Mikey Robins

Mikey Robins
Born	Mikel Mason Robins (1961-12-08) December 8, 1961 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)	Comedian, writer, media personality
Years active	1989–present
Known for	Hosting Good News Week

Mikel Mason "Mikey" Robins (born 8 December 1961) is a prominent Australian comedian, writer, and media figure, widely recognized for hosting the satirical quiz show Good News Week. The program originally aired on the ABC and Network Ten from 1996 until 2000, with a subsequent revival in 2008.

Early life and education

Robins was born in Newcastle, New South Wales. He completed his secondary education at Newcastle High School before obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in both English and Drama, from the University of Newcastle.

Career

During his early career, Robins held jobs such as a parcel delivery assistant at Woolworths and worked as a bartender. He was a member of The Castanet Club, collaborating with fellow performers Steve Abbott and Maynard.

Robins spent seven years hosting breakfast radio on Triple J until 1999, sharing the microphone with co-hosts like Helen Razer, Paul McDermott, Jen Oldershaw, and The Sandman. In 2001, he co-hosted the breakfast show on Sydney's Triple M alongside Amanda Keller and later joined Vega 95.3 with Tony Squires and Rebecca Wilson.

His achievements in radio paved the way for his television comedy career, featuring roles on shows such as Live and Sweaty and McFeast. In 1996, he joined Paul McDermott on Good News Week, serving as a team captain throughout both the original series and its 2008 return.

Robins has also produced documentaries centered on Australian pub culture, including Mikey, Pubs and Beer Nuts. His television appearances extend to ABC's The Fat and the Seven Network's morning program Sunrise. Between 1989 and 1990, he played Reg Linchpin on ABC’s Mr Squiggle and Friends. In 2005, Robins earned the title of Australia's Brainiest Comedian, donating the A$20,000 prize to the NSW Autism Association.

As an author, Robins has co-authored two books: the bestseller Three Beers and a Chinese Meal with Helen Razer, as well as Big Man's World, written in collaboration with Tony Squires and Steve Abbott.

Personal life

Robins married his longtime partner Laura Williams in 1999.

He is an avid supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team.

Health issues

Robins’s father, Bill—who worked selling hair-care products and served as an announcer at surf lifesaving carnivals—was Robins’s first exposure to public speaking. Diagnosed with cancer when Robins was eight years old, his father passed away two years later. Robins connects this loss to his later battle with obesity, noting that he turned to food for comfort and withdrew from sports activities. His weight became a frequent topic in his comedic work but also led to significant health challenges. In 2003, he was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, experiencing approximately 70 breathing interruptions per hour largely due to excess weight. He also contended with high cholesterol levels, borderline type 2 diabetes, impaired liver function, and restricted mobility. Approaching 150 kg in weight by 2006, Robins underwent lapband bariatric surgery and had lost roughly 65 kg by mid-2007.

Author

• Helen Razer and Mikey Robins, 3 Beers and a Chinese Meal (1995), Random House Australia
• Tony Squires, Mikey Robins, and Steve Abbott, Big Man's World (1998), Random House Australia
• Mikey Robins, Seven Deadly Sins and One Very Naughty Fruit (2018), Simon & Schuster Australia
• Mikey Robins, Reprehensible (2020), Simon & Schuster

Contributor

• Laugh Even Louder! (2007), Scholastic Australia Pty Limited, Gosford, New South Wales; featuring contributions from Mikey Robins and his nephew Markus Williams.