Enough Rope
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Andrew Denton |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Andrew Denton (creator and host) |
| Products | Interview television series |
Enough Rope with Andrew Denton—commonly referred to as Enough Rope—is an Australian interview series that aired on ABC1. The program, created and hosted by comedian and media figure Andrew Denton, ran from 2003 until 2008 and was an hour in length.
Overview
This series presented comprehensive interviews with celebrities and prominent figures, frequently conducted in front of a live studio audience. Denton was often commended by guests for his meticulous preparation. Aside from well-known personalities, the show also highlighted individuals with remarkable life experiences or uncommon occupations. A regular feature titled "Show & Tell" allowed audience members to share intriguing personal anecdotes.
Originally scheduled on Mondays at 9:30 pm, the show competed against the Nine Network's Micallef Tonight. Enough Rope attained strong viewership, which reportedly contributed to the cancellation of Nine’s program. Throughout 2004 and 2005, it consistently drew audiences exceeding one million per week. Early episodes in 2007 and 2008 included More Than Enough Rope specials that revisited previous interviews with additional behind-the-scenes footage.
In 2008, the series introduced Elders with Andrew Denton, focusing on conversations with older guests; this segment continued into 2009. Additionally, three 'On the Road' specials were produced, where Denton traveled to regional communities—Rainbow, Victoria (2006), Mount Isa, Queensland (2007), and Kununurra, Western Australia (2008)—to engage with locals about their life stories.
Andrew Denton announced the program’s end in October 2008, explaining it was "an appropriate moment to conclude" as he intended to pursue projects behind the camera. In a 2018 interview, he also reflected that some interviewees had started to appear less genuine on screen.
Notable guests
Enough Rope hosted a range of distinguished international figures including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, natural historian David Attenborough, environmental advocate Al Gore, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, actor Jim Carrey, musician and activist Bob Geldof, actor Antonio Banderas, actress Helen Mirren, musician Bono, musician Dave Grohl, primatologist Dr Jane Goodall, singer-songwriter Elton John, royalty Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, actress Angelina Jolie, actor-director Clint Eastwood, filmmaker Mel Brooks, and broadcaster Michael Parkinson. Host Andrew Denton occasionally conducted interviews abroad.
Among Australian guests were comedian Dave Hughes, who spoke about his choice to stop drinking alcohol; lifestyle television pioneer Don Burke discussing the end of Burke's Backyard; and a widely watched episode featuring disgraced footballer Wayne Carey that attracted around 1.5 million viewers. Other notable local interviewees included activist Bernie Banton, actor Russell Crowe, musician-comedian Tim Minchin, and satirist Kevin Bloody Wilson.
The program generated political debate in 2005 following a controversial interview with former Australian Labor Party opposition leader Mark Latham. In 2004, Denton interviewed divisive anti-immigration politician Pauline Hanson, who rejected allegations of racism during the discussion.
The final installment aired on 8 December 2008, featuring guests Ben Stiller and artist Wendy Whiteley.