Kris Noble

Kris Noble
Born	(1952-10-12) October 12, 1952 India
Occupation(s)	Television executive, producer
Known for	Executive producer of Big Brother (Australia), Moby Dick, Farscape

Kris Noble (born 12 October 1952) is a former Australian television executive and producer, distinguished for his influence on the Australian TV landscape and involvement in international co-productions like Moby Dick and Farscape. He is particularly well-known as the executive producer behind Big Brother (Australia).

Originally born in India and raised in the United Kingdom, Noble relocated to Australia during the 1970s. His early professional journey included a significant 16-year period at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation throughout the 1970s and 1980s, where he played a key role in launching the careers of notable Australian comedians by spotting talent in their sketch performances at Melbourne's The Last Laugh in 1984.

In 1989, Noble produced the Logie Awards broadcast for the Seven Network before moving to the Nine Network. At the 50th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1998, he earned a nomination for Outstanding Miniseries for Moby Dick, which was filmed on Australian soil. During the mid-2000s, he held the position of managing director at production company Endemol Southern Star until stepping down in 2007.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

During his time at ABC, Noble took on directing duties for Countdown. In September 1984, he assumed the role of producer and director for the second season of Australia You're Standing In It, succeeding John Eastway.

By 1986, he served as associate producer on The Gillies Republic, the follow-up to The Gillies Report. He also developed a pilot for The D-Generation, which subsequently led to two critically praised series.

In September 1987, just days before its premiere, Noble replaced Grant Rule as executive producer of the new live Saturday morning youth show The Factory.

Later that year, he produced a pilot featuring comedian Gerry Connolly, aimed at viewers aged 20 to 35, having recognized Connolly’s exceptional improvisational talents during performances at Melbourne’s The Last Laugh.

Seven Network

In 1988, Noble briefly joined the Seven Network as executive producer of Saturday Morning Live, a Saturday morning program hosted by Jono and Dano (Jonathan Coleman and Ian Rogerson).

While at Seven, he also produced and directed comedy specials starring Irish comedian Dave Allen, along with the 1989 concert special Classic Jack, which featured John Farnham performing alongside the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Beginning at Nine

Noble commenced a lengthy association with the Nine Network in 1989, taking on executive producer responsibilities for Graham Kennedy's Funniest Home Video Show in 1990, hosted by television icon Graham Kennedy. Known for his volatile temperament, Kennedy’s initial fax to Channel 9 was addressed directly to Noble, cautioning about his outbursts.

In June 1990, Noble made it clear that videos depicting hazardous behavior would be reported to authorities, underscoring the network’s dedication to responsible broadcasting. This approach was supported by the RSPCA, which threatened legal action over animal cruelty concerns.

Following Kennedy’s exit, the program was renamed Australia's Funniest Home Video Show, with Queensland presenter Jacki MacDonald stepping in as host. Although production shifted to Brisbane, Noble continued as executive producer and traveled to oversee recordings.

In 1991, Noble became executive producer of Nine’s sitcom All Together Now, developed by Pino Amenta, Philip Dalkin, and John Powditch. The show achieved strong ratings and was among the rare Australian multi-camera sitcoms recorded before a live studio audience.

Appointment as Head of Drama

Following an expanded role at Nine that included overseeing All Together Now, the game show Cluedo, drama series The Flying Doctors, soap opera Chances, and sitcom My Two Wives, Noble was named head of drama for the network in 1992.

His promotion occurred during a period when Nine had experienced limited drama success recently, with The Flying Doctors being a notable exception. Noble himself acknowledged that Nine did not have "a strong track record" in this genre.

Although the reimagined version of The Flying Doctors (renamed R.F.D.S.) underperformed in ratings, Noble championed Nine’s 1993 drama lineup, which featured titles such as Law of the Land, Snowy, The Feds, the telemovie Singapore Sling, children’s drama Ship to Shore, and soap opera Paradise Beach. While most shows found moderate success, Paradise Beach struggled with audience numbers and received critical disapproval.

Under Noble’s guidance, Nine’s drama division saw significant improvement throughout the 1990s, producing acclaimed series including Halifax f.p, Water Rats, Twisted Tales, Good Guys, Bad Guys, Murder Call, and Stingers. The children’s fantasy drama Spellbinder also garnered positive reception.

Noble was a staunch defender of Nine’s drama productions, notably addressing public allegations of racism related to Water Rats in 1996.

After the commercial failure of Paradise Beach, he voiced doubts in 1995 about the viability of soap operas, citing shifts in viewer preferences and increased competition from other entertainment sources as factors diminishing interest in serialized storytelling. Despite this, Nine proceeded to commission the soap opera Pacific Drive in 1996.

Global Achievements

In 1997, Nine Network collaborated with Britain’s Whale Productions to shoot the miniseries Moby Dick on location in Port Phillip Bay. The production featured prominent actors including Patrick Stewart, Gregory Peck, and Henry Thomas. Noble lauded the project’s production standards, highlighting its effects quality comparable to Hollywood films.

