Michael Tunn
Michael "Tunny" Tunn | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 18, 1974 Adelaide, Australia |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
| Years active | 1990–2006 (at least) |
| Known for | Radio and television presenting, Triple J host |
Michael "Tunny" Tunn (born 18 January 1974) is an Australian broadcaster known for his work on radio and television. At just 17 years old, he was recruited by the national youth broadcaster Triple J in 1991, making him the youngest professional radio host in Australia at that time.
Biography
Originating from Adelaide, Tunn's early radio experience included hosting 'Rock and Roll High School', a high school request show on Triple M (which later became Three D Radio). On 25 August 1990, during a significant reshuffle of presenters, Triple J brought him on board. Although his recruitment generated considerable media interest, he was required to complete his secondary education before going live on air.
Upon graduating, Tunn relocated to Sydney where Triple J's studios were based. He initially presented late-night shows throughout the summer months before launching his own request program titled 'J-Klub' in February 1991, still aged 17.
In May 1991, Tunn expanded into television by hosting The Afternoon Show on the ABC. By the age of 21 in 1995, he had covered nearly every shift available at Triple J. Between 1992 and 1997, he was the host of the evening request program The Request Fest, while also presenting ABC’s children's series The Afternoon Show during the early to mid-1990s. Additionally, in 1993 he served as presenter for the documentary series Bodybeat.
Tunn departed from Triple J towards the end of 1999 while holding the position of assistant music director, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with limited advancement prospects. In June 2000, he became part of bigfatradio.com, an internet radio platform utilizing proprietary streaming technology.
Following the collapse of this venture amid the Dot-Com bubble burst, Tunn joined the Austereo network in January 2001 as Assistant Program Director and Afternoon Presenter for both Triple M Adelaide and SAFM. In 2005, he provided narration for Rail Around Queensland. His tenure at Triple M concluded on 27 March 2006 under contentious circumstances, after which he launched a personal media blog later that year.
Subsequent reports revealed Tunn had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In 2016, while subsisting on a disability pension of $40 per day, he faced shoplifting charges at a Coles store in Firle, Adelaide. The case ended with no conviction; however, he was fined $50 along with $260 in levies and associated costs.