Peter Berner
Peter Berner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Singapore |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, television presenter, radio presenter, artist |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Hosting The Einstein Factor, Backberner, The B Team with Peter Berner |
Peter Berner (born February 1963) is an Australian comedian specializing in stand-up, as well as a presenter for television and radio. He is known for hosting The Einstein Factor and Backberner on ABC Television, along with the satirical news program The B Team with Peter Berner broadcast on Sky News Australia.
Early life
Born in Singapore to a Danish father and an Australian mother of Scottish heritage, Berner relocated to Sydney, Australia, in 1964. He completed his studies at the National Art School in Sydney, focusing on painting and participating actively in the student council.
1988–1998: Initial stand-up phase
Berner embarked on his comedy career in 1988, gradually establishing himself during the early 1990s by performing at prominent festivals such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, and Adelaide Comedy Festival. He crafted and presented solo performances across Australia and the United Kingdom, cultivating a dedicated fan base. Additionally, he was a regular guest on Australia's popular Saturday night comedy program Hey Hey It's Saturday.
His solo productions Lonely Guys and Rant debuted at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1997.
1999–2003: Hosting Backberner
In 1999, Berner introduced his stand-up show Disturbed at Sydney’s Harold Park Hotel, followed by a run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
That same year marked his television hosting debut with Backberner on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. This political satire sketch series, which spoofed current affairs shows and featured Louise Siversen, premiered on 19 August 1999. It ran for four seasons until 2002 and received Logie Award nominations for Most Outstanding Comedy Series in both 2000 and 2002.
Berner also appeared at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival gala in 2000, which was televised on Network Ten.
In 2001, Martine Emdur’s portrait of Berner titled Laughing on the Inside became a finalist in the distinguished Archibald Prize.
2004–2009: Quiz hosting and radio work
Berner returned to ABC Television in 2004 to host the quiz show The Einstein Factor, where contestants faced off against celebrity expert panels. The program ran for six seasons with a total of 244 episodes before concluding in 2009.
That year he also served as host for the Australian Film Institute Awards.
In 2007, Berner joined Southern Cross Austereo as a breakfast presenter on Triple M’s show The Cage, working alongside Brigitte Duclos, James Brayshaw, Matt Parkinson, and Mike Fitzpatrick. The breakfast program was syndicated across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane until 2009. Simultaneously, from 2008 to 2009, he hosted his own radio segment titled The Peter Berner Experiment on Triple M.
Following a break from comedy festivals, Berner returned with his solo stand-up show Bernerland, which premiered at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2007 and later featured at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2008.
In 2008, he co-created and hosted The Loaded Brush on ABC—a documentary delving into his enthusiasm for painting. The series included video diaries documenting Berner’s process of painting a self-portrait for the Archibald Prize alongside interviews with other participants.
2010–2014: You Have Been Watching and art showcases
In 2011, Berner made his television comeback as the presenter of You Have Been Watching on The Comedy Channel via Foxtel. This quiz program, adapted from a British format, revolved around television-related trivia and featured a panel comprising three celebrity guests. The show debuted on 17 February 2011 and lasted for a single season.
That same year, Berner exhibited a collection of abstract artworks at Gallery@28 in Sydney. The solo exhibition displayed solitary figures created using oils, pastels, and pencil.
Berner took part in the third season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia on the Nine Network in 2013. He was the second participant to be voted off by Mark Bouris, having raised AUD$10,000 for ChildFund Australia.
In 2014, Berner also appeared as a performer at the Brisbane Comedy Festival.
2015–present: The Book of He and The B Team with Peter Berner
November 2015 saw the release of Berner’s debut publication, The Book of He (Finch Publishing), which compiles his original cartoon works.
In 2016, he featured on Nine Network’s comedic clip series 20 to One and resumed hosting duties with The B Team with Peter Berner on Sky News Australia. This live weekly news comedy program premiered on 16 July 2016 and was quickly expanded to air twice weekly.
Throughout this timeframe, Berner also made appearances on shows including Paul Murray Live, Good News Week, Studio 10, and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.