The miniseries was broadcast on the USA Network, receiving critical praise and securing three nominations at the 50th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1998. It earned a nomination for Outstanding Miniseries, with Noble credited as senior production personnel alongside esteemed producers such as Francis Ford Coppola and Fred Fuchs. Both Patrick Stewart and Gregory Peck were nominated for their acting performances.

In 1998, Nine initiated a dedicated films and television division, launching it with the 22-episode sci-fi adventure series Farscape. Created by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced in partnership with The Jim Henson Company, Noble held the role of executive producer alongside O’Bannon, Brian Henson, and Robert Halmi Jr. The series achieved acclaim, winning several Saturn Awards and inspiring a devoted fan convention held in California. To provide closure following its cancellation by the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002, the 2004 miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars was produced.

ABA Critique

The scheduling of Pacific Drive by Nine generated controversy, with executive Noble identifying its potential as an afternoon drama to complement American soap operas such as Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. He criticized the Australian Broadcasting Authority for excluding local daytime dramas from qualifying for local drama quota points, which were only applicable to programs broadcast between 5pm and midnight.

Following the 11pm timeslot debut of Pacific Drive, which suffered from low viewer ratings described by The Sydney Morning Herald as "one terrible embarrassment," Noble publicly rebuked the ABA. He disclosed that Nine had advocated for a 3:30pm airing immediately after The Young and the Restless, arguing that well-produced Australian dramas should receive quota recognition regardless of their broadcast time.

Noble remarked: "The ABA... believed that the strong afternoon audience should be reserved for overseas soaps and talk shows, considering local productions in mid-afternoon less valuable than prime-time content. Why can't an Australian soap compete for higher ratings in the mid-afternoon slot alongside American soaps?"

In reply, ABA representative Fiona Chisolm explained that the exclusion of daytime Australian dramas stemmed from industry opposition, including from Nine itself, due to concerns that expanding eligible time slots would compromise program quality.

Ultimately, Pacific Drive was shifted to an afternoon broadcast but remained ineligible for local drama quota points. In 1997, Nine temporarily halted production to address episode backlogs caused by live cricket coverage. Noble maintained that with a 40% national audience share and a 70%-80% share among women aged 18-39 at 3:30pm, the series proved that quality Australian dramas could rival American soaps and merited recognition under local content quotas.

Controversy Surrounding The Last of the Ryans

In April 1997, Noble defended Nine's choice to produce a television movie about Ronald Ryan, Australia's last person legally executed following his conviction for the 1965 murder of George Hodson. Carole Barns, Hodson's daughter, criticized the depiction of her father and Ryan—portrayed by Richard Roxburgh—as a "likeable larrikan." Noble clarified that Nine did not intend to glorify Ryan and suggested Barns' dissatisfaction arose from the narrative focusing on Ryan rather than her father. He explained that the film’s purpose was to highlight Ryan’s historical significance as the final executed individual in Australia while acknowledging Hodson’s role as an unrecognized hero.

Hi-5

In 1999, Noble proposed to Nine a dynamic children's program aimed at preschool audiences titled Hi-5, developed by Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans. The show featured original cast members Kellie Crawford (née Hoggart), Kathleen de Leon Jones, Nathan Foley, Tim Harding, and Charli Robinson. Although the concept exceeded Nine's mandated children's programming quota, it was swiftly approved. Noble identified considerable revenue opportunities through merchandising that could offset advertising limitations during P-classified broadcasts. He pointed to thriving markets in video and toy sales, citing successes such as Wiggles, Bananas, and Teletubbies. Merchandise partners committed significant investments based solely on the pilot episode’s potential.

Exit from Nine

Noble remained with Nine until 2002, with one of his notable final achievements being the management of the rural drama McLeod's Daughters. His exit came after the unsuccessful run of Young Lions, a series created by Michael Jenkins and featuring Alex Dimitriades. Following Noble's departure, Posie Graeme-Evans, who co-created both McLeod's Daughters and Hi-5, took over his position.

Subsequent career

Following his time at Nine, Noble took on the role of executive producer for Seven's 2003 talk show Greeks on the Roof, hosted by the fictional Effie and her family, adapted from the British series The Kumars at No. 42. Although the program had a brief lifespan, it triggered disputes between networks when Nine personality Sam Newman appeared, reportedly linked to an arrangement involving Effie's appearance on Nine’s also short-lived Micallef Tonight. While Seven was said to have withdrawn from this agreement, Noble refuted claims that any deal had been made.

At Endemol Southern Star, Noble served as executive producer for Big Brother Australia on Network 10 during its fourth to seventh seasons. He was often cited responding to controversies throughout his leadership, addressing incidents such as the "turkey slapping" event and other production choices, emphasizing responsibility and management.

