Peter Helliar
Peter Helliar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pete Jason Matthew Helliar June 16, 1975 Melbourne, Australia |
| Other names | Bryan Strauchan (alter ego) |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor, radio and television presenter, writer, producer, director |
| Years active | Mid-1990s–present |
| Known for | Co-host on The Project, sidekick on Rove, creator of It's a Date and How to Stay Married |
| Notable work | The Project, Rove, It's a Date, How to Stay Married, Bryan Strauchan character |
Pete Jason Matthew Helliar (born 16 June 1975) is a multifaceted Australian entertainer known for his work as a comedian, actor, radio and television presenter, writer, producer, and director. He gained widespread recognition as a consistent co-host on The Project broadcast on Network Ten from January 2014 until December 2022, taking over from Dave Hughes and sharing hosting duties with Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly, and Lisa Wilkinson. Helliar also featured alongside Rove McManus as his sidekick on The Loft Live (1997–1998), appeared on Rove (1999–2009), and portrayed the character Bryan Strauchan on Before the Game.
Launching his career in the mid-1990s through Melbourne's comedy scene and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Helliar later ventured into television commercials, notably representing Fernwood Fitness. His popularity was acknowledged with a nomination for the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2017.
Television
Helliar's television appearances span numerous Australian programs such as The Loft Live, Rove, The Morning Show, Studio 10, Show Me the Movie!, Celebrity Name Game, All Star Family Feud, Have You Been Paying Attention?, and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.
In 1997, he became a regular stand-up performer on RMITV’s variety program Under Melbourne Tonight aired on C31 Melbourne. The subsequent year, Helliar joined the cast of RMITV’s The Loft Live, hosted by Rove McManus, performing alongside comedians including Dave Hughes and Kim Hope through live acts and scripted sketches.
Helliar rose to national prominence in 1999 as Rove McManus’s sidekick on the show Rove, which initially aired on the Nine Network before transferring to Channel Ten until its conclusion in 2009. He also contributed to the program's writing team.
Between 2003 and 2004, he was a member of the ensemble cast for Network Ten’s comedy sketch show skitHOUSE, which was also distributed internationally.
In 2010, Helliar joined Seven Network’s football-themed program The Bounce with Leigh Matthews and Matthew Richardson; however, the show was cancelled shortly after its debut. That same year, he appeared as a guest co-host on The Morning Show and subsequently hosted ABC1's quiz series The Trophy Room during 2010 and 2011.
In 2013, Helliar created, wrote, co-produced, and co-directed the eight-episode comedy series It's a Date. The show enjoyed success leading to a second season in 2014 and earned the 'Best Scripted Format Award' at MIPCOM Cannes.
From December 2013 through to 2022, Helliar served as co-host on Network Ten’s current affairs program The Project, stepping in for Dave Hughes who returned to focus on stand-up comedy.
In 2017, he presented Channel Ten’s game show Cram!, which suffered from low ratings and unfavorable audience reception; although there were discussions about renewal, no additional seasons were produced.
In November 2018, Helliar developed and co-wrote the comedy series How to Stay Married, a spin-off from It's a Date. Starring Helliar alongside Lisa McCune, the series examined life after fifteen years of marriage and ran for three seasons until its conclusion in 2021.
In April 2023, Helliar participated in the ninth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! where he was the seventh contestant eliminated. Later in July 2023, he was announced as a participant for the second season of Taskmaster Australia, although this season was postponed and scheduled to air as the third season toward late 2024.
Network Ten confirmed in May 2024 that Helliar would join his wife Bridget as celebrity contestants on the eighth season of The Amazing Race Australia, marking the program’s second celebrity edition.
Radio
From 1998 until 2000, Helliar frequently appeared as a guest on Triple J, the national youth radio station operated by the ABC.
In 2002, Helliar was contracted by the Austereo radio network to join his television colleagues Rove McManus and Corinne Grant on the weekly broadcast Saturday Morning Rove, which aired on Fox FM every Saturday between 10 am and noon. By 2004, the show shifted to Friday mornings, incorporated live caller participation, was renamed Rove Live Radio, and concluded at the end of that year.
That same year, Austereo revealed Helliar would co-host The Judith Lucy Show alongside Judith Lucy and Kaz Cooke during Sydney’s 2Day FM breakfast slot; however, this program ended after one year.
Helliar continued his association with Austereo by featuring on Melbourne’s daily Fox FM show The Arvo, which was syndicated to other cities but discontinued in June 2005. Additionally, he led Pete's Show, broadcast on Fridays from 10 am to noon across the Today Network.
He also substituted for Merrick and Rosso on their Nova 96.9 Sydney breakfast program during their holiday breaks and filled in for Kate Langbroek on Melbourne’s Nova 100 show Hughesy & Kate during her maternity leave. Co-host Dave Hughes confirmed Helliar would make regular appearances every Thursday on that program.
In 2008, Helliar co-hosted the breakfast show Pete & Myf on Triple M Melbourne with Myf Warhurst; the program was cancelled in July 2009.
Since July 2022, Helliar has been the host of Family Feud: The Podcast available through iHeartRadio.
Films
Helliar co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in the 2010 romantic comedy movie I Love You Too.
He also appeared in the Australian comedic film Scumbus released in 2012.
Alter ego
For the 2005 AFL season, Helliar introduced his alter ego Bryan Strauchan ("Strauchanie"), who first appeared on the show Before the Game. The character is depicted as the final selection in the 2004 AFL draft who never actually played for Collingwood. The name is pronounced (Strawn/Strawny).
Helliar dons a blonde mullet wig and portrays a stereotypical Australian bogan. The comedy arises from Strauchan’s overweight appearance, poor fitness levels, and incompetence, which sharply contrast with his inflated ego and grandiose self-image. This persona has been featured across multiple media platforms and has supported various charitable causes.
During the 2009 'EJ Whitten Legends' football match, Helliar sustained a broken ankle while playing as Strauchan, hinting it could mark the end of his career. He remarked, "You might be witnessing the conclusion of a great career... I will always remain involved in football; perhaps even take up coaching."
Personal life
Peter Helliar was raised in Bundoora and attended Parade College. He is married to Bridget "Brij" Helliar, and together they have three sons. In 2013, the family traveled backpacking through Eastern Europe—a journey Helliar described as "challenging but immensely rewarding."
He has sold residences in Montmorency (2007) and a high-end property in Plenty (2016). Currently, he lives in Ivanhoe, Melbourne.
Additional resources
- Helliar, Peter and Paul Calleja. Bryan Strauchan: My story : The rise and rise of a genuine superstar of Australian sport. Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2007.