said. ‘If you’re not living on the edge my friends, you’re taking up too much room’
Boy was he right.