The Little Lovelies Show
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Television comedy |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television comedy series |
The Aunty Jack Show is an Australian television comedy series that aired on ABC-TV from 1972 to 1973 and earned a Logie Award. The program rapidly developed a devoted following, which remains strong to this day.
The central figure, Aunty Jack, was a uniquely memorable comedic persona—large-bodied, moustachioed, with a gravelly voice, blending elements of a truck driver and a pantomime dame. She settled disputes by either knocking opponents out or threatening to "rip yer bloody arms off." Her striking appearance included a voluminous blue velvet dress, football socks, sturdy work boots, and a golden boxing glove on her right hand. She rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and addressed others affectionately as "me little lovelies," often punctuating her speech with the now-famous threat that has become part of Australian slang. Grahame Bond created and portrayed this character, drawing inspiration from his domineering Uncle Jack, his grandfather Ben Doyle, and Dot Strong—the ABC’s final official tea lady.
Background
Before graduating with an architecture degree from the University of Sydney, Bond had already established himself as a writer, producer, comedian, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Between 1964 and 1969, he sharpened his talents as the founder and key member of the university's Architecture Revues. During this period, he formed connections with future industry leaders such as scriptwriter Geoffrey Atherden, director Maurice Murphy, and internationally renowned filmmaker Peter Weir. It was also here that Bond met Rory O'Donoghue, his longtime creative collaborator, who had begun his career in Sydney-based rock bands The Pogs and Oakapple Day.
Following graduation, Bond and his associates ventured into radio, theatre, television, and film projects. Collaborating with Weir and others, he contributed to short films and stage comedies. Their achievements led to the professional revue Balloon Dubloon (1969) for the PACT Theatre Company, which garnered an invitation from festival director Sir Robert Helpmann to present Drip Dry Dreams at the Adelaide Festival.
Bond joined a team through PACT staff member Bob Allnutt to produce the ABC-TV special Man on a Green Bike in 1969. Co-written by Bond and Weir—who also starred—the production depicted three mayors from different time periods disrupted by a mysterious traveler. This project marked Bond’s first documented television role.
In 1970, Bond co-created and performed in the revue Filth at the Phillip St Revue, followed by Hamlet on Ice at the Nimrod Theatre. His partnership with Weir continued as he composed music for the AFI Award-winning film Three To Go (1970), in which he also appeared as an actor. Additionally, Bond provided music and played a leading role in Weir’s inaugural film project, the 1971 short feature Homesdale.
Origin
Aunty Jack was originally conceived for an intended ABC Radio children’s program titled The Aunty Jack Show, commissioned by Paddy Conroy to succeed the soon-to-be-discontinued The Argonauts Club. However, ABC executives decided against airing the radio series because they considered the character and some of the songs unsuitable for a young audience.
The character made her television debut in Aunty Jack's Travelling Show, an episode of ABC-TV’s The Comedy Game in late 1971. Initially named Aunty Jack's Travelling Abattoirs, the title was altered following objections from network executives. The cast included Bond, O'Donoghue, Derum alongside supporting performers Sharman Mellick and Kate Fitzpatrick.
This initial broadcast marked the beginning of a successful collaboration between Bond, O'Donoghue, and ABC writer-producer-director Maurice Murphy, who together formed the creative foundation behind several significant Australian television comedies.
Influences
Frequently likened to Monty Python's Flying Circus because of their shared surreal comedic style, Aunty Jack actually aired in Australia more than an hour before Monty Python’s debut on 30 December 1971. Although The Goon Show is occasionally mentioned as an inspiration, Bond acknowledged limited familiarity with it, instead citing Australian radio icons such as Jack Davey, Bob Dyer, and programs like The Steve Allen Show as key influences. He also referenced Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22 for its distinctive surreal and dark humor.
Peter Weir was involved early in the project, having worked with the creative team in university revues and credited as a writer on the first episodes of Aunty Jack. After witnessing Monty Python’s advanced comedic approach in England, he chose to concentrate on filmmaking.
Maurice Murphy played a pivotal role in supervising Aunty Jack and its related productions while managing interactions with the ABC’s traditionally cautious leadership. Emerging director Ted Robinson began his career under Murphy’s guidance during the show’s second season and later produced prominent Australian comedy programs of the 1980s like The Big Gig and The Gillies Report. Robinson commended Murphy for fostering a creative atmosphere that encouraged experimentation and innovation in television comedy.
Following the success of Aunty Jack's Travelling Show, the ABC commissioned a weekly program. Premiering on 16 November 1972, The Aunty Jack Show quickly gained a devoted following among younger audiences despite facing criticism. The ABC received numerous complaints targeting the show's violent scenes, language use, and notably the drag portrayal of Aunty Jack.
Public reaction and cancellation
The backlash against the program was significant enough that ABC contemplated terminating it; however, reportedly, appeals from children of ABC executives helped preserve the show. Nevertheless, tensions between the creators and ABC management continued, ultimately leading to the end with The Off Show in 1977.
Bond concluded the series after its second season by scripting Aunty Jack’s death from a heart attack, expressing his discomfort with the cast’s increasingly explicit language and content. The cast reunited for a special two years later to commemorate the introduction of colour television in Australia on 1 March 1975. This special cleverly started three minutes early at 11:57 pm on 28 February in black and white before switching to colour at midnight, thereby outpacing commercial competitors.
Episodes
The Aunty Jack Show produced two series broadcast in 1972 and 1973, comprising seven episodes in its first season and six in its second. In addition, two specials were aired: one on 8 June 1973 prior to the second series, and another in 1975. An unaired pilot episode was created before the series launch. Each episode focused on a particular theme.
Pilot (1971)
| No. | Episode title | Original broadcast date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aunty Jack's Travelling Show | 30 December 1971 |
Series one (1972)
Main cast:
- Grahame Bond – Aunty Jack
- John Derum – Narrator Neville
- Rory O'Donoghue – Thin Arthur
- Sandra McGregor – Flange Desire
| No. | Episode title | Guest cast | Original broadcast date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radio | Terry Camilleri, Kate Fitzpatrick, Sharman Mellick | 16 November 1972 |
| 2 | War | Paul Faranda, Greg Saunders | 23 November 1972 |
| 3 | Kulture | Carla Hoogeveen, Sharman Mellick | 30 November 1972 |
| 4 | Anonymous | Terry Camilleri, Chris Haywood, Carla Hoogeveen, Lex Marinos, Sharman Mellick | 7 December 1972 |
| 5 | Family | Chris Haywood, Carla Hoogeveen, Lex Marinos, Sharman Mellick | 14 December 1972 |
| 6 | Sex | James Bowles | 21 December 1972 |
| 7 | Horror | - | 28 December 1972 |
Special (1973)
| No. | Episode title | Original broadcast date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aunty Jack Rox On | 8 June 1973 |
Series two (1973)
Principal cast:
- Grahame Bond – Aunty Jack/Kev Kavanagh
- Garry McDonald – Kid Eager/Norman Gunston
- Rory O'Donoghue – Thin Arthur
- Sandra McGregor – Flange Desire
Special (1975)
| No. | Episode titles | Original TV broadcast dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aunty Jack Introduces Colour | 28 February 1975 |
Regulars
Aunty Jack featured a mix of standalone sketches and recurring segments spotlighting Aunty Jack alongside her companions – Flange Desire (Sandra McGregor), Thin Arthur (Rory O'Donoghue), and the Narrator Neville (John Derum) in the initial season. In the second season, Neville was succeeded by Kid Eager (Garry McDonald), a character combining elements reminiscent of figures such as Dennis the Menace and Ginger Meggs. Recurring appearances also included folk performers Errol and Neil (Grahame & Rory) and Kev Kavanagh (Bond), a rock'n'roll butcher persona originally introduced in Peter Weir's Homesdale.
Following Series 1, Derum departed to pursue other ventures but made an appearance through archival footage in the special Aunty Jack Rox On. Garry McDonald, a recent graduate from the National Institute of Dramatic Art, joined in Series 2 as Kid Eager, Aunty Jack’s new sidekick. McDonald created Wendy Skelcher, a viewer-inspired character who later transformed into the well-known spin-off figure Norman Gunston featured in Wollongong the Brave. Norman Gunston also appeared on the Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong album and headlined the Logie-winning satirical program The Norman Gunston Show, which premiered in 1975.
Memorable sketches included:
- Tarzan Superape ("An origami rock opera"), a parody of Jesus Christ Superstar
- Dried Elephant Arrangements for Beginners, where Aunty Jack instructs "elephanto reducioso" at Taronga Zoo with an unwilling elephant named Colin
- Colonel Passionfruit, a flamboyant military commander leading his gay troops through choreographed maneuvers employing The Pride of Erin Mine Avoidance Tactic #III
- The Farrelly Brothers, country and eastern musicians, performing a localized rendition of Lucky Starr's "I've Been Everywhere", limited to New South Wales towns Wollongong and Dapto (Bond’s hometown)
- Flat 1A 968 George St, a spoof of soap opera Number 96, promising "lots of bottoms and lots of breasts" depicted by actors wearing numerous plastic 'joke' prosthetics.
Feature film
An 85-minute compilation titled The Very Best of The Aunty Jack Show, consisting of colour segments from Series 1, was produced and screened at the 1973 Montreux Film Festival. This compilation was not aired on Australian television until 26 January 1991 via ABC.
Legacy
The show's success resulted in a one-off television special, Aunty Jack Rox On, which featured guest Stevie Wright, as well as a concert tour, a chart-topping single "Farewell Aunty Jack", and the best-selling album Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong released early in 1974. "Farewell Aunty Jack" held the number one spot on Australian charts for three consecutive weeks and became the first Australian picture-disc single to achieve national No.1 status.
By the time Series 2 concluded, Bond had grown weary of Aunty Jack and chose to end her storyline in the final episode titled "The R-Certificate Show". Subsequently, Bond developed a new series concept inspired by his holiday on Norfolk Island, leading to Flash Nick from Jindivick.
The creative team then produced Wollongong the Brave (1974), comprising four one-hour specials featuring core characters alongside musical performances. The concluding segment, Norman Gunston: The Golden Weeks, paved the way for The Norman Gunston Show (1975–1983), which gained widespread acclaim and earned McDonald the Gold Logie award in 1976.
On 28 February 1975, Aunty Jack and her troupe marked ABC-TV’s introduction of colour broadcasting by commencing their program three minutes ahead of schedule. Their final major television project was The Off Show (1977), which was discontinued after several episodes due to controversy surrounding a religious parody sketch.
Bond, O'Donoghue, McDonald, MacGregor, and Derum reunited for News Free Zone (1985), incorporating Aunty Jack sketches and reviving Kev Kavanagh’s character.
Despite considerable fan interest, home video distribution of The Aunty Jack Show was delayed for over three decades due to disputes between Bond and ABC concerning missing episodes and rights to original music. This deadlock was resolved by 2005, allowing DVD releases of Series 1 in December 2005 and Series 2 in April 2006. Although master videotapes were preserved only in black-and-white, much footage had originally been filmed in colour and was included as alternative scenes. The 1973 special 'Aunty Jack Rox On' has yet to be made available on DVD.
Concerns about lost episodes originated from ABC's tape-wiping practices during the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, original filmed material survived and was restored with assistance from the National Archives of Australia, enabling reconstruction of missing content.
In 2019, TV Week ranked The Aunty Jack Show at number 99 among Australia's top television programs, emphasizing iconic elements such as Aunty Jack’s fierce demeanor, golden boxing glove, and signature line "I'll rip yer bloody arms off."
Stage performance
In early 2006, Aunty Jack made a comeback with a live theatrical production titled The Aunty Jack Show and Tell, featuring performances by Grahame Bond and Rory O'Donoghue. The show included appearances by Aunty Jack and Thin Arthur, as well as musical performances from acts such as the singing vagabonds Neil and Errol, the Country and Eastern duo known as the Farrelly Brothers, the Ri Fol Tit Men, and Kev Kavanagh, who combined bodgie style with butcher and meat artistry.
See also
External links
- Official Aunty Jack Website – details on both the television series and the stage production
- Tribute page for Aunty Jack – features images and audio clips from Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong
- Comprehensive Aunty Jack/Grahame Bond discography
- The Aunty Jack Show at Australian Screen Online
- The Aunty Jack Show
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- Australian television sketch shows
- Television shows set in New South Wales
- 1972 Australian television series debuts
- 1973 Australian television series endings
- 1970s Australian comedy television series
- Cross-dressing in television
- Black-and-white Australian television shows
- Australian satirical television shows
- Wollongong