In 2014, Noble executive produced the medical infotainment program Save Your Life Tonight, hosted by Andrew Daddo, with whom he had collaborated previously. Produced by Queensland’s Wild Fury for ABC TV, filming took place in late 2013 at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, with the series premiering on 14 December 2014.

Noble has since retired from active involvement in television production.

Perspectives

In 1994, Noble advocated for commercial free-to-air TV, observing that audiences had become so familiar with commercial breaks that their absence was often noticed. He contended that subscription television in Australia was unnecessary, stating, "we have the best free-to-air television in the world" offering diverse programming for all viewers. He also foresaw that pay TV would not remain entirely commercial-free indefinitely.

In 1995, Noble criticized the Logie Awards, describing them as "mickey mouse" and questioning both their voting procedures and nomination selections. He pointed out inconsistencies such as the omission of shows like Money and Australia's Funniest Home Video Show while series like Mother and Son received nominations despite no new episodes airing.

Noble explained that negative reactions to Nine’s drama Chances reflected shifting societal attitudes toward the depiction of women in media. Unlike earlier Australian soaps such as The Box and Number 96, which openly featured sex and nudity, by 1995 viewers were less accepting of such content. He remarked: "You can't start a show with a sex scene and expect strong ratings—look at the backlash we experienced with Chances. Society is more focused on how women are portrayed... Concerns about sex and violence on TV, especially regarding children's exposure, have become central issues, making producers more cautious."

By 1999, Nine was the sole Australian network to include a gay character in a weekly drama through Toni Scanlan’s role in Water Rats. Despite some audience complaints, Noble affirmed the network’s commitment to representing gay characters thoughtfully: "Complaints won’t deter us as long as it’s handled appropriately and we avoid sensationalism or vilification... We will increase representation as audiences become more accustomed to it, but this will take time."

Film

Title	Year	Role	Remarks
		Executive Producer
Dirty Deeds	2002	Yes
Gettin' Square	2003	Yes
Southern Cross	2004	Yes
Under the Radar	2004	Co-executive

Television

Title	Year	Role		Broadcasting Network	Remarks
		Producer	Executive Producer
Australia You're Standing In It	1984			ABC TV	Served as producer and director
The D-Generation	1986–87				Held roles of producer and director
All Together Now	1991–93			Nine Network
Paradise Beach	1993–94
Snowy	1993
The Bob Morrison Show	1994
Singapore Sling	1994				Classified as a television film
Halifax f.p.	1994–2002
The Feds: Obsession	1994				Television film format
The Feds: Suspect	1995				Produced as a television film
The Feds: Deception	1995				Television film
Singapore Sling: Road to Mandalay	1995				Television film
The Feds: Abduction	1995				Television film
Singapore Sling: Midnight Orchid	1995				Television film
Glad Rags	1995
The Feds: Seduction	1995				Television film
Singapore Sling: Old Flames	1995				Television film
The Feds: Terror	1995				Television film
"Spellbinder (TV series)"	1995
"Us and Them (Australian TV series)"	1995
"The Feds: Vengeance"	1995				Television film
"Water Rats (TV series)"	1996–2001		Co-executive}}		Held position of co-executive producer for 94 episodes
"The Feds: Betrayal"	1996				Television film
"The Feds: Deadfall"	1996				Television film
"Twisted Tales (Australian TV series)"	1996–98
"One Way Ticket"	1997				Television film
"Reprisal"	1997			Television film
"Good Guys Bad Guys: Only the Young Die Good"	1997		> { yes}	Television film
"The Last of the Ryans"	1997		{ { yes } }	Television film
"Good Guys, Bad Guys"	1997–98	{ { no } }	{ { yes } }
"Murder Call"	1997–2000	{ { no } }	{ { yes } } Co-executive	Served as co-executive producer
"Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord"	1997	{ { no } }	{ { yes } }
"Moby Dick (1998 miniseries)"	1998	{ { yes } }	{ { no } }	USA Network Miniseries
"Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown"	1998–99	{ { no } }	{ { no } }	rowspan=3 Nine Network Served as network executive producer
"Stingers"	1998–2002	{ { no } }	{ { yes } }	Executive producer for seasons one through six
"The Violent Earth"	1998	{ { no } }	{ { yes } }	Miniseries
"Without Warning"	1999	{ { no } }	{ { yes } }	Television film
"Farscape"	1999–2000	{ { no } }	{ { yes } }	rowspan=2 Nine Network Executive producer during season one
"Hi-5 (Australian TV series)"	1999–2002	{ { no } }	{ { yes }}	Executive producer for series one to four
"Journey to the Center of the Earth (miniseries)"	1999	{ { no }}	{ { yes }}	USA Network Miniseries
"Dogwoman: Dead Dog Walking"	2000	{ { no }}	{ { yes }}	rowspan=9 Nine Network Produced as a television movie
"Dogwoman: The Legend of Dogwoman"	... References