Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Michael Dickinson |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Ended original run; reboot planned for 2025 |
Key people | Michael Dickinson (creator and producer), Gavan Disney (executive producer) |
| Products | Lifestyle television programming |
| Parent | Disney Entertainment P/L |
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise was an Australian lifestyle television series that aired on Network Ten from 1992 until 1998. In November 2024, the Seven Network revealed plans to revive the show, with a reboot slated for 2025.
Michael Dickinson created and produced the program, while its executive producer was Gavan Disney, who had previously worked as a producer on Nine Network's Hey Hey it's Saturday. The series was packaged for Network Ten and international markets by Disney Entertainment P/L.
Title
The program’s name is inspired by the saying, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," often credited to Benjamin Franklin from his Poor Richard's Almanack. However, this phrase originally appeared in print in 1639 by John Clarke.
Cast
Among the prominent personalities featured on the show were Felicity Kennett, spouse of then-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, and Jim Brown, a former Ten eyewitness news journalist. Jacki MacDonald, who had also been part of Disney's Hey Hey it's Saturday, served as a presenter during the inaugural season.
The program helped establish long-term television careers for chef Iain Hewitson and craft expert Tonia Todman. Finance specialist Ross Greenwood notably progressed to become the finance editor for the Nine Network.
Network Ten (1992-1998)
The principal hosts and contributors included:
- Jacki MacDonald – Presenter (season 1)
- Ronnie Burns – Host/presenter
- Felicity Kennett – Presenter (seasons 6 & 7)
- Jim Brown – Travel
- Ross Greenwood – Finance
- Iain Hewitson – Chef
- Tonia Todman – Crafts
- Peter Wherrett – Motoring (seasons 3–7)
International broadcasts
The initial seven seasons were broadcast internationally on Dubai's Channel 33, Bahrain TV Channel 55, and through the Australia Television network across Asia and the Pacific Islands.