Brian Wilshire
Brian Wilshire | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 30, 1944 Strathfield, Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Radio presenter, author, musician |
| Years active | 1969–2018 |
| Known for | Hosting Australia overnight program on 2GB Sydney |
| Notable work | The Fine Print |
Brian Wilshire (born 30 March 1944 in Strathfield, Sydney, Australia) is a former radio presenter best known for his long tenure at 2GB Sydney. He was the host of the 'Australia overnight' program, airing from midnight to 3:30 am, until his departure on 11 December 2015. The program featured "Hanky Panky" by Pete Fountain as its distinctive theme music.
Wilshire’s broadcasting career commenced in November 1969 at 2NZ in Inverell. Over a span of 36 years, he consistently achieved high listener ratings at 2GB. Outside his radio work, Wilshire engaged in activities such as snow skiing and car racing, notably securing a class victory at Bathurst in 1993. He is also an accomplished author, with bestsellers including The Fine Print, which was Australia’s top-selling book in 1992. Additionally, Wilshire played drums in musical groups like "Stringybark" and "Koala Soup."
He has publicly voiced doubts about the prevailing scientific consensus on climate change.
Controversy over racial comments
On 16 December 2005, Wilshire issued an apology following accusations that he had made on-air remarks suggesting that numerous Middle Eastern immigrants were products of consanguineous relationships, which he claimed led to difficulties in educating their offspring. He asserted that some young individuals involved in the Cronulla riots were children of first cousins, resulting in people described as "uneducationable" and possessing very low IQs. Although he did not explicitly mention race, media outlets interpreted these comments as targeting Lebanese communities.
The statements provoked considerable criticism. Then-Premier Morris Iemma denounced the comments as "disgraceful," while Stephen Stanton from the Lebanese human rights organization Cedarwatch condemned both Wilshire and the station for broadcasting such views.
After facing widespread denunciation, Wilshire apologized and made a return to hosting 2GB’s overnight program around May 2016, approximately five months after his initial retirement. By 22 November 2018, he had ended his association with the station.
Bibliography
- The Fine Print: Australia's Special Role in the New World Order (1992)
- Fine Print 2 (1993)
- One Man Banned (1996) co-authored with Peter Sawyer
- Monday School: What They Didn't Teach You in Sunday School (1996)
Wilshire was married to Ruth for over 45 years until her death in December 2023. Together they had two children, who inspire his dedication to making a positive impact on